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I've been on unemployment for nearly 18 months now (had to switch from regular UI to extended benefits at one point) and I've found the phone system to be fine for basic claims with no special circumstances. BUT if you have anything unusual to report like hours worked at multiple jobs or holiday pay or anything like that, I strongly recommend using the website. The phone system just isn't designed to handle complex situations. It's pretty much designed for people who either worked zero hours or have a simple single-employer situation with regular hours. Just something to keep in mind!
I always file by phone and never had problem! Just make sure you listen for the confirmation number at the end and write it down!!! Thats how you know it worked for real
I had an overpayment issue too when I was on unemployment in 2023... took me FOREVER to reach anyone. When I finally did, they told me they had my payment but it was applied to the wrong quarter or something ridiculous like that. Make sure when you finally reach someone that they check ALL parts of your account, not just the current balance!
UPDATE: I finally got through to someone! Used the special Thursday window that someone mentioned here AND had sent an email with all my documentation. The agent confirmed exactly what someone here suggested - my payment got flagged for "verification" because it was made from a new bank account (I switched banks in December). They found my payment in their system, removed the late fee, and said it should be properly applied to my account within 3-5 business days. They're also putting a note that no additional fees should be added while this is processing. Thank you all SO MUCH for your help and suggestions. This community saved me from completely losing my mind this week!
Thanks everyone for the super helpful responses! I'm going to file my initial claim tomorrow and make sure I report the severance correctly. I'll also keep doing the weekly claims even though I probably won't receive anything during the severance period. I appreciate all the advice!
One last tip - make sure you start fulfilling your job search requirements right away, even during the severance period. You need 3 job search activities each week, and you have to document them. ESD can audit your job search log at any time. This is something many people miss and can cause problems with your claim later.
Oh that's really good to know! Do activities like updating my resume or setting up job alerts count toward the 3 weekly activities?
Updating your resume counts as ONE activity for ONE week only. Job alerts don't count by themselves. The most straightforward activities are job applications, attending job fairs, and having job interviews. There's a full list of acceptable activities on the ESD website under the job search requirements section.
That's great you found out what the issue is! Now you can properly address it. Make sure to submit any documentation they requested through your eServices account under the "Upload a Document" section. Label it clearly like "Proof of layoff for adjudication" so it gets routed correctly. Most adjudications get resolved within 3-4 weeks if you provide all the requested information promptly.
Connor O'Reilly
just wondering did u tell ur boss in writing why u were quitting? my friend won her case bc she sent an email explaining exactly why she was leaving and how they violated labor laws etc. without that they can just make up whatever reason they want
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Zainab Yusuf
•I did send an email explaining everything. I actually quoted back their own employee handbook about harassment and hostile work environment in my resignation letter. Glad to hear that might help my case!
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Yara Khoury
One more tip - for your appeal hearing, create a simple timeline document showing: 1. Your original job duties/hours when hired 2. Each significant change with exact dates 3. Each time you complained/reported issues 4. Any responses from management 5. How your working conditions differed at the end vs. beginning Administrative judges appreciate organization and clarity. Keep emotions out of it and stick to facts. And if you can show you tried to resolve the issues before quitting, that strengthens your case significantly.
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Zainab Yusuf
•Working on this timeline now. It's actually helping me organize my thoughts too. When it's all laid out chronologically, it's crystal clear what they were doing. Thanks again for the advice - feeling slightly more hopeful about my appeal now.
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