Based on what you've described about the harassment situation, I'd say you have a decent chance of being approved if you document everything properly. The key is showing that a reasonable person in your situation would have felt compelled to quit. Keep all your evidence organized and be prepared to provide detailed explanations during the adjudication process.

One last thing - if you do get initially denied, don't give up! You can appeal the decision and many people win on appeal, especially for quit cases where good cause is involved. The appeals process gives you a chance to present your case more thoroughly than the initial application.

Just want to emphasize one more time - unemployment benefits are 100% taxable as ordinary income. Don't make the mistake of thinking they're tax-free just because you're out of work!

I work as a tax preparer and see this confusion every year during tax season. The 10% withholding is often not enough for people in higher tax brackets or those with other income sources. I usually recommend clients calculate their effective tax rate from the previous year and consider having additional amounts withheld if they think 10% won't cover it. Also worth noting - if you receive unemployment early in the year but then get a job, your total income for the year might push you into a higher bracket than expected, so that 10% withholding from your unemployment period may fall short.

my neighbor said something about a "claim extension" when you use up your regular UI? is that still a thing in 2025?

Just wanted to add my experience here - I had a similar situation last year where I had 6 weeks denied due to earnings from a contract job. What really helped me was keeping detailed records of all my weekly certifications and the reasons for any denials. When I eventually got through to ESD, the representative was able to walk me through exactly how many benefit weeks I had remaining and when my benefit year would end. One tip: you can actually see this information in your eServices account under "Payment History" - it shows your total benefit amount, how much you've used, and your benefit year end date. Saves you from having to call if you just need to check your remaining balance. The math gets confusing but the online account breaks it down pretty clearly once you know where to look.

For future reference for anyone reading this: If you ever receive an overpayment notice but believe you're still eligible for benefits, you should CONTINUE to file your weekly claims while simultaneously addressing the overpayment issue (either through appeal or waiver request). This preserves your rights to those benefits if the overpayment is resolved in your favor. If you stop filing weekly claims, you essentially forfeit those weeks regardless of how the overpayment situation is ultimately resolved. Always file on time, every week, until explicitly told you're ineligible by ESD.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that might help. I went through a similar situation last year where I had an overpayment issue and got scared to keep filing claims. My case worker at the local WorkSource office told me that even if you have pending issues with ESD, you should always keep filing your weekly claims to preserve your right to benefits. She said the worst that happens is they hold the payments until the issue is resolved, but if you don't file at all, you lose those weeks forever. I know it's probably too late for your situation, but for anyone else reading this - don't stop filing weekly claims just because of an overpayment notice! The filing deadlines and overpayment issues are handled separately. I learned this the hard way too, though thankfully I only missed a few weeks before getting this advice.

Just a technical tip that might help speed things up: Check if your former employer correctly reported your wages to ESD. Log into your eServices account, go to "More Services" and then "Wage Verification." If there's a discrepancy between what you reported and what your employer reported, that often triggers automatic adjudication delays. Also, make sure you upload a complete work search log each week with all required details. Having incomplete work search information can add additional delays. The standard is 3 job search activities per week, and each one needs employer name, position, contact method, and follow-up details. I know it's frustrating, but the system is designed to eventually work - it just has far too many unnecessary bottlenecks.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress - having gone through something similar, I know how terrifying it is when you're running out of money and can't get through to anyone. Based on what you've shared, it sounds like you've got multiple issues creating the perfect storm: the wage discrepancy you just discovered, plus the voluntary quit from your previous job. Both of these require manual review, which is why you're stuck in adjudication limbo. Here's what I'd prioritize doing immediately: 1. Upload those wage documents like Mohammad suggested - this is probably your biggest blocker right now 2. File that ESD hardship request form Fiona mentioned - with kids and mortgage payments, you definitely qualify 3. Contact your state rep's office - they can often get responses from ESD within days, not months Also, when you do get through to someone (whether by phone or in person), make sure to mention you've been waiting since December with two missed adjudication dates. Sometimes emphasizing the timeline helps them prioritize your case. Hang in there - I know it doesn't feel like it, but you will get through this. The system is broken, but people do eventually get their benefits. Just keep pushing through every avenue you can find.