One more thing to prepare for: when you reopen your claim, ESD will contact your most recent employer to verify your work separation reason. Since you're transitioning from FMLA to unemployment, make sure you're clear about why you can't return to your previous position. If you voluntarily chose not to return without medical necessity, it could potentially disqualify you. But if you have medical documentation showing you cannot return to that specific job but can work elsewhere, you should be covered.

ppl are making this way more complicated then it is lol!! just reopen ur claim, check the box that says u were on medical leave, provide the dates, done! ive done this twice no problems

Another option is to visit your local WorkSource office in person. They can't fix your claim directly, but they have special contact channels to ESD that the public doesn't. I was stuck in a similar situation last year and the WorkSource staff were able to get an ESD specialist to call me back within 48 hours.

Update: I tried both the governor's complaint form AND calling OAH this morning. OAH was actually really helpful - the person I spoke with said they're seeing this issue a lot lately. They're sending me a paper appeal form and said I should include a written statement explaining why my appeal is late, with all the documentation of my attempts to contact ESD. They said as long as I can show I made reasonable efforts to resolve it with ESD first, they'll likely grant the good cause exception. Feeling a bit more hopeful now!

I'm wondering if this is related to that system update they announced last month? They sent an email about upgrading some parts of eServices but I don't remember the exact dates. Maybe we're seeing the aftermath of a botched update rollout.

Yes, you're right. They're in the middle of a phased system modernization project that was announced in their April 2025 claimant newsletter. Phase 2 was scheduled for implementation throughout May and June, with weekend maintenance windows. The claim filing issues some people are experiencing are likely related to this transition period.

One more important thing: document EVERYTHING. Every time you call ESD, write down the date, time, who you spoke with, and what they told you. If they make any promises about your repayment plan, ask for it in writing or at minimum get a reference number for the call. I've seen cases where claimants negotiated payment plans, only to have them not properly noted in the system. Then they were surprised when different amounts were withheld than what they agreed to. Also, check your ESD online account frequently once payments start. The overpayment balance should decrease with each payment. If you see any discrepancies, contact them immediately.

Since the overpayment happened in 2023, you should also check if you qualify for an overpayment waiver based on equity and good conscience. The criteria changed slightly in recent years, and ESD now has more flexibility to waive overpayments in certain situations. To request a waiver, you'll need to complete ESD's financial statement form and show that repayment would cause significant financial hardship. Success with waivers varies, but it's worth trying if your overpayment wasn't due to fraud or misrepresentation. At minimum, I'd recommend asking for the lowest possible repayment rate based on your financial situation. Having some income while job searching is better than none.

I work in HR and deal with unemployment issues regularly. This is definitely an identification mix-up in the ESD system. I've seen many cases where ESD has confused claimants with similar names or SSNs. I'd recommend doing all of the following: 1. Continue trying to reach a live agent (others have suggested methods) 2. Submit a formal appeal through the OAH (Office of Administrative Hearings) - this is different from the eServices appeals you've submitted 3. Go to your local WorkSource office in person - sometimes they can help escalate these issues 4. Contact your state representative as someone suggested 5. Continue filing weekly claims despite the denial Most importantly, document EVERYTHING. Note the dates/times of all calls, take screenshots of all online submissions, and keep copies of all documents you submit. This creates a paper trail showing your due diligence that can help get any waiting week penalties waived once the issue is resolved.

UPDATE: I finally got through to a real person at ESD! I used the Claimyr service that someone suggested above, and it worked great. Got a call back in about 2 hours. The agent confirmed it was indeed a case of mistaken identity - they had somehow merged my records with someone else's who had the same last name but different first name and SSN! They've escalated my case to a claims specialist who will call me within 48 hours to process the correction. I'm still going to submit that OAH appeal as backup, but it looks like things are finally moving in the right direction. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!