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question - does anyone know if accepting part time work affects your job search requirements? do you still have to do the 3 job search activities every week even if you have a part time job now? i'm confused about this part.
Yes, you still need to complete your 3 job search activities each week even if you're working part-time. The only way to have this requirement waived is if you're officially on standby (temporary layoff with return date) or in an approved training program. A part-time job doesn't change your search requirements since ESD considers you to still be looking for full-time work.
Update: I accepted the part-time position and reported my first week of work on my weekly claim. The process was pretty straightforward - I just had to enter my hours worked each day and the gross pay before taxes. My benefit was reduced but I still received a partial payment. Thanks everyone for the advice! I'm relieved I can gain experience in my field while still getting some unemployment support until I find something full-time.
Great to hear it worked out! One additional tip: if your hours increase or decrease from week to week, make sure to accurately report each specific week's hours/earnings rather than averaging or estimating. ESD's system does occasionally cross-check with employer reporting, and discrepancies can trigger adjudication delays. Best of luck with the new position!
Hey, so I'm an accountant (not a lawyer!) and wanted to mention - check with your tax preparer because your legal fees related to getting unemployment benefits might be tax-deductible on your federal return. It falls under "miscellaneous deductions" in some cases. Won't get you the full amount back, but could reduce your tax bill a bit depending on your situation.
One other thing to consider - how quickly do you need your back benefits? After winning my appeal, it still took ESD about 3 weeks to process the payment. If you're in a rush to get those funds, calling ESD directly after 7-10 business days to check on the status can sometimes speed things up. Just be prepared for a long wait time to speak with someone.
This isn't accurate. ESD decisions are based on state law and the specific facts of each case. While initial determinations sometimes favor employers (who often have better documentation), many claimants win on appeal when they properly present their evidence. About 40% of claimant appeals are successful at the OAH level. The system has challenges, but it's not inherently biased against claimants.
Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I've been taking notes and feel much better prepared for my appeal hearing now. I'll definitely organize my evidence showing the pay cut and my attempts to resolve it before quitting. I'm still trying to reach someone at ESD to find out exactly what my employer claimed, but it's nearly impossible to get through on the phone. Might try that Claimyr service if I can't get through in the next few days.
That hasn't been my experience at all. Phone and online claims are processed through the same system on the backend. The method of filing doesn't impact processing time - it's more about the complexity of your work history and whether there are any flags on your claim. I've worked with hundreds of claimants and haven't seen any statistical difference between phone and online filing times.
Carmen Diaz
i had this happen and got paid the next day! but my roommate had the same thing and didn't get paid for like a month. i think it depends what they're checking on your claim?? good luck!
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Nia Thompson
UPDATE: You all were right! Money appeared in my account this morning even though my claim still says "pending" online. Such a relief! Now I just hope they don't come back later and ask for it back if they find some issue during adjudication. Thanks for all the helpful information everyone.
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Aisha Abdullah
•Great news! Keep filing your weekly claims and stay on top of any correspondence from ESD. If they do find an issue later, they'll notify you before taking any action to recover funds. In most cases, if you've provided accurate information, you won't have any problems. Glad it worked out for you!
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Mateo Rodriguez
•Woohoo! That's awesome. Mine stayed in adjudication for almost 3 months but they kept paying me the whole time. Eventually it just switched to approved without me doing anything else.
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