Anyone know current wait times for ESD appeal hearings in 2025?

I filed an appeal back in February and it took exactly 6 weeks to get my hearing scheduled. The notice came by mail and email at the same time. My hearing was via phone, and the judge was actually pretty fair. Make sure you gather ALL your documentation now - termination letter, any emails about budget cuts, etc. The more proof you have that it was a layoff and not quitting, the better your chances.

mine took 8 freaking weeks just to get the date, then another 3 weeks til the actual hearing happened!!! total bs if u ask me

The current average wait time is 5-8 weeks for an OAH appeal hearing to be scheduled, though some regions are experiencing longer delays. Remember three critical things: 1. You MUST continue filing your weekly claims while waiting for your appeal hearing. If you win your appeal but haven't been filing claims, you won't get backpay for those weeks. 2. Prepare a clear timeline of events related to your separation. For budget cut layoffs, they'll want to know if there was any possibility of other positions or if the entire department was eliminated. 3. The hearing is formal but straightforward. The Administrative Law Judge will ask questions, and you'll have the opportunity to present evidence and respond to ESD's claims. Make sure to read your appeal acknowledgment letter carefully when it arrives, as it contains important deadlines for submitting evidence.

I know this isn't exactly what you asked, but have you contacted your former employer? Sometimes if you can get them to correct the information they provided to ESD (like confirming it was indeed a layoff), you can get the decision reversed without going through the whole appeal process. Might be worth a try while you're waiting.

u have to call ESD to check status!!! i called for 3 days straight and never got thru till i found out about claimyr.com - it got me connected to an ESD agent in like 20 min and they told me my appeal hearing date was actually scheduled already!! the letter just hadnt arrived yet. check out their demo video https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 - saved me so much stress

To answer your follow-up question: Yes, you absolutely should continue your job search activities and report them on your weekly claims while waiting for your appeal. The standard requirement is still 3 job search activities per week. If you win your appeal but haven't been doing your job searches, you could still be disqualified for those weeks. One more thing - sometimes appeal hearing notices get lost in the mail or filtered to spam folders. I recommend checking your eServices account message center daily, as they sometimes post notices there before the physical mail arrives.

btw when u do finally get ur hearing make sure u dial in early!!! i was 3 min late to mine and they almost didnt let me join

I don't want to scare you but BE PREPARED for them to side with your employer. My hearing was a complete joke - the judge interrupted me constantly and seemed to have made up his mind before I even spoke. The whole system is designed to deny benefits! I had to appeal the appeal and that took ANOTHER 2 months. Make sure you record the hearing (they'll tell you how) so you have evidence if you need to escalate.

Just wanted to mention - my sister works at WorkSource and she said they offer free workshops on preparing for unemployment appeal hearings. Might be worth checking if your local office has something similar? They can help you organize your evidence and practice answering the types of questions the judge might ask.