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My hearing is next month for something similar. Anyone know if these hearings are still being done by phone because of COVID or are they in-person now? The notice wasn't clear.
They're still doing most hearings by phone. You'll get a call at the scheduled time. Make sure to have ALL your evidence submitted beforehand through their online portal. Have your documents in front of you during the call. And BE ON TIME - they won't reschedule if you miss it without a really good reason!
Update: I finally managed to get through to someone at ESD! Turns out my employer also submitted some email exchanges showing they had verbally warned me about inventory issues before the written warning. This makes my case harder, but at least now I can prepare better for the hearing. Thanks for all the advice everyone.
This is really good that you found this out before the hearing. Now you can prepare to address these emails specifically. Focus on whether these were actually clear warnings or just normal work communications. Also consider if there were extenuating circumstances like staff shortages, system issues, or inadequate training that contributed to the problems. Don't forget to emphasize any positive feedback or performance reviews you received during the same time period.
do u still get the same amount of money with training benefits as regular unemployment?? and do they pay for the school too or just the weekly benefits??
Training Benefits provides the same weekly benefit amount as your regular unemployment. However, it does NOT pay for your tuition or school expenses - it only continues your unemployment benefits while you attend training and waives the job search requirements. For tuition assistance, you'd need to explore other options like: - Worker Retraining funds through the community college system - Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) grants through WorkSource - Pell Grants and financial aid by completing the FAFSA - Various scholarships for career changers Many people combine Training Benefits with these other funding sources to cover both living expenses and tuition. WorkSource can help you navigate all these programs simultaneously.
Thank you everyone for the helpful advice! I've scheduled an appointment with a WorkSource career counselor for next week to discuss my options. I'm going to research vet tech and animal shelter management programs in my area before the meeting. I had no idea there were so many considerations with Training Benefits, so I'm really glad I asked here first before making any decisions. I'll update once I learn more about which programs are approved and if I qualify!
I experienced this frustration with ESD last year. If you're certain your husband won't need to claim additional benefits, you can ignore the notice. However, if there's any chance he might need unemployment again soon, it's better to submit the application even if it's late. The most important thing is getting clarity directly from ESD about your specific situation. I struggled for weeks trying to reach someone until I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com). They helped me get through to an ESD representative in under 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Definitely worth it to get an official answer about your specific situation.
For clarity on the technical aspects of your question: 1. If your husband has exhausted his benefits (used all available funds) AND is not seeking additional unemployment compensation, there is no requirement to respond to the reapplication notice. 2. The notice you received is about the end of the benefit year (the 52-week period from when he first applied), not about the exhaustion of funds. 3. If he's now employed, there's even less reason to respond to the notice. 4. If he might need unemployment again within the next few months, filing a new application now might actually complicate things, as he would need to report his new employment income. 5. The only possible consequence of not responding would be if he was still attempting to claim weekly benefits while having an exhausted claim. Since that's not your situation, you should be fine.
Thank you for breaking it down so clearly! This really helps us understand the whole situation better. He's working now and we don't anticipate needing benefits again anytime soon, so it sounds like we made the right call by not responding. The ESD notices and requirements can be so confusing sometimes!
just to share my experience - my claim was denied because I quit "voluntarily" even though it was for childcare. ESD said I should have "explored all other options" first. The appeal took FOREVER and I still got denied! The system is totally rigged against parents who need to care for sick kids!!!! Ugh so frustrating.
That's unfortunate about your claim. For others reading: when quitting for caregiving, ESD requires documentation that you explored ALL alternatives - like asking for schedule changes, taking leave, finding alternative care, etc. It's not enough to just say you needed to care for your child - you have to prove there were no other options. Document every conversation and alternative you explored.
Update: I tried the Claimyr service mentioned above and actually got through to ESD! The agent said I should formally request accommodation from my employer in writing first (asking for a temporary leave or shift change) and keep their response. She said I should continue working part-time while the first adjudication resolves if possible. If I absolutely need to quit, I should get detailed medical documentation showing why my daughter needs care during my current work hours specifically. She also suggested applying for Standby status with a specific return-to-work date when my daughter's treatment schedule changes. Thanks everyone for your help!
This is excellent news! The agent gave you perfect advice. Having that formal accommodation request (and likely denial) documented will significantly strengthen your case. Make sure to follow through with the medical documentation as well - be specific about the hours care is needed and why alternative care isn't possible. Glad you were able to get through and get solid guidance!
Emma Morales
Have your husband call the hall tomorrow morning and make sure they have him listed as available for work!! Sometimes they forget to move you back to the available list when you get laid off again. Also get him signed up for dispatch text alerts if his local offers them.
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Diego Castillo
•That's a good reminder - I'll make sure he calls both halls tomorrow to update his status. I don't think he's set up for text alerts yet so we'll look into that too.
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Ali Anderson
Just want to clarify something important: Make sure your husband continues to meet job search requirements during this 1-2 week temporary layoff period, unless he's specifically granted standby status. Even if he expects to return to the same employer soon, he technically needs to complete and document three job search activities each week unless ESD has formally approved standby status. Having the employer specifically state in writing that they expect to recall him on a specific date can help with this. Many people miss this detail and end up having benefits denied for insufficient job search activities, even during brief layoffs.
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Diego Castillo
•Thank you for mentioning this! I don't think he has formal standby status. So even for this very brief 1-2 week period, he still needs to do the 3 job search activities per week? Is contacting his union hall for dispatch opportunities considered a valid job search activity?
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Ali Anderson
•Yes, he still needs the 3 activities per week without formal standby. Contacting the union hall absolutely counts as a job search activity! Also, checking the union job board and attending any union meetings about work opportunities all count as separate activities.
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