btw make sure you keep doing your 3 job search activities every week and logging them even while in adjudication. my friend got approved after waiting forever but then got disqualified cuz he didn't do his job searches during the waiting period. don't make that mistake!!

From my experience working with claimants, these status changes are completely normal and don't indicate problems with your claim. The ESD computer system updates statuses based on which department is currently handling your claim. 'Waiting on information' often means they're gathering employer responses or reviewing documents, while 'adjudication' means they're actively making a determination. For voluntary quit cases like yours, they're looking for documentation that shows you had good cause to leave. The fact that your claim is moving through different statuses actually suggests it's being processed, not stuck.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet: if you do appeal, make sure you keep filing your weekly claims during the entire appeal process. If you win your appeal but haven't been filing weekly claims, you won't receive benefits for those weeks. This is a common mistake people make during appeals.

THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED!!! Sorry but I've been through the appeals process twice and it's totally set up to favor employers. They don't care about your family emergency, they only care about technicalities and rules. You probably won't win anyway so why risk making your old company mad if you're trying to get hired back?

lol i think ur getting wayyy ahead of urself... who knows what the unemployment system will even look like after ur out... they change the rules like every 6 months anyway!!! good luck tho

One more important point: When you're released, if your benefit year has expired, you'll need to have worked and earned qualifying wages AFTER your previous claim was filed to be eligible for a new claim. This means you likely need to find employment first, work for a while, and then if you lose that job through no fault of your own, you could file a new claim. Unemployment isn't designed to restart after a long absence from the workforce - it's specifically for people who have recently lost employment. Focus on reentry programs that help with job placement after incarceration, as these will be more immediately helpful than trying to restart unemployment benefits.

One thing no one's mentioned yet - make sure your payment method is set up correctly in eServices. I've seen people win appeals, then their backpay was sent to an old debit card or closed bank account. Double-check your payment settings while you're waiting!

UPDATE: I just received my first backpay deposit! $4,600 hit my account this morning - exactly 11 days after getting the appeal decision. Called yesterday using that special collections number that someone suggested, and apparently that did the trick. The agent said the remaining amount should come through within 72 hours. Thanks everyone for your help with this!

One more thing I forgot to mention - after your hearing, the judge won't make a decision right away. You'll receive their written decision by mail within 2-3 weeks. If you win, benefits are usually processed within a week after the decision and include all back payments from when you first filed. If you lose, you have another appeal option to the Commissioner's Review Office, though that's much more complicated. But focus on winning this hearing first!

I really appreciate all this information. The waiting for a decision part is going to be tough, but at least I'll be prepared for it now. I'll update this thread after my hearing to let everyone know how it went!