Can I reactivate my ESD claim after quitting a job with long commute? 14 weeks left on claim

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but quitting because of a long commute is probably going to get your claim denied. ESD considers that a voluntary quit without good cause. The commute has to be REALLY extreme compared to normal commutes in your area, and even then it's dicey. Did your commute change after you started or did you know about the distance when you accepted the job?

To directly answer your question: Yes, you would reactivate your existing claim rather than filing a completely new one since you're within your benefit year. Just log into eServices and select the option to reopen your claim. HOWEVER - and this is a BIG however - voluntarily quitting a job usually disqualifies you from receiving benefits unless you can prove "good cause" for leaving. A long commute by itself typically doesn't qualify as good cause unless there were significant changes after you accepted the job (like your employer relocated). If you quit, ESD will investigate why you left. They'll contact your employer and interview you. You'd need to prove that you had no reasonable alternative but to quit. Have you tried: 1. Asking for remote work options? 2. Trying to transfer to a closer location? 3. Looking for similar jobs closer to home before quitting?

ive been on UI twice and i can tell u from experience that ESD doesnt care about ur commute problems!! they WILL deny u if u quit willingly... better off getting laid off or fired for something thats not misconduct lol

I was in almost the exact same situation last year! Had 9 weeks left on my claim, quit a job with a 90-minute commute, and tried to reactivate. Got denied because I "voluntarily quit without good cause." I appealed and still lost because I knew about the commute when I took the job. Your best bet honestly is to find a new job BEFORE quitting this one. If that's not possible, then document EVERYTHING about why this commute has become unsustainable - car repair costs, gas receipts, any health issues it's causing (get doctor notes!), any schedule changes your employer made that affect your commute, etc. If you do end up quitting and applying, be prepared for a fight. You'll likely be denied initially and have to appeal.

The appeal took about 7 weeks from when I filed it until my hearing date. Then another 2 weeks to get the decision (which I lost). So 9 weeks total where I had no income. Really rough time. One thing I learned - if your employer has changed your schedule since you started and that affects your commute, that could help your case. Like if you started working 9-5 but now they want you there 7-3 and that means you're driving in worse traffic or can't carpool anymore.

Any chance you could get laid off instead of quitting? Just saying... sometimes having a conversation with your boss about your struggles can lead to a mutual separation that's better for UI purposes...

I work with UI claimants and want to clarify a few things: 1. You would reopen your existing claim (not file new) IF within the benefit year 2. Quitting due to commute alone is typically not considered good cause UNLESS: - The commute exceeds 2 hours each way AND - You can document attempts to find alternatives (carpooling, relocation, etc.) - There was a substantial change in circumstances after accepting the job If you quit, ESD will place your claim in adjudication and investigate. This process is taking 8-12 weeks currently. During this time, you should file weekly claims but won't receive benefits until a determination is made. If you need to speak directly with an ESD agent about your specific situation, I recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They can help you bypass the phone wait times and connect with an agent who can review your specific case. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Keep documenting everything and if possible, secure new employment before quitting.

Has your employer done anything that made the job different from what you agreed to? That could help your case. Like did they change your hours or responsibilities? Sometimes you can make a case that the job changed enough that it's not what you signed up for.

Another option - can you look into moving closer to work? ESD might ask why you couldn't relocate to solve the commute problem.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST WORKERS!!! They expect us to just accept ANY job no matter how bad the conditions are! A 4+ hour daily commute is INSANE and should absolutely qualify as good cause but ESD will deny you anyway because they're all about keeping their numbers low. I had to appeal THREE TIMES last year for a completely legitimate claim. The system is BROKEN.

I used Claimyr last month when I was stuck in adjudication hell for 8 weeks. Got through to a real person at ESD in about 10 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. They helped explain exactly what was holding up my claim. Worth it just to get actual answers instead of the automated system that tells you nothing.

why dont u just start doing bad at ur job so they fire u lol... just saying its easier to get benefits that way than if u quit