Confused about ESD appeal hearing scheduling - how will I know my appointment time?

Yes, you'll receive a Notice of Hearing in the mail that has the exact date and time of your appeal hearing. This usually comes from the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH), not directly from ESD. They typically give at least 7-10 days notice before the hearing date. The notice will include important information about how to participate (usually by phone), what documents to prepare, and your rights during the hearing. Make sure your mailing address is current in your ESD account!

i got my notice about 3 weeks after filing my appeal last year. it was a letter in the mail saying when the phone hearing would be. make sure ur checking ur mail everyday!

THEY WILL MAIL YOU THE NOTICE!!! Make sure your address is up to date or you'll miss it completely like I did!!! Then you have to go through this whole process to request a new hearing date and explain why you missed it and it adds MONTHS to the timeline. The worst part is they don't email you or call - just regular mail. It's like we're living in 1995 or something. 🙄

It took me almost 4 MONTHS total because of missing that first hearing notice! The regular timeline is more like 6-8 weeks if everything goes smoothly. But nothing ever goes smoothly with ESD does it? 😠

I went through an appeal last month and discovered Claimyr when I needed to reach ESD about some missing documents before my hearing. It's a service that gets you through to an actual ESD agent without the endless busy signals. Saved me hours of frustration! Check out their demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 or go to claimyr.com. The ESD agent I spoke with was able to update my file with the additional information the judge needed for my appeal.

Here's what to expect with your appeal timeline: 1. After filing your appeal, it takes OAH approximately 2-4 weeks to process it and schedule a hearing 2. You'll receive a Notice of Hearing by mail with the date/time (usually 7-14 days before the hearing) 3. The notice includes instructions for submitting evidence before the hearing 4. Most hearings are conducted by phone (you'll call in to a conference line) 5. The judge will call witnesses in a specific order, usually starting with you 6. The entire hearing typically lasts 30-60 minutes 7. The judge's decision usually arrives by mail within 2-3 weeks after the hearing Make sure to prepare all your evidence ahead of time and submit it according to the instructions. Also, continue filing your weekly claims during the entire appeal process!

my sister had her appeal last year and she said the most important thing is to be ready with all your evidence like pay stubs and stuff. they gave her like 10 days notice for the phone hearing i think. also they recorded the whole thing just so u know!

Back in 2021 I had to appeal because they said I didn't look for work enough but I actually did. When they finally scheduled my hearing it was at the WORST possible time - right in the middle of my new job orientation! I called the number on the notice and explained and they were actually pretty good about rescheduling it. So if you get a bad time, you CAN request a different date, just do it right away. Also the judge was way nicer than I expected. Not like a real court at all, more like just explaining your side to someone who actually listens.

One more important tip: While waiting for your appeal hearing, make sure you're actively seeking work and documenting your job search activities (minimum 3 per week). Even though your claim is denied and under appeal, you'll need to show you've been meeting all requirements during this time if you want to receive backpay for these weeks once you win your appeal.

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I feel much better knowing what to expect now. I'll keep an eye on my mail, continue filing my weekly claims, and start gathering all my evidence to be prepared for the hearing. Really appreciate all of you taking the time to share your experiences!