To answer your follow-up question about job search requirements - yes, he needs to start looking for work and recording his job search activities immediately. There is no automatic standby period when a business closes. He needs to complete at least 3 job search activities each week and document them. The only exceptions would be if: 1. He's in an approved training program 2. He specifically applies for and is granted standby status (typically for temporary layoffs where the employer plans to recall workers) 3. He has a definite return-to-work date within 4 weeks from an employer Since the business closed entirely, #2 and #3 wouldn't apply. So yes, job search requirements are in effect from week one.

Also if ur worried about waiting too long make sure he answers those fact-finding questionares ASAP. I got one about my job search activities that took me 3 days to notice and it delayed my claim by like 2 weeks!!

I hate to say it, but 14 weeks is a long time even by ESD standards. If nobody is giving you a straight answer, you might want to consider filing for an adjudicative hearing. You have the right to appeal the "non-action" on your claim. It sounds extreme, but sometimes filing the appeal paperwork is what finally gets someone to look at your claim. Go to your eServices account, look for the "Submit an Appeal" option, and in your explanation say you're appealing the unreasonable delay in processing your redetermination. Include that it's been 14 weeks, you're facing eviction, and you've made multiple attempts to resolve it through normal channels. This creates a formal legal timeline that ESD has to respond to. I've seen it work when nothing else would.

UPDATE: I tried calling the main ESD number this morning at exactly 8:00am and asked for a Tier 3 specialist like someone suggested. After being transferred twice, I finally got someone who actually gave me some useful information! Apparently my former employer's final quarterly tax report showed different wages than what I reported on my application. Since the company went out of business, they're having trouble verifying which numbers are correct. The agent put a note in my file flagging it as a hardship case and said a specialist would review it within 5 business days. I'm also going to try the Claimyr service that was mentioned and file that appeal just to cover all bases. Thank you all for the suggestions - this has been the most progress I've made in months!

One thing to remember is that banking holidays can affect the timeline too. For example, if Monday is a banking holiday, everything gets pushed back a day. I learned this the hard way during President's Day when I was expecting payment on Wednesday but didn't get it until Thursday.

ppl on here keep saying file online but tbh the phone system never crashes. website is always down for maintenance right when i need to file 🙄

have u tried calling ur state representative? thats what i did and they contacted esd for me and fixed everything in like 3 days. look up who ur rep is and call their office

This is actually excellent advice. State representatives' offices often have liaison contacts at ESD who can escalate claims. Just be sure to provide your representative with your claim ID, full name, contact information, and a signed authorization allowing them to inquire about your case.

After struggling with the ESD phone lines for weeks, I finally got through last month and asked this exact question about temp work. The agent told me that taking temporary work is actually ENCOURAGED by ESD and will not negatively impact your existing claim. When the temp job ends, you'll need to reopen your claim. The claims agent will ask if you're still unemployed through no fault of your own, and a scheduled end to temporary work fits that criteria perfectly. Regarding the commute - the agent said they consider reasonable commutes to be up to 1 hour one-way in the first 8 weeks of unemployment, then up to 30 minutes after that. So timing matters too!

i think ur overthinking this. if the temp job pays ok just take it. they might even hire u permanent if u do good. unemployment is only like max $1100 a week anyway and dealing with esd is SUCH a pain!!