Based on your last comment about the employer contesting the reason for separation, your claim is definitely in adjudication. When there's a discrepancy between your stated reason for separation and your employer's, ESD has to investigate before making a decision. This will typically add 3-6 weeks to the process. Since you provided documentation about the department restructuring, that's helpful. If you haven't already, make sure that documentation is uploaded to your eServices account. Continue filing weekly claims, and remember that if approved, you'll receive payment for all eligible weeks you've claimed.

Glad to see you got some good information here. One last thing I'll add - if you end up waiting more than 6 weeks total, you might want to contact your state representative or senator. They often have staff dedicated to helping constituents with ESD issues, and they can sometimes speed things up. But for now, it sounds like your claim is following the normal (though frustratingly slow) process for a contested separation reason.

btw i was wondering this too but does anyone know if the 10 day deadline is business days or calendar days??? mines coming up on wednesday but i'm not sure if weekends count

Quick update - I finally reached an ESD agent this morning after using the Claimyr service someone recommended. The agent told me that my employer did NOT respond before the deadline, and they're now processing my claim. She said I should have a decision within 5-7 business days. She also confirmed that my substantial reduction in hours is generally considered good cause for quitting, which makes me feel better about my chances. Thanks everyone for the help and advice!

After dealing with the ESD system for months during my own unemployment, I can tell you their payment processing is reliable but not instant. The most frustrating part is actually reaching someone at ESD if you do have an issue. I spent days trying to get through on their phone lines when I had a payment problem. Finally found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me connect with an ESD agent quickly. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 that shows how it works. Saved me tons of time when I needed to sort out why my payment was delayed. That said, your situation sounds normal - first payments typically take 2-3 business days to show up after the ESD system marks them paid.

Just checking back - did your payment arrive yet? If it's been more than 3 business days, you might want to verify that your banking information is correct in your ESD account.

One more thing I forgot to mention - while you're waiting for adjudication, make sure you're keeping detailed records of your job search activities. ESD requires 3 job search activities each week. Even though your claim is pending, if it eventually gets approved, they'll check that you were doing job searches the whole time. I almost got disqualified because I wasn't documenting properly during my waiting period. Also, regarding your documentation for the wrongful termination - did you submit a detailed fact-finding response? Sometimes there's a questionnaire that appears in your eServices account that isn't obvious unless you check all tabs.

I work with unemployment cases professionally, and here's what I recommend for your situation: 1. For contacting the Governor's office, use their online form as others have mentioned, but also call their constituent services line directly at 360-902-4111. Ask specifically for help with an ESD escalation. 2. For wrongful termination cases involving attendance issues, ESD looks at several factors: - Was the attendance policy reasonable and consistently applied? - Were you given clear warnings according to company policy? - Did the employer accommodate any medical issues if applicable? - Did you follow proper call-in procedures? 3. While waiting, apply for hardship assistance through your utility companies and rental assistance programs in your county. Most counties have emergency rental assistance that can help prevent eviction while your unemployment claim is processing. 4. For the fastest contact with ESD, try calling their special claims center line at 7:55am when they first open. If that doesn't work, services like Claimyr can help get through the phone maze. Don't lose hope. If your termination was truly improper as you've described, you have a good chance of approval.

have u tried the salvation army? they helped my sis last yr when she was waiting on esd. also some churches do emergency assistance this time of year

Just following up - were you able to connect with any resources through 211? Also, now that you found that hidden message in your portal, you should call ESD directly and tell them you just found it and submitted the required info. That might speed things up. When claims are in adjudication because of missing information, they can sometimes resolve quickly once you provide what they need.