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I don't understand why we have to go through all these hoops just to get what we're entitled to. The whole system is designed to make people give up. I was in adjudication for 11 WEEKS last year and ended up having to borrow money from family (which I hate doing) just to survive. The ESD agents should all have to go through what we do and see how THEY like being treated this way.
While I understand your frustration, most ESD agents are genuinely trying their best. The system is understaffed by about 30% compared to pre-pandemic levels, and the technology infrastructure is outdated. The new UTAB system being implemented this year should help with some of these issues, but the transition is causing temporary delays as staff learn the new processes.
Just a heads up for anyone dealing with adjudication - make sure all your job search activities are still being logged properly in your weekly claims EVEN WHILE you're in adjudication. I made the mistake of thinking I didn't need to do them until my claim was approved, and then had to deal with a whole separate issue about failing to meet job search requirements. You still need those 3 activities every week!
i think ur supposed to report the week you WORKED not when u got paid too. doordash pays on different schedule than when u actually did the deliveries right? that messed me up before
This is absolutely correct and another common mistake. When reporting earnings to ESD, you must report based on when you performed the work, not when you received payment. So if you delivered for DoorDash on Tuesday but didn't get paid until the following Monday, those earnings would be reported for the week containing that Tuesday. This is different from how you might think about income for your personal budgeting.
Update: I finally got through to ESD today! The agent confirmed everything you all said about reporting gross earnings before expenses. They're having me submit corrected weekly claims for the past 4 weeks. The good news is I'll actually be getting MORE money than I thought once this is fixed, since I was over-reporting my earnings by deducting expenses first. Thanks everyone for your help understanding this confusing system!
One more important tip - submit any evidence you want considered at least 24 hours before the hearing (sooner is better). OAH prefers you upload documents through their online portal, but you can also fax them. If you try to introduce new evidence during the hearing, the judge might not accept it unless you can prove you couldn't have submitted it earlier.
Did you check if ur card is actually activated? I thought mine wasn't working but turns out I never finished the activation process lol. Also sometimes the app shows deposits before the website does.
UPDATE: Money finally hit my card this morning! Looks like it was just the normal processing delay plus the holiday that made it take longer. Thanks everyone for the help and keeping me from panicking. For anyone else seeing this post with the same issue - patience is key, but definitely call if it goes beyond 5 business days!
One more important thing to consider: If you do decide to quit, try to have a direct conversation with your supervisor first about the issues you're experiencing. ESD looks more favorably on claims where you made a good faith effort to resolve the problems before quitting. Send an email summarizing the conversation afterward ("As we discussed today...") to create documentation. This shows you tried to address the situation but the employer was unwilling or unable to fix the issues. Also, when you eventually file your weekly claim after quitting, you'll be asked if you quit and why. Your answer here is critical. Be concise but specific, focusing on the material aspects of why the job was unsuitable (wrong job duties, hostile environment, etc.). Avoid emotional language and stick to factual descriptions.
Hey just wondering what happened?? Did u end up quitting? Im in a sorta similar situaton and curious what you decided 2 do!
I decided to quit yesterday after documenting everything and having a meeting with my supervisor (which went nowhere). I've reopened my claim and explained the situation in detail. Now I'm waiting to see what happens. I'll update when I hear back from ESD about whether they'll continue my benefits or not. Fingers crossed!
Anyone else notice how they make the partial unemployment calculation intentionally complicated so people can't figure out what they'll actually get? It's almost like they don't want people to use a benefit they're entitled to... 🙄 My sister just went through this and it took TWELVE WEEKS to get her first payment because her employer didn't respond to ESD's inquiries on time. By then her hours had already gone back to normal so the whole thing was almost pointless!
Just to clarify something important about standby status that hasn't been mentioned yet: For temporary hour reductions, you can be approved for standby status for up to 8 weeks (sometimes 12 with an extension). Your employer should indicate on their response to ESD that your reduction is temporary with a specific return date. If you're denied standby, remember that job search activities can include: - Applying for positions - Creating/updating your resume - Attending job fairs (virtual counts) - Taking work-related training courses - Networking events Just make sure to document each activity fully. And don't forget that partial benefits are still subject to the weekly minimum threshold - if you earn too much in a given week, you won't receive benefits for that specific week.
That helps a lot, thank you. When you say "weekly minimum threshold" - is there some calculator online where I can figure out if my situation would even result in any benefits? I'm trying to decide if the whole process is worth the effort.
The ESD website has a benefits calculator that can give you a rough estimate. Generally, your weekly benefit amount is about 60-65% of your average weekly wage (up to the maximum). You can earn up to 1/3 of that amount without reduction, then benefits decrease dollar-for-dollar. So if your weekly benefit amount would be $400, you could earn about $133 before reductions start. If this calculation seems worth it for your situation, definitely apply.
Just wanted to add some clarification on the legal side of this: The pandemic overpayment review is happening due to the Relief for Taxpayers Act that passed in 2024. ESD is legally required to review ALL pandemic-era overpayments, even small ones like yours. There's no way to opt out of the review itself, but you can definitely decline any refund they might determine you're eligible for. Based on my experience as a benefits navigator, I'd recommend sending a secure message through your eServices account that simply states: "I acknowledge the pandemic overpayment review process, but formally decline any waiver or refund that may result from this review. Please note this decision in my file." That creates a record of your preference while minimizing your interaction with them.
lol everyone in these comments acting like ESD is actually organized enough to follow through on anything. I got the same emails 9 months ago, ignored them all, and literally nothing happened. Their systems are so messed up they probably have no idea who's responded and who hasn't. I wouldn't waste a minute of mental energy on this.
While I understand your frustration, I'd caution against completely ignoring official communications. The pandemic overpayment review process is actually one area where ESD has been surprisingly consistent because it's federally mandated and tracked. They've processed over 80,000 waivers since the program started.
Quick update on timeframes: I just checked the ESD performance dashboard, and as of March 2025, about 65% of identity verification adjudications are being completed within 10 days. However, the remaining 35% are taking up to 21 days. \n\nIf you don't see movement by the end of next week, I would definitely recommend trying to speak with an agent directly to check on status and potentially request an escalation if you're experiencing financial hardship.
For anyone dealing with "Able and Available" adjudication specifically: make sure to upload any documentation you have to your eServices account under "Upload a Document." If your issue was related to illness, upload a doctor's note. If it was about travel, upload itinerary showing you've returned. This won't replace talking to a rep, but it can speed things up once you do connect with someone. I was in adjudication for "Able and Available" for 4 weeks in February. When I finally got through, the agent told me she could see my uploaded documents and that helped expedite my claim resolution. My payments started coming through about 3 days after that call.
Update on my experience: After using Claimyr to get through to ESD, they resolved my adjudication issue in one call. The agent told me they're currently experiencing a 25-day backlog for adjudication cases that don't get escalated by phone. So definitely worth trying to reach them directly rather than waiting for them to process your case in order.
Dylan Cooper
Just to clarify a few things about ESD's processing times: 1. Weekly claims filed by phone or web are typically processed in overnight batches 2. Phone claims enter directly into the mainframe system with fewer validation steps 3. Web claims go through additional security and validation protocols 4. Bank transfer times vary by financial institution (ACH vs. direct deposit systems) 5. Claims filed early Sunday generally process faster than those filed late Sunday And yes, Monday (February 17) is President's Day, so all payments will be delayed by one business day since banks don't process transfers on federal holidays.
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Mei Chen
•Thanks for breaking this down so clearly! This explains why my phone claims are processing faster. Do you work for ESD or just have experience with their systems?
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Dylan Cooper
•I don't work for ESD, but I've been through the system multiple times over the years and have spent a lot of time researching how their processing works when my own claims had issues. The phone system actually uses their older but more streamlined mainframe technology, which is why it can be faster but also more error-prone.
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Liam Sullivan
tried calling today instead of using the website, the system kept asking me weird questions about my job search that i never get online??? got confused and hung up lol guess ill stick to the website even if it takes longer
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Amara Okafor
•The phone system asks questions in a different order and sometimes uses slightly different wording, but it's collecting the same information. If you're required to do job searches, both systems will ask about them - though the web interface might be easier to navigate for that specific requirement.
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