my fax never went thru for my hearing n the judge still let me explain my evidence over the phone so dont panic if the fax doesnt work!!

Based on your comment about the doctor's appointment - you should win this appeal. A single one-hour medical appointment does NOT make you unavailable for work under ESD rules. Make sure to emphasize that it was a one-time appointment, that you were available all other hours that week, and that you continued your job search activities. Bring your job search logs showing applications from that specific week if possible. This should be a straightforward reversal if presented clearly.

One more important detail: when you file your new claim, you'll need to satisfy the requirement of having worked at least 680 hours in your base year (the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your new claim). Make sure the work you did from August to November gives you enough hours to qualify.

Just to add another important point: when you file your new claim, your weekly benefit amount might change based on your earnings in the new base year. The calculation is based on your highest-earning quarters, so depending on what you made at that job from August to November, your weekly amount could go up or down compared to your current claim.

I went through EXACTLY this in January 2025. Was laid off from aerospace making $38/hr, got offered $25/hr position. I was terrified of losing benefits but also couldn't survive on that pay cut. I called ESD to ask directly (took THREE DAYS of calling to get through) and they confirmed I didn't have to take it since I was only 8 weeks into my claim and the pay was more than 10% below my previous wage. BUT!! They warned me that after 10 weeks, the threshold changes. So start applying aggressively now while you still have that protection!

Quick update on the current job search requirements while you decide: Remember that you still need to complete and document 3 job search activities each week while receiving benefits. This becomes especially important if your claim goes into adjudication - they'll review your job search logs carefully. Also, make sure you're using WorkSource resources. They can actually help you find positions more aligned with your experience and previous wage level.

let us know what happens! im betting it shows up tomorrow or wednesday

This whole unemployment system is such a joke. They expect us to file everything perfectly on time but then can't even get payments out reliably. And good luck getting answers when you call - I've spent HOURS just trying to talk to a human.

Another thing to check - sometimes your claim can show as disqualified if there's an identity verification issue. With all the fraud during COVID, ESD implemented stricter verification processes. Check if there's any correspondence about ID verification in your notices section. If there is, respond to it ASAP with the requested documents. If you still can't get through on the phone, try contacting your local WorkSource office. They don't directly handle unemployment claims, but they sometimes have dedicated liaisons who can escalate issues to ESD. I've heard of people having success with this approach when nothing else worked.

After reading through your situation, I'm almost certain you're caught in what we call an "adjudication loop" - where your claim requires manual review but hasn't been assigned to an adjudicator yet. The system shows disqualified as a default status during this limbo period. A few important points: 1. The approval letters you received were likely for your initial monetary qualification (meaning you earned enough in your base year), but something else triggered a non-monetary review 2. The contradiction between your letters and status is typical of the ESD system's poor integration between different modules 3. You MUST continue filing weekly claims during this period or you'll lose eligibility for those weeks 4. The fastest resolution will come from speaking directly with an ESD agent who can see the specific flag on your account This is unfortunately very common in 2025, especially since ESD lost so many of their experienced staff after the pandemic surge ended.