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ESD adjudication after DV-related resignation - facing eviction - how long to wait?
I had to leave my job last month due to domestic violence situation (had to move cities for safety). Filed for unemployment right away but my claim keeps bouncing around in the system. I'm now on my 3rd week and just got pushed back into 'adjudication status' again after thinking it was moving forward. Meanwhile, I just received an eviction notice yesterday and my utility bills are piling up fast. I have maybe 2 weeks before I'm completely out of options financially. I've called ESD about 30 times over the past week but never get through. Is there a specific time when the lines aren't so busy? Should I keep trying or should I contact the governor's office instead? Has anyone had success getting their DV-related claim expedited? I provided all the documentation they asked for including the protection order. Just feeling desperate at this point.
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ESD eligibility after job elimination & quitting replacement position with new company?
I've been a full-time manager at SuperStore for over 2 years with a solid performance record. Last month, our locations were acquired by CompetitorMart and my original position was completely eliminated during the transition. The new company offered me what they called an "equivalent position" which I accepted because I needed income. Fast forward 4 weeks, and I'm realizing this new role is nothing like my previous job. The responsibilities are completely different, requiring technical skills I don't have, the hours have increased by 15+ hours weekly with no additional compensation, and the working conditions are honestly terrible. I'm considering quitting, but I'm worried about my unemployment eligibility. Since my original position was eliminated through no fault of my own, can I still qualify for unemployment benefits through my original employer even though I technically accepted (and would now be quitting) this new position? Would ESD consider this a case where I had "good cause" to refuse unsuitable work? I'm really struggling with this decision because I need income but this new situation is taking a serious toll on my health. Any insights from people who've been through similar situations would be greatly appreciated!
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Generally there's minimal downside to having a professional conversation. Frame it as "this role isn't the right fit for either of us" rather than "I want to quit but need unemployment." Many employers understand it's better for everyone if an employee who isn't a good fit moves on, and coding it as a layoff can be a win-win. If they seem receptive, you could even offer a transition period where you help train your replacement.
This is exactly what I did when my company got bought out!! The new owners were TERRIBLE and changed everything about my job. I talked to the new manager and basically said I wasn't a good fit anymore but would help with transition if they'd agree to code it as a layoff. They actually agreed because they wanted to bring in their own person anyway!
UPDATE: I called ESD this morning to ask about a similar situation and the agent confirmed that job elimination followed by unsuitable work CAN qualify for benefits. She said they look at these on a case-by-case basis and that documenting the differences between positions is critical. She also mentioned that if your pay was reduced by more than 25% OR your skills aren't transferable to the new role, those are strong factors in your favor. Hope this helps someone!
Thank you for sharing this update! It's incredibly helpful to hear directly from an ESD agent about this type of situation. I'm feeling a bit more optimistic about my chances now.
Identity verification hold resolved after 11 weeks in ESD adjudication - Governor's office helped
After 13 weeks of complete silence from ESD, I finally got answers about my stalled unemployment claim! My weekly claims kept showing 'pending - adjudication in progress' with zero explanation. The eServices dashboard showed nothing wrong, and calling the regular number was useless (disconnected after 2+ hours every single time). Out of desperation, I contacted the Governor's office yesterday through their constituent services form. Within 24 HOURS someone from ESD actually called me back! Turns out my claim was held up because of an identity verification issue from a previous claim in 2023 that I never even knew about. The system flagged me for additional verification but never sent any notification or action items to my eServices account. I've now submitted my driver's license, social security card, and utility bill through the appeal process. The ESD rep said this should clear things up within 10 business days. If anyone else is stuck in adjudication limbo with no explanation, try the Governor's office route! Will update when I (hopefully) get paid.
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After trying Claimyr that someone mentioned, I actually got through to ESD yesterday after weeks of trying. The agent said identity verification issues are prioritized differently based on your work history and when you last filed. If you've had multiple claims or gaps in employment, you get flagged for extra verification. The frustrating part is their notification system is completely separate from eServices, and many notices are still being sent through regular mail that people aren't receiving.
Approved after employer falsely claimed I quit! 7-week adjudication nightmare finally over
Just got approved for unemployment at 2:15 AM today after fighting with ESD for almost 7 weeks! My case had been stuck in adjudication since March 3rd with no movement whatsoever. My former company tried claiming I voluntarily quit because I 'couldn't meet standards' which was complete BS - they actually laid me off. After 5 weeks of silence, I called the governor's office (desperate times!) and my claim was escalated. Finally got a call from an adjudicator's assistant yesterday who let me explain what really happened. I was ready to take this way beyond just ESD if they'd denied me based on my employer's false statements. Thank goodness my claim status finally changed to PAID at 2:15 AM! Should see the money within 2-3 days. The backpay will be around $5,800 which I desperately need after burning through savings. If anyone's dealing with employer misrepresentation or stuck in endless adjudication, I'm happy to share what worked for me!
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7 WEEKS is ridiculous!!! the system is BROKEN!!! glad you finally got approved but why should anyone have to call the literal governors office just to get their legitimate benefits?? we need to completely overhaul ESD
While the frustration is understandable, I think it's worth noting that most claims don't require adjudication at all. It's typically only when there's conflicting information between what the claimant and employer report. That said, 7 weeks is still far too long even for an adjudication case.
After you called the governor's office, did they tell you approximately how long it would take for someone to contact you? I'm planning to call them tomorrow but wondering what timeframe to expect.
They told me 7-10 business days, and I got a call on day 8. They said they'd send an urgent request to ESD's escalation team. The person who called from the governor's office was really helpful and took detailed notes about my situation.
ESD wants repayment despite 'not at fault' overpayment decision - anyone won their appeal?
I'm completely baffled by the ESD repayment process right now. Last month my claim from 2023 was reviewed and I received an official determination that I was 'not at fault' for a $5,800 overpayment that happened when my employer reported different hours than what I submitted. Great news, right? WRONG. Yesterday I got another letter saying I still have to repay the entire amount because I 'have the financial ability to repay' - which is ridiculous because I'm barely making ends meet at my part-time retail job! The letter mentioned something about my household income being sufficient but doesn't explain their calculation at all. I've already filed an appeal and have another hearing scheduled for next month, but I'm freaking out about this massive debt hanging over my head. Has anyone successfully appealed an overpayment after being found 'not at fault'? What documentation did you provide to prove financial hardship? The whole system feels designed to wear people down until they just give up and pay.
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One thing I recommend for your appeal: request all records ESD used to make their determination about your ability to repay. You have a right to see exactly what financial information they're basing this on. Sometimes they're working with outdated or incorrect information about your current financial situation. At your hearing, be sure to highlight any changes in your financial circumstances since the overpayment occurred - especially if your situation has worsened. Also, don't be afraid to get emotional (but still respectful) about the impact this repayment would have on your life. The judges are human and respond to genuine hardship stories.
this is good advice 👆 wish i'd known to ask for their records when i was fighting my case
For my appeal hearing, I created a monthly budget spreadsheet that was really detailed - I listed every single expense down to Netflix and pet food. The judge actually complimented me on how thorough it was. I also brought screenshots of my bank account showing I had less than $500 in savings. Don't forget to include any medical expenses or debt payments! Another thing that helped was bringing documentation of any unusual expenses that might be coming up - in my case, my car needed major repairs, so I brought the estimate from the mechanic. The more specific you can be about your financial situation, the better your chances.
This is such good advice - thank you for the level of detail! I'll definitely create a comprehensive spreadsheet with everything. I've never been good about budgeting before but this is certainly motivation to start. Did you bring physical copies of all your documentation to the hearing?
Jamal Carter
wait r u getting the paper mail from ESD too? sometimes they send important stuff that's not on the website and if u miss responding to one of those letters the whole claim gets messed up. happened to my roommate
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Andre Rousseau
AuthorYes, I've been checking my mail obsessively and responding to everything they send. I got a letter requesting the protection order documentation, which I sent in right away with a return receipt. Still waiting to see if that's what's holding things up.
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Zoe Papadakis
One more thing that might help - if you're able to get through to ESD (either directly or through a service), ask them specifically if there are any "fact-finding questionnaires" that need to be completed. Sometimes these aren't obvious in your online account but can be holding up your claim. Also, make sure you're continuing to file your weekly claims even while in adjudication. If you miss filing for any week, it creates even more complications. Lastly, document EVERYTHING - dates/times you called, names of people you spoke with, letters you sent, etc. This documentation can be helpful if you need to appeal or escalate your case.
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Andre Rousseau
AuthorThank you for this. I've been filing my weekly claims religiously, but I hadn't thought about asking about questionnaires specifically. I've started keeping a log of all my attempts to contact them. I'm going to try calling again at 8am tomorrow morning and will specifically ask about this.
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