Not at all! The agent was actually really nice. They're used to people using different methods to reach them because of how hard it is to get through. They just seemed focused on helping with my claim once I got connected.

Quick update - I just checked and my claim has been approved! Got the determination letter this morning after 6 weeks and 3 days in adjudication. They ruled that the performance standards were unreasonable since they were changed mid-quarter without proper training. All my back payments should be coming through in 48 hours. Don't give up hope!

my adjuducation took 12 weeks in 2024 it was TERRIBLE i had to use all my savings and max out credit card! the whole system is broken!!!! when i finally got someone on phone they approved me in 5 minutes like why did it take 12 weeks then????????

Update: I finally got through to ESD this morning after trying for 2 hours. The agent said my claim looks good but is waiting for employer response. They have until Feb 28th to respond, and if they don't, ESD will make a determination based on my documentation alone. She flagged my claim with financial hardship since I explained my situation. Fingers crossed this moves things along!

they took foreeeever with my claim too. like 6 weeks!! but i got all my backpay once they approved it so just hang in there! the waiting is the worst part but at least the money comes eventually

Update: We're seeing a lot of similar cases recently. ESD appears to be scrutinizing termination cases more carefully in 2025. Make sure the documents you uploaded clearly demonstrate you were terminated without misconduct. If your termination was part of a larger layoff or reduction in force, providing documentation that shows others were also let go at the same time can be helpful. Many claimants are seeing 3-4 week adjudication periods for termination cases right now.

Has anyone mentioned the burden of proof yet? In BAP hearings (and regular appeals too), the burden is on ESD to prove you were overpaid, not on you to prove you weren't. Make sure to emphasize that in your written statement if you go the BAP route. Don't just defend yourself - directly challenge whether they've met their burden of proof with actual evidence (not just their system assumptions).

UPDATE - I just wanted to share that I got my BAP decision today and ESD has COMPLETELY dropped the overpayment!!! All that stress for nothing! The review officer specifically said my documentation clearly showed I reported everything correctly. So glad I went with the BAP instead of another phone hearing!

Just wanted to update you - I went through something very similar last year. I was fired after only 6 weeks for missing 2 days due to a family emergency. I applied for benefits, was initially denied, but won on appeal. The hearing officer specifically mentioned that the employer failed to show any misconduct on my part and that they hadn't provided any documented warnings. The entire process took about 7 weeks from application to getting my first payment after winning the appeal. So don't give up if you get an initial denial!

Remember to do your weekly claims even while waiting for the initial decision! That's a common mistake people make - they wait for approval before filing weekly claims. If your claim is approved, you'll only get paid for weeks you've properly claimed.