btw when i finally got my refund they included interest!!! not much like $180 on my $7k but better than nothing i guess. just thought ud want to know

UPDATE: I wanted to let everyone know I finally made progress! I used Claimyr this morning and actually got through to a real person at ESD in about 15 minutes. The claims specialist confirmed my refund was still just sitting in the review queue with no action. She flagged it for hardship review after I explained my situation with rent and submitted the hardship form. She said I should hear something within 2-3 weeks now instead of months. HUGE relief! Will update again when/if I actually get the money. Thank you all for the advice!

my mom got laid off at 59 and ended up starting her own business with her severance money! now she makes more than she did at her old job lol. maybe instead of looking for someone to hire you, you could be your own boss?

Just an important update regarding what I mentioned earlier - definitely talk to someone at WorkSource about the Commissioner Approved Training/Training Benefits program. If approved, you could get up to 26 ADDITIONAL weeks of benefits while you train for a new occupation, and you wouldn't have to look for work during that period. The Training Benefits program is specifically designed for people in your situation - dislocated workers who need to gain new skills. There are deadlines for applying though, so don't wait too long. You need to submit your application within your current benefit year, ideally well before your regular benefits run out.

I can confirm this afternoon callback strategy works. I spent months trying to get through in the mornings with no luck. Then I tried calling at 3:30pm, got into the callback queue, and received a call back the same day. The representative explained they have staffing dedicated to callbacks in the afternoon. She ended up resolving my adjudication issue on the spot and my payments started processing immediately. One important tip: make sure your phone accepts calls from unknown or blocked numbers. ESD calls often show up as "No Caller ID" and if your phone blocks these, you'll miss their callback.

For anyone still struggling to reach ESD, here's a comprehensive approach that might help: 1. Try the afternoon callback strategy mentioned in this thread (request callback after 3pm) 2. Make sure your phone accepts unknown/blocked numbers 3. Check your eServices account for any alerts requiring action 4. Submit a secure message through the portal (sometimes they respond within 48 hours) 5. Contact your state representative if you've been waiting more than 3 weeks 6. Consider using Claimyr if you're in a desperate situation Also, always keep documenting your weekly claims even if you're waiting for adjudication. Once approved, you'll receive backpay for all properly filed weeks.

guys my overpayment is like $6700 and im FREAKING OUT... does anyone know if they'll do a payment plan or am i just screwed???

Update: I FINALLY got through to someone at ESD yesterday after trying for over a week. The regular agent didn't understand the tax withholding issue at all and kept saying I had to pay the full amount. But I asked to speak with someone in the "Benefits Accuracy and Integrity" unit like @UnemploymentExpert suggested, and they transferred me. The specialist immediately knew what I was talking about! She said it's a common problem with their system and reduced my overpayment amount by the tax withholding portion (about $275). She's sending me updated paperwork showing the correct amount. Thank you all for your help - especially the specific terminology to use. Made all the difference!

my cousin works for the state (not ESD) and she says theres a HUGE backlog cuz they fired a bunch of judges or something last year. system is totally broken!!!!

One last suggestion - if you do get your hearing scheduled soon, make sure you're fully prepared. The judge will only consider evidence presented during the hearing. Gather all relevant documents (employment records, communications with your employer, records of job search activities if that's relevant to your case). The preparation you do now can make a big difference in the outcome. Good luck!