If anyone is having trouble reaching ESD for questions about this or other claim issues, I had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com). After trying for days to get through on my own, they got me connected to an ESD agent in about 20 minutes. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 When I finished my last claim after getting hired, I had a question about reporting a signing bonus and needed to talk to someone. Claimyr was definitely worth it to get a clear answer directly from ESD.

Just to clarify an important point that people sometimes get confused about: You need to report any hours worked AND earnings for the WEEK OF WORK, not when you get paid. So if you work Monday-Friday but don't get your first paycheck for two weeks, you still need to report those hours and estimated earnings on your claim for the week you actually performed the work. Also, if you have any pending issues on your claim, make sure to continue checking your ESD account for a few weeks after you stop claiming, as they might still need information from you to resolve those issues.

When I got my new job last month I kept filing until I got my first paycheck. Made sure to report all my hours worked even though I wasn't paid yet. I think my last benefit payment was reduced because of the hours, but I still got something since I wasn't full time right away. Just be super honest about the hours - they crosscheck with employers eventually.

For context on adjudication timing: ESD currently has a significant backlog of claims requiring adjudication. The standard timeframe is 4-6 weeks, but can extend to 8-10 weeks during periods of high volume. The adjudicator reviews issues that could affect your eligibility, such as job separation circumstances, availability for work, or potential earnings discrepancies. Regarding your new employment: Continue filing weekly claims until you are working full-time hours (35+ per week). Report all hours worked in the week they are worked, regardless of when payment is received. Your benefits will be reduced according to your reported hours using a specific formula. Once you're working full-time, you can simply stop filing weekly claims - no need to formally close your claim. If you need to verify exactly what issue is being adjudicated, you'll need to speak with an ESD representative. Written correspondence about adjudication issues should appear in your eServices account under Notices/Letters.

hey i just got thru to esd this morning! try this: call the main number but then press 2 for spanish (even if u dont speak it) then 0 right away. got me to a person in like 15 mins and they spoke english anyway lol

UPDATE: I tried the Spanish line trick and it actually worked!!! Got through to someone after about 20 minutes on hold. They said my adjudication was waiting on employer verification and they sent a follow-up request. Should be resolved within 7-10 days. THANK YOU everyone for all the suggestions!!!

I think everyone is missing something important here. If your bar SOLD rather than just closed, you might qualify for different treatment. When I got laid off because my company was acquired, I had to provide additional documentation about the sale. Did your employer provide any documentation or separation letter explaining the sale? You should upload that if you have it. Also, make sure you're marking your reason for separation correctly - it should be "Business Closed or Sold" NOT "Laid Off Due to Lack of Work" - they're different categories in ESD's system and it affects how they process your claim.

You can't edit your initial claim reason yourself, but you can upload a statement clarifying the correct reason through your ESD account. Go to your dashboard, click on "Upload a Document" and select "Provide Additional Information." Explain that you mistakenly selected "Laid Off" when the correct reason is "Business Sold." Include any documentation you have from your employer about the sale/closure. This might actually help speed up your adjudication since you're proactively addressing what they're likely trying to verify.

Yes, Claimyr does have a fee, but it was worth it considering I was about to miss another rent payment. They basically hold your place in line and call you when they have an ESD agent on the phone. Took about 2 hours total instead of days of redialing. The video on their site explains it better than I can. With how backed up ESD is right now, it was the only way I could actually reach a human.

Just to clarify some points here: 1. The second job separation form doesn't reset your place in line completely. Your claim has already been in adjudication, and this is part of that process. 2. When you submit the new form, it goes directly to the adjudicator handling your case, not back to initial processing. 3. Continue filing weekly claims as normal - this is critical for receiving all back payments if approved. 4. The timeframe varies, but currently ESD is taking 8-12 weeks for complex adjudication cases. When you see activity like being asked for additional information, that's actually a good sign that your claim is being actively worked on rather than sitting in a queue. 5. Be extremely detailed and precise in the new form, especially regarding your reason for job separation, last day worked, and any severance or final pay received.