my hearing was actually kinda quick - about 45 minutes. the judge asked me questions first, then my employer, then gave me a chance to respond to what they said. just be honest and stick to the facts about those late payments!!

IMPORTANT: If you can't make the hearing date for any reason, call OAH immediately to request a continuance. Don't wait until the last minute. If you miss your hearing without getting it rescheduled, you'll automatically lose and have to repay all benefits. Also, you'll probably get a decision within 1-2 weeks after the hearing. It will come by mail, so make sure ESD has your current address. If you win, great! If you lose, you have 30 days to file a petition for review with the Commissioner's Office. That's a whole separate process, but don't worry about that unless it happens. Rooting for you!

Update on the Claimyr suggestion - after the OP mentioned they'll check it out, I wanted to add that when I used it, I just had my claim ID and SSN ready, which is what the ESD agent needed to look up my file. The whole thing took about 25 minutes total from starting the service to talking with an agent. Just sharing in case it helps!

UPDATE: I used Claimyr and got through to an ESD rep today! They confirmed there was indeed a mix-up in their system. Someone with a similar name had previous claims, and somehow that info got linked to my case. The agent made detailed notes in my file and is sending corrected info to OAH before my hearing. They said to still bring my employment history docs as backup. Feeling SO much better now - thank you all for the advice!

my cousin had this happen and they said it was paid but the $ never came. turned out there was an overpayment on an old claim that they took the money for. might wanna check if you have any overpayment notices?

Just as an update for anyone searching this thread in the future - the standard processing time is 24-72 hours after your claim shows 'paid' status, but it can occasionally take up to 5 business days depending on banking institutions and whether weekends/holidays are involved. If you don't receive your payment after 5 business days, you should definitely contact ESD directly as there may be an issue with your payment processing.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - when you file your appeal, make sure to specifically request to continue receiving benefits during the appeal process if you're otherwise eligible (like actively job searching and doing your weekly claims). Many people don't realize you can potentially get benefits while appealing if you request it specifically. Also, in your appeal statement, focus on these key points: 1. You continued working with the understanding the reduction was temporary 2. You actively participated in efforts to restore business (those proposals) 3. You only resigned when it became clear the reduction would be permanent ESD's guidelines do have some flexibility for "good faith" situations like yours, but you need to be very clear about the timeline and your reasoning.

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! I've started gathering all my documentation - found emails confirming the hours reduction was presented as temporary and evidence of the proposal work I was doing to try to bring in new business. I've submitted my appeal request and will continue filing weekly claims as suggested. I'll update this thread after my hearing to let you know how it goes!

That Claimyr service someone mentioned sounds interesting. Has anyone else tried it? I'm desperate to talk to someone about my claim too.

UPDATE: You guys were right! I just got a determination letter in my eServices inbox! Claim APPROVED and they're releasing all my back payments from September! I'm literally crying right now. Thank you all for the support and advice during this nightmare process!