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I experienced the exact same issue in February. After trying for days to get through, I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got connected to an ESD agent in about 15 minutes. The agent explained that my account had a technical flag that was limiting my phone options, but they fixed it immediately. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Definitely worth it when you're stuck with no other options.
UPDATE: I finally got through! For anyone with the same problem - I called the 800-318-6022 number super early (7:58am) and just stayed silent through ALL the prompts. After about 2 minutes of various messages, it finally gave me the option to file my weekly claim. Thanks everyone for your help!
Great to hear! Yes, calling right before they open at 8:00am is usually the best strategy. Also, for future reference, if you're having internet issues at home but have a smartphone, the eServices mobile site actually works quite well for filing weekly claims and uses very little data. It's more reliable than the phone system these days.
Thanks for the tip about the mobile site! I didn't realize it used less data - that's really helpful to know since I'm trying to conserve my phone data until next month.
uhhh this reminds me of when my roommate went through the same thing last yr... he kept calling and calling and it turned out they needed like one more piece of paper or something? but nobody bothered to tell him until he finally got someone on the phone. try the Claimyr thing others mentioned, my roommate didnt know about that and spent like 3 weeks just calling and getting hung up on
Just as an update based on other comments - I've seen a significant increase in identity verification holds in 2025. ESD implemented a new verification system in January, and many legitimate claims are getting caught in it. The frustrating part is that the system often doesn't notify claimants about the hold. Hopefully that's all it is in your case - relatively easy to fix once you reach someone.
I just tried the Claimyr service that others recommended and got through to ESD! You were right - there was an identity verification hold on my account that never showed up in my portal. The agent helped me upload my documents right over the phone and said my claim should start processing within 3-5 business days. Thank you everyone for your help!
@profile8 Yes, Claimyr worked for me after trying for days to get through. You pay upfront but it's worth it when you need to talk to an actual person at ESD. Especially for complicated situations like overpayments where you really need specific answers.
@profile4 You can apply for Training Benefits after exhausting regular UI, but there's a catch - you need to apply within 30 days of your benefit exhaustion date. So if you just recently exhausted benefits, you're still within that window. The other requirement is that your training program must be something that will help you become employed in an in-demand occupation (which healthcare certainly qualifies for). Also, regarding your food benefits question from earlier - yes, most applicants do have to complete a phone interview, but they're processing those fairly quickly these days, usually within 7-10 days of application.
Pro tip: if yu don't hear anything after 1 week, start calling EVERYDAY. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with ESD. Thats the only way I ever got my claim moving forward.
This isn't great advice. Calling repeatedly doesn't necessarily speed up adjudication and can actually overload the phone system. It's better to wait at least 2-3 weeks before following up, unless the adjudicator gave you a specific timeframe.
UPDATE: Just wanted to share that I received my determination letter today - exactly 8 days after speaking with the adjudicator. My claim was approved! The letter says I should see payments within 48 hours for all my back weeks. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help and advice during the wait.
That's great news! Thanks for coming back to update us. It's helpful for others to see real timelines like this. Glad everything worked out!
Congrats! Make sure you keep up with your weekly claims and job search activities so there aren't any interruptions going forward.
One more thing I should mention - ESD sometimes has different levels of verification. The basic ID verification and then a more thorough verification if they have specific concerns about your claim. If you're in the second category, it typically takes longer. Did you receive any specific notices about why they needed verification again after you'd already done it before?
No, that's the weird part. I got a general notice saying "verification required" but no explanation of why they needed it again. The message just said to submit ID documents through their secure portal, which I did right away. No indication of any specific concerns.
UPDATE: I took several of the suggestions here and finally got movement on my claim! I contacted my state representative yesterday morning, and by this afternoon I got an email from ESD saying my identity verification was complete. All my pending weekly claims now show as processing for payment! Thanks everyone for the advice - especially about contacting my representative, that really seemed to make the difference.
Glad you got through! One additional piece of advice - now that you've had contact, document everything: 1. Write down the date and time you spoke with the agent 2. Get their first name and ID number if possible 3. Note the specific promises made ("flagging your case") 4. Set a calendar reminder for 7 business days from now If you don't see movement by then, you can reference this specific interaction in any follow-up communications. This creates a paper trail that can be important if you need to escalate further. Also, continue filing your weekly claims during this adjudication period, even if they show as "pending" or "disqualified" - once adjudication completes in your favor, those weeks will be paid retroactively.
the system is such garbage. glad u got through tho! fingers crossed u get ur $$$ soon!!
Just an update on what others have shared - yes, ESD might put your claim in adjudication for a voluntary quit, but with the clear increase in pay and reduction in commute, you should qualify under their "good cause" provisions. The adjudication process can take anywhere from 1-6 weeks based on their current workload, but they've been processing faster lately. If you do get put in adjudication, continue filing your weekly claims as normal during the waiting period. If approved (which seems likely in your case), you'll receive all back payments for those weeks. Also keep documenting your job search activities for your primary occupation while this is happening.
To summarize for you and anyone else in a similar situation: 1. You can quit a part-time job for another part-time job with better pay/conditions while on UI 2. You should expect possible adjudication (review) of your claim 3. Having documentation ready will speed up the process (offer letters, pay rates, addresses) 4. Continue filing weekly claims and conducting job searches during any review period 5. The good cause provisions specifically include "accepting a bona fide job offer with significantly better wages" and "significantly reduced commute time" Your situation checks all the boxes for a successful outcome. Good luck with the new position!
wat do u do if u miss the appeal deadline? i got denied 2 months ago but didnt appeal cause i didnt know how. can i still do it now??
You can file a late appeal, but you need to explain why it's late. If you have a good reason (like you never received the denial letter, were hospitalized, etc.), they might accept it. But if it's just because you didn't know how, they might not. Still worth trying - include a detailed explanation with your late appeal about why you missed the deadline.
One more important thing - when you do get your hearing scheduled, make sure to submit all your evidence before the deadline they give you (usually 1 week before the hearing). If you try to introduce new evidence during the hearing that you didn't submit ahead of time, the judge might not accept it. Also, prepare a short opening statement (2-3 minutes) that summarizes your case clearly. Practice it so you don't ramble - hearings usually only last 30-45 minutes total, and you want to make sure you cover all your important points. Finally, in my experience, the judge will usually mail the decision within 1-2 weeks after the hearing. If it's taking longer, you can call OAH (Office of Administrative Hearings) to check on the status.
That's great advice about the opening statement. I tend to get nervous and flustered when put on the spot, so I'll definitely prepare and practice what I want to say. Thank you!
the esd system is such garbage i swear they make things confusing ON PURPOSE!! when i lost my job last year i had to upload like 5 different documents before they would stop asking for more "evidence" of why i got laid off. its like they WANT to deny your claim by making it impossible to figure out what they need. good luck and keep us posted!
I know right? It's almost like they're hoping people will just give up and stop claiming. My friend had to appeal twice before getting approved even though she was clearly eligible.
Just wanted to follow up - did you get your documents uploaded? I found that after I uploaded my separation documentation, my claim was approved within 10 days. The key was making sure I was VERY specific about dates and included my supervisor's name and contact info. Hope your adjudication gets resolved soon!
Yes! I wrote up a detailed statement with all the dates of my hour reductions, included my final two paystubs showing the dramatic drop in hours, and added screenshots of text messages with my manager where I complained about not getting enough hours. Uploaded everything yesterday, now just waiting and hoping it moves things along. Thanks for checking in!
Amina Diop
This seems to be a widespread issue today. I work with unemployment claimants and have received multiple reports about this exact problem. ESD is aware of the login issues and their IT team is working on it. For anyone experiencing this problem: 1. Try using a different browser (Firefox or Edge seem to work better than Chrome currently) 2. Clear your browser cache and cookies 3. Try incognito/private browsing mode 4. If none of these work, you can file your weekly claim by phone using the automated system at 800-318-6022 5. If you miss the deadline due to verified technical issues, you can request a backdate for your weekly claim with good cause I've also heard from claimants that logging in very early in the morning (5-6am) or late at night (after 10pm) sometimes works better when they're having system issues.
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Miguel Castro
•Thank you for this detailed response! The incognito mode suggestion worked for me. Do you know how long they expect the system issues to continue? I'm worried about next week too.
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Amina Diop
•Glad to hear incognito mode worked for you! According to the ESD technical bulletin I received this morning, they expect to have this particular issue resolved by tomorrow afternoon. However, they're planning another system maintenance this weekend (Saturday night from 11pm to Sunday 2am), so there might be additional temporary issues during that time. I always recommend filing mid-week rather than waiting until the deadline when possible.
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Oliver Weber
Is anyone else having a different problem where after finally getting logged in, the "File Weekly Claim" button just doesn't appear anywhere on the dashboard? I finally got past the password reset loop using incognito mode but now I can't find where to actually file my claim!
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Connor Byrne
•That usually means one of two things: either your benefit year has ended and you need to file a new claim, or there's an issue with your claim that needs addressing before you can file again. Check the "Alerts" section on your dashboard - it should tell you if there's a specific action needed. If there are no alerts, try clicking on the "Claim Summary" section, and you might find the weekly claim filing option there instead of on the main dashboard.
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