Can I skip filing an ESD weekly claim during unpaid time off from part-time job?
I've been working part-time while receiving partial unemployment benefits for about 3 months now. Last week I had to take unpaid time off from my job for a family emergency. When I tried to file my weekly claim, the system wouldn't let me enter zero hours and zero earnings - it kept giving me an error message. I'm worried if I don't file something, my claim will get messed up, but I don't want to enter incorrect information and trigger another round of adjudication (already went through that nightmare when I first started part-time). Has anyone dealt with this situation before? Should I just skip filing for this week altogether? Will that affect my claim status going forward? My part-time job is only 15 hours a week normally, so I still qualify for partial benefits.
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Amina Diop
never skip filing!!! you have to file every week or they'll close ur claim. just call them and explain, they'll fix it
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Paolo Romano
•Thanks, but calling ESD is basically impossible. I've tried for 2 days already and can't get through.
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Oliver Schmidt
You shouldn't skip filing your weekly claim. If you miss a week, your claim could become inactive and you'd need to reopen it. For your situation, you should select "No" when asked if you worked that week. Since you were on unpaid leave, technically you weren't working. The system is designed to handle this situation - it's not the same as quitting or being fired, it's just a temporary interruption in your part-time schedule. Just make sure you're available for work during this time (meaning you could have accepted suitable work if offered).
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Paolo Romano
•Thank you! That makes sense. So even though I'm still employed at my part-time job, I should answer "No" for the week I didn't physically work. I was definitely available for work during that time.
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Natasha Volkov
•This advice is spot on. The key difference is between "being employed" and "working hours" in a given week. You can remain employed but have zero hours in a particular week. Just make sure to answer all the other questions accurately, especially the one about being able and available for work.
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Javier Torres
DONT LISTEN TO THE PERSON SAYING CLICK NO!! when i did that last year they put me in adjudication for 6 weeks saying i quit my job!!! the system is so broken! i would try calling but prepare to be on hold for 5+ hours if you even get through
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Paolo Romano
•Oh no, that's exactly what I'm afraid of! Did you have to pay back benefits or anything? This is so confusing.
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Javier Torres
•ya i had to appeal the decision it was a NIGHTMARE. eventually got it fixed but took almost 2 months. esd system is total garbage
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Emma Wilson
I was stuck in a similar situation few months back. I found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an ESD agent in about 25 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. The agent was able to help me file correctly for a week I missed work due to a medical issue. Saved me from going through adjudication again, which took 8 weeks the first time!
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Amina Diop
•does that actually work?? never heard of it before
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Emma Wilson
•Yes, it got me through when I couldn't get through myself. The agent was able to properly code my claim so it didn't trigger adjudication. Worth it to avoid weeks of waiting for benefits.
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QuantumLeap
I think what matters most is WHY you took the time off. If it was voluntary unpaid time off, that's different from your employer not having hours for you. In my experience with ESD, the details matter a lot. Not working because of a family emergency might actually qualify you for different options depending on the situation...
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Oliver Schmidt
•This is a valid point. The reason for the unpaid time off does matter. If you requested the time off (even for a family emergency), that's different from your employer reducing your hours. However, for a single week, as long as you remained available for work during that time, selecting "No" for worked that week is still appropriate - just be prepared to explain if asked.
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Natasha Volkov
Here's what ESD's handbook actually says: You must file a weekly claim for every week you want to receive benefits, even if you worked that week or your eligibility is being questioned. If you don't file a weekly claim for more than four weeks in a row, your claim becomes inactive, and you'll need to reopen it. For your specific situation with the unpaid time off, you should choose "No" when asked if you worked, but indicate that you're still employed when asked about your employment status. There's a difference between having zero hours in a week and no longer being employed at all. If the online system isn't letting you do this correctly, then you definitely need to speak with an agent.
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Paolo Romano
•Thank you so much for the specific information! I think the problem is that I was trying to enter that I worked 0 hours rather than selecting "No" for working that week. I'll try again with your approach.
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Paolo Romano
UPDATE: I tried again following the advice here. When I selected "No" for working that week (instead of trying to enter 0 hours), the system let me continue. I made sure to answer all the other questions honestly, including that I was able and available for work. My claim went through without any issues! Thanks everyone for your help. I was overthinking it and making it more complicated than it needed to be.
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Oliver Schmidt
•Great news! Glad it worked out. This is exactly how the system is designed to handle temporary gaps in part-time work. Your claim should continue normally now.
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QuantumLeap
•nice! one less headache to deal with!
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