i had something kinda similar happen last month... forgot about a temp job i did for like 3 weeks... what worked for me was sending a message through the eservices portal thing using the 'contact us' option... took like 4 days but someone actually responded and told me what to do

Just wondering - was the Texas job W-2 employment or contract/1099 work? Makes a difference in how ESD processes it.

my sister works at worksource and she says this happens ALL THE TIME with appeals. she said sometimes u need to contact ur state representative to speed things up. they can do an "legislative inquiry" that gets ESD moving way faster. google ur district and email ur rep explaining the situation!

Just checking in - have you had any luck getting this resolved? Did any of the suggestions here work for you?

wait a minute, i just remembered! my friend had this happen and what fixed it wasnt even an appeal. she called esd and asked for a "redetermination" first which is faster than a appeal. might be worth trying that route?

Update: I was able to reach an ESD agent today! They said my situation is actually pretty common, and they see it often with severance packages. They suggested I submit a detailed letter explaining that the company initiated the separation through a formal workforce reduction program, along with the severance documentation. She also mentioned requesting a redetermination first before going through the whole appeal process. Feeling much more hopeful now. Thanks everyone for your help!

Just a quick update on what I mentioned earlier - I forgot to address your interest question. In my case, they did NOT stop the interest from accruing once I set up payments. However, if you can prove financial hardship, there's a separate form you can submit to request an interest waiver. It's not guaranteed, but worth trying if the 1% monthly interest is making it impossible to make progress on the principal amount.

One more important tip I forgot to mention: make sure you keep documentation of EVERYTHING. Every payment, every phone call, every email. I had an issue where their system didn't properly record two of my payments, and I had to provide bank statements to prove I'd paid. Also, if you do get your payment plan established, check your account regularly to make sure the payments are being applied correctly to your balance.

ESD is so inconsistent! my friend got approved for training ben. for her CDL training but i got denied for almost the same thing. it depends entirely on which worker reviews ur case and what mood their in that day. some of them don't know their own rules!!!! keep calling back til u get someone who will actually help u instead of just saying no.

UPDATE on Training Benefits rules for 2025: ESD has slightly broadened their interpretation of what qualifies as "substantially different occupation" for Commissioner Approved Training. The key factors now include: 1. Wage difference (10%+ potential increase helps your case) 2. Different skill set requirements (documented by DOT codes) 3. Different working conditions or environment 4. Industry demand (higher demand occupations get priority) For union apprenticeships specifically, you need to emphasize that this is a completely different career path requiring specialized training that wasn't part of your previous work. Don't frame it as advancement or career development - frame it as necessary retraining for employment. Also, be aware that even if you're denied Training Benefits (the extension), you can still get Commissioner Approved Training status which waives job search requirements while you train.