has anyone gotten backpay for all the weeks they waiting? im on week 5 of waiting

UPDATE: Finally got through to ESD this morning using Claimyr! The agent found that my claim was flagged for manual review because my employer reported a slightly different last day of work than what I entered (I put my last day in the office, they put the official termination date which was 2 days later). The agent updated it and said my payments should process within 48-72 hours. Such a relief to finally know what was happening! Will update when money arrives.

anyone else notice ESD always says 'paid' way before it actually pays?? like why even have that status if it doesnt mean anything lol

Actually, 'paid' means ESD has processed the payment on their end and sent the payment instruction to the bank or card processor. It doesn't mean the money has arrived in your account yet. There are multiple systems involved: ESD's payment system, the ACH transfer network, and your bank's processing system. Each step takes time. From what you've described, I think you'll see the money very soon. First payments almost always take longer than subsequent ones. Once you're in their regular payment cycle, it becomes much more predictable.

Wanted to clarify something - I work for ESD (not speaking in any official capacity). The Governor's office doesn't directly expedite claims, but they do sometimes forward constituent concerns to our Commissioner's Office, which can flag claims for review. The most effective routes right now are: 1. Your state legislators (as others have mentioned) 2. The ESD Ombuds Office 3. Getting through to an agent who can see if there's a simple issue holding up your claim And yes, hardship flags do exist in our system, but they require specific criteria and documentation. The agent needs to verify the hardship meets certain thresholds. Also, make sure you're continuing to file your weekly claims while in adjudication. I've seen too many people stop filing because they think it doesn't matter until adjudication is complete, but then they lose those weeks of potential benefits.

UPDATE: I wanted to let everyone know what worked! I tried several of the suggestions here. The Ombuds office took my info but said it could be 5-7 business days before they could look into it. I also contacted my state rep's office yesterday morning with all the details about facing eviction. THIS WORKED!! I got a call this afternoon from an ESD supervisor who said my case was expedited after the legislative inquiry. Apparently there was a simple question about my last employer that was holding everything up. She processed my adjudication on the spot, and my account now shows the payments as pending! THANK YOU all so much for the advice - especially about contacting my state representative. You literally saved me from eviction. I'm going to cry from relief.

how did u even get approved in the first place if ur employer was going to fight it? did they just not respond at first?

One more important thing: while your appeal is in process, you should continue looking for work and documenting your job search activities. The appeal process doesn't pause your job search requirements if you're still claiming benefits on weeks you're eligible for. Also, make sure to request a payment plan application right away, even before your appeal. This shows good faith on your part and starts the process in case your appeal is unsuccessful. ESD has reasonable payment plans that can be as low as $25-50 per month depending on your financial situation. Having your employer not contest the appeal is a huge advantage, but remember the burden of proof is still on you to show you met all eligibility requirements. Be prepared to explain why you qualified for benefits initially.

Look into a 401k LOAN instead of a withdrawal if your plan allows it. You avoid the tax penalties, and you're basically borrowing from yourself. The interest you pay goes back into your own account. Much better option if you can swing it.

Update on your question about weekly claims - if your claim is in adjudication, you should STILL be filing weekly claims every week while you wait. Many people don't realize this. If you haven't been filing, start immediately and try to file for any missed weeks (though there's a limited window for backdating).