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Update for anyone finding this thread: I called ESD this morning and finally got through to a representative after about a 45-minute wait. The agent confirmed they're experiencing extremely high call volumes right now due to some recent system changes. They recommended using the online message center in eServices for most issues rather than calling. Apparently messages are currently being responded to within 3-5 business days, which is actually faster than getting through by phone for many issues. For those who absolutely need to speak to someone by phone, they said their lowest call volumes are currently Wednesday and Thursday afternoons between 2-4pm.
UPDATE: I finally got through! For anyone having the same problem, here's what worked: I called exactly at 8:00am, pressed 1 for English, then 3 for questions about an existing claim, then 2 for all other questions. I was put on hold for about 35 minutes but finally got a real person! They fixed my issue in about 10 minutes. Just wanted to update in case someone else finds this thread with the same problem. Persistence is key!
Just a quick tip for the future - once you're established in the system, payments usually follow a very consistent schedule. Mine always shows as paid on Tuesdays and hits my account on Wednesdays around 9am. The predictability helps a lot with budgeting. I hope you see your payment soon!
Has your employer been accommodating with your medical appointments at all? if they havent been working with you on your schedule after you provided doctors notes, you might have an ADA complaint too. my sister got unemployment after quitting because her boss refused reasonable accommodations for her medical condition
They were somewhat accommodating at first, but became less flexible over time. They never explicitly denied my requests for time off for appointments, but they did start counting them against my attendance points after a certain point. I never formally requested ADA accommodations though - I didn't even think about that being an option.
After reading through this entire thread, I think you have a reasonable case for benefits regardless of whether you quit or are terminated, BUT you need to be strategic in how you navigate this. Here's my comprehensive advice: 1. If you decide to resign, make it explicitly clear in writing that you are resigning due to medical necessity, not to avoid termination. Provide copies of medical documentation with your resignation. 2. When filing with ESD, focus on the medical reasons, not the attendance issues. The attendance problems were a symptom of the underlying medical needs, not misconduct. 3. Be prepared for adjudication - almost all voluntary quits go through this process. During adjudication, provide all documentation showing: - Medical necessity (doctor's notes) - Any attempts to work with your employer on accommodations - The timeline of events including your return from maternity leave - Any evidence that your employer was unwilling to accommodate medical needs 4. Consider also exploring PFML as others have suggested, especially if your or your child's medical issues are ongoing. 5. If denied initially (which happens frequently), immediately appeal and request a hearing where you can present your full documentation. Your situation involves several overlapping areas: maternity leave protections, medical necessity, and potentially ADA considerations. With proper documentation and clear explanation of the medical basis for separation, you have a reasonable path to benefits.
Thank you so much for this detailed advice. I'm going to follow your suggestions and make sure I emphasize the medical necessity in my resignation letter if I go that route. I'll also look into PFML as an alternative. I really appreciate everyone's help - this has been incredibly stressful and all your insights have given me a much clearer understanding of my options.
dont forget they take taxes out if u selected that option when u filed! my backdate amount was way less than i expected
Sophie Duck
had kinda the same thing happen to me. boss cut my hours from 40 to like 12 a week and esd said i quit! took forever to get it sorted but did win my appeal eventually
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Christian Bierman
One more piece of advice: if it's been more than 8 weeks, you can try contacting your state representative's office. They often have liaisons who can help check on the status of appeals. They won't expedite it necessarily, but they might be able to get you more information than you can get yourself.
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Mason Stone
•I never thought about contacting my state rep! I'll give that a try if I don't hear anything in the next couple weeks. Thanks for the suggestion.
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