I went through this same availability verification process about 6 months ago for my field (project management). The key thing that helped me was being very specific in my response letter. I included: - A clear statement that I'm available for full-time work (40+ hours/week) in labor relations - My work history showing labor relations is my customary occupation - Details about my flexibility (willing to work any shift, available for overtime, etc.) - Transportation arrangements (reliable vehicle, willing to commute up to 45 minutes) - Job search documentation showing I'm actively applying in my field I also made sure to submit everything 2 days before the deadline just to be safe. My benefits continued without any interruption, and I received a confirmation message in eServices within about 5 business days saying my availability had been verified. The whole process seems intimidating at first, but it's really just ESD making sure you're genuinely available for work in your field. As long as you respond thoroughly and on time, you should be fine!

I just went through this exact same process last month for my labor relations position! Got the same confusing message through eServices asking for availability verification and supporting documents. Here's what I did that worked perfectly: 1. Wrote a formal letter stating I'm available for full-time work (40+ hours/week) in labor relations positions with no restrictions 2. Included details about my transportation (reliable car, willing to commute reasonable distances) 3. Mentioned my educational background and 3+ years experience in labor relations to establish it as my customary occupation 4. Attached my weekly job search logs showing active applications in the field 5. Added a brief statement about my willingness to accept suitable work at prevailing wages I submitted everything 3 days before the deadline and my benefits continued without any interruption. Got a confirmation message in eServices about a week later saying my work availability had been successfully verified. Don't overthink it - they just want to make sure you're genuinely available for work in your field. As long as you respond completely and on time, you should be fine! The key is being thorough but honest in your response.

Last thing - don't panic if your claim goes into adjudication. It's pretty common and doesn't necessarily mean there's a problem. They just need to review certain aspects of your employment separation.

Thanks everyone for all this helpful info! I'm feeling much more confident about filing now. Sounds like I can go ahead and submit my initial claim this weekend, then make sure to file my weekly claims every Sunday once I'm approved. Really appreciate the heads up about the waiting week and the job search requirements - I would have been caught off guard by those. Going to get all my documents together and file tomorrow morning.

I'm right in the middle of an OAH appeal after my CRO petition was denied twice too. It's so frustrating how they make this process so complicated! The hearing is next week and I'm super nervous. My lawyer said voluntary quit cases are winnable if you have good documentation, which it sounds like you do. Did you have a definite conversation with your boss about the reduced hours before you left? That's apparently really important to show at the hearing.

I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago - ESD denied my CRO petition twice for "voluntary quit" even though my employer cut my hours from 40 to 12 per week. I was so frustrated but the OAH appeal was actually much better than dealing with ESD directly. The judge actually listened to my evidence and understood that I had no choice but to quit when my income dropped 70%. One thing that really helped at my hearing was bringing printed copies of everything - pay stubs showing the hour reduction, emails with my supervisor about needing more hours, even my rent/utility bills to show the financial hardship. The judge said having physical documentation made it much easier to follow my timeline. Also definitely keep filing your weekly claims like others said! I almost made that mistake too. The whole process took about 2 months from filing the OAH appeal to getting my first back payment, but it was so worth it. Hang in there - you have a strong case with that level of hour reduction and the documentation you mentioned.

Same situation here! I got laid off from my retail job in November and this is my first Christmas on unemployment. The uncertainty about payment timing is stressful when you're already stretching every dollar. Based on what everyone's saying, it sounds like Wednesday is the safe bet for deposits. I'm going to contact my landlord today to give them a heads up about the potential delay - better to be proactive than scrambling later. Thanks for asking this question, it's helping a lot of us plan ahead!

I'm in a similar boat - just started getting benefits in February after losing my job at a local grocery store. From what I've experienced so far and reading all these responses, it seems like the Wednesday deposit timeline is pretty reliable for holiday weeks. One thing that's helped me is setting up text alerts through my bank so I know exactly when the deposit hits instead of constantly checking my account. Also, if you're really tight on budget like I am, some food banks and community centers have special holiday assistance programs running through December that might help bridge any gap from the payment delay. Stay strong - we'll get through this!

Glad to hear it came through! Yes, Sunday filing is definitely the way to go. It gives the system maximum processing time before the weekend hits again.

Really glad your payment came through! For anyone else dealing with this in the future, I've found that the ESD mobile app actually shows payment processing status pretty clearly - you can see when it moves from "processed" to "paid" which helps with the anxiety of waiting. Also, if you're ever really stuck and need to talk to someone at ESD, calling right when they open (usually 8am) gives you the best chance of getting through without being on hold forever.