Adjudication tip: Write your OWN separation statement - don't use employer's version!

This is 100% accurate advice. I work with unemployment claimants regularly, and the #1 mistake people make is not providing their own detailed account of the separation. ESD adjudicators are trying to determine if you meet the legal qualification standards, and they can't do that without your side of the story.\n\nIf your employer says you were fired for misconduct, but you believe it was performance-related or without cause, you MUST explain this. Similarly, if you quit, you need to describe how you had good cause (unsafe conditions, substantial change in hours/pay, etc.).\n\nThe adjudication process requires evidence from both parties. Your employer will definitely provide their version - make sure yours is in the system too!

Exactly! My employer claimed I was let go for \

omg ive been stuck in adjudication for over a month!!!! they never told me i had to write my own statement??? where do u even upload this?? is it in the eservices portal somewhere? my employer is saying i quit but i was actually forced out bc they cut my hours to like 5 per week which isnt even enough to pay rent HELP

Go to your eServices account, then to your current claim, and look for the 'Upload Documents' section. There should be an option specifically for separation information. If you can't find it, you can also use the general document upload section but make sure to title it clearly as \

This is excellent advice and absolutely essential for anyone in adjudication. When writing your statement, be sure to include:\n\n1. Specific dates and timeline of events\n2. Names and positions of people involved (managers, HR)\n3. Exact reasons given for the separation\n4. Any documentation you have (emails, performance reviews, etc.)\n5. How the situation meets ESD's qualification requirements\n\nKeep it factual and specific - avoid emotional language or accusations. The adjudicator is looking for facts that help them apply the law correctly. If your employer substantially reduced your hours (as the commenter above mentioned), that can qualify as good cause for quitting, but you need to document exactly how much they were reduced and show it was a significant change.

thank u so much!! im going to write my statement tonight. they cut my hours from 35 to 5 per week and told me \

I can confirm this is true!!! ESD denied my claim initially because my employer said I was fired for stealing (I absolutely was NOT). After 3 weeks of getting nowhere, I finally submitted a detailed statement explaining exactly what happened - I had simply made a cash register error that I reported myself! Claim was approved 5 days later.

That's awful they accused you of stealing! Glad you got it sorted out. The system feels rigged against workers sometimes.

Been trying to reach ESD to explain my situation for 2 weeks now and can't get through. Anyone have luck getting an actual person on the phone? I'm stuck in adjudication hell after my toxic boss fired me for \

I was in the same boat last month - couldn't get through for weeks! I ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got connected to an ESD agent in about 30 minutes. Totally worth it for me since my claim was stuck and rent was due. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3\n\nBut definitely write up your detailed statement about the safety violations ASAP and upload it through your eServices account while you're trying to reach someone. That might actually resolve it before you even get through on the phone.

The whole ESD system is designed to make us give up! They make it so complicated on purpose. My employer straight-up LIED about why they fired me, and if I hadn't fought back with my own detailed statement, I would have lost benefits. The adjudicator even told me most people don't bother submitting their side of the story, so they just go with whatever the employer says. THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST WORKERS!!!

While the system can definitely be frustrating to navigate, adjudicators are actually trained to be neutral and apply the law fairly. They want to get the facts from both sides. This is why it's so important to provide your statement - not because they're biased against you, but because they can only work with the information they have. If they only hear the employer's side, that's all they can consider.

Maybe in theory, but in practice employers have HR departments and lawyers to craft perfect statements while we're left figuring it out alone! And they NEVER make it clear you need to submit your own statement. That's by design! If the system was fair, they would require BOTH statements before proceeding.

my cousin works at esd and she says they're so backlogged they sometimes just go with employer statements if claimant doesn't provide details. kinda messed up but that's how it is right now with staffing shortages there

update: i just submitted my statement with screenshots of my old schedule vs new one!!!! fingers crossed this fixes my claim. been waiting 5 weeks now and cant pay rent 😭

Good luck! That substantial hour reduction should definitely qualify as good cause for leaving. Just be prepared that they might call you for a phone interview too. Make sure your phone number is up to date in the system.

This happened to me last year. I submitted my statement after 3 weeks of adjudication and my claim was approved right away. BUT THEN three months later they did an audit and said I was overpaid because they

That's a really good point. Consistency and honesty are super important. I kept copies of all my communications with my employer about the layoff which helped when they questioned me later.