I saw someone mention they tried Claimyr earlier in this thread - I used it last week and it actually worked pretty well. Got a callback in about an hour and was able to sort out my adjudication issue. Beats spending days redialing.

Update: I just had another question come up about my job search requirements and managed to get through to ESD again this morning. Called at 8:03am, waited about 35 minutes. The agent confirmed that right now they're training new phone staff so the wait times should actually improve over the next few weeks. Fingers crossed they're right! Also, make sure you're not calling on a holiday - I made that mistake last month and wasted a bunch of time before realizing they were closed.

Did you ever apply for unemployment before 2025? I'm on my third claim (seasonal worker) and I've noticed the spring/summer claims always take FOREVER to process compared to winter ones. Something about their workload being higher certain times of year. Just another possibility why yours is taking so long.

Just to give you an update on the process - if you do contact the Governor's office, they'll likely ask you to complete a privacy release form so they can legally inquire about your specific claim. Have your claim ID, contact information, and a brief timeline of your efforts ready. They typically respond within 3-5 business days with either a direct response or confirmation they've forwarded it to ESD with priority status.

bro they just want their money back no matter what. system is broken af

Update on what I shared earlier - if you can provide financial hardship documentation, you might qualify for a waiver of the overpayment entirely, even if they don't remove the "at fault" finding. Form ESD 640-001 is what you need - "Application for Overpayment Waiver." Most important though: whatever you do, keep filing your weekly claims while this gets sorted out if you're still on unemployment. An appeal doesn't stop your current claim requirements.

Great news! How long did she say it would take for everything to get fixed?

She said it should take 7-10 business days for the new claim to process, and then another 3-5 days for the previous weekly claims to be adjusted and paid out. Fingers crossed it actually happens that quickly!

they'll probably backpay you for the weeks once approved so don't stress too much. but yea this system is horrible i feel ur pain

This is a prime example of why ESD adjudication takes so long - the distinctions between being laid off, quitting, being terminated, or refusing unsuitable work are so nuanced, and the application doesn't really let you explain unique situations well. I went through something similar last year. I was told my position was being eliminated in a restructure (layoff), but on my last day they tried to say I was being fired for performance (termination). Took 5 weeks in adjudication, but ultimately I won because I had emails from months earlier discussing the restructuring. Document everything. If you have the original restructuring notice plus the email saying it wasn't a termination, you're in good shape. But absolutely call ESD to make sure they understand the full picture, especially if you accidentally selected 'quit' on your application.