This is incredibly helpful, thank you! I was laid off due to budget cuts, so hopefully that's a pretty straightforward separation reason. Should I be checking my ESD account messages daily, or will they email me if there's something they need?

They should send you an email notification when there's a new message in your ESD account, but the system isn't always reliable. I recommend checking your ESD account messages at least every other day. A budget cut layoff is generally straightforward, but they'll still verify with your employer. Keep documenting your job search activities (you need 3 per week) while you wait.

just went through this exact thing! my last day was a friday but HR put the following monday on my paperwork. the thing that finally worked was going to my WorkSource office in person - they have a direct line to ESD that doesn't have the same wait. the lady helped me fill out a form explaining the discrepancy and my claim was fixed within 2 days. might be worth trying if you have a WorkSource office nearby!

This is a common issue that comes up when employment ends on a weekend or when there's a difference between the official termination date and last working day. Here's what you should do: 1. Continue filing your weekly claims while this gets resolved - don't miss any weeks 2. For the question about September 15, answer truthfully that you did not work that day 3. When the system flags the discrepancy, look for an option to add comments or additional information (sometimes there's a text field or an "other" option) 4. If no comment option exists, you need to contact ESD directly 5. Send a secure message through your eServices account explaining both dates (termination letter date AND last physical working day) 6. Be specific about why there's a difference (weekend, administrative processing, etc.) If you don't get a response to your secure message within 5-7 business days, then you'll need to speak with someone by phone. Often these issues can be resolved quickly once you reach a claims specialist.

I work as an employment counselor and see overpayment cases regularly. Here's what typically happens after an OAH hearing: 1. Judge issues decision within 2-4 weeks (average is about 18 days) 2. If you win, ESD has 30 days to implement the decision or file their own appeal 3. If ESD doesn't appeal, the overpayment should be waived and removed from your account The fact that you had representation from ULP is excellent. Their attorneys win the vast majority of their cases. The most common reason judges waive overpayments is financial hardship, so all those documents you provided showing your expenses and income will be crucial. One thing to prepare for: if you win, you might still see the overpayment listed in your ESD account for a few weeks until they process the waiver. Don't panic if this happens - it's just administrative lag time.

I know exactly how you feel about the stress. I had an overpayment issue too but never got as far as an appeal hearing because I couldn't figure out the process. I just ended up on a payment plan ($150/month for 3 years). It's hard but I'm managing. The whole system seems designed to be confusing. Good luck and let us know how it turns out!

my brother had this problem with his claim when the restaurant he works at closed for renovations last month. he had to file an appeal but while waiting for the hearing he called esd and they fixed it over the phone once they saw he was on valid standby. took him forever to get through tho

To address your concern about backdating: Yes, when ESD corrects a standby-related disqualification, they will typically backdate the fix and release any held payments once they confirm your standby status was valid. Be sure to continue filing your weekly claims during this process, even though they'll show as "disqualified" until the issue is resolved. This ensures you'll receive all payments once the standby status is verified. For your weekly claims going forward, remember to: 1. Answer "No" to job search question 2. In the notes/comments section, type "ON APPROVED STANDBY UNTIL 9/15/2025" 3. If asked for work search activities, enter "STANDBY" for each required slot This properly documents your standby status each week and helps prevent future flags.

Good news is that even if there is a delay in processing, you'll still receive all the benefits you're entitled to, including for the weeks when your claim was processing. As long as you keep filing your weekly claims on time (even while the first one is still processing), you won't lose any eligible benefits.\n\nAnd just to set expectations - your first payment will likely be delayed compared to future payments. Once your claim is fully established in the system, weekly claims typically process much faster. Many people see their weekly claims move from submission to paid status within 48-72 hours after the initial claim is fully processed.

Update: My claim status finally changed to \