Denied for 'not able and available' - what proof can I possibly give ESD?

I went through something similar last year. ESD is looking for evidence that nothing was preventing you from accepting work if offered. Their definition of "able and available" means you: 1. Were physically and mentally capable of working 2. Had transportation to get to work 3. Had childcare arranged (if applicable) 4. Weren't on vacation or out of your job search area 5. Didn't turn down any suitable work For documentation, you could provide: - Calendar showing you were in town during those weeks - Doctor's note confirming you were healthy (if they questioned medical ability) - Childcare arrangements if you have kids - Statement explaining your transportation situation - Detailed explanation of your daily availability Don't panic - this is a common issue they investigate.

omg i hate when they do this!!! they did this to me twice!!! like how do u prove a negative?? i had to write a sworn statement saying i was available n they finally approved me but took like 3 weeks extra

This is a standard part of ESD's eligibility verification process. They're not actually expecting you to prove a negative, but rather to document that you meet all eligibility requirements. Here's what the adjudicator is looking for: 1. A written statement detailing your daily availability during the questioned period 2. Confirmation that nothing restricted your ability to accept work (medical issues, travel, family obligations) 3. Documentation of any circumstances they specifically mentioned in their request If they mentioned a specific reason they questioned your availability (like information from a former employer), address that directly. Submit your documentation through your eServices account under "Upload a Document" and select "Able and Available Issue" from the dropdown menu. Include your claim ID on all documents. After uploading, call ESD to confirm receipt and ask when you can expect a decision. This typically takes 7-10 business days to resolve once they have your documentation.

THEY ALWAYS DO THIS RANDOMLY TO PEOPLE!!! It's just another way they try to deny legitimate claims. They did it to my brother when he was collecting last year and then to me in February. You know what's really happening? They have QUOTAS for denying claims to save $$$$. The whole "able and available" thing is their favorite trick because it's almost impossible to prove and they know it. When it happened to me, I uploaded a long angry letter listing every job I applied to and telling them I was available 24/7 and had been searching DAILY for work. I also screen-shotted my Google location history showing I was in town. They approved me a week later without even responding to my documents. THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED!

I went through this exact same issue in March! Spent two weeks trying to get through to ESD on the phone with no luck. Kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got connected to an agent in about 20 minutes. The agent explained exactly what documentation they needed for my "able and available" issue and I had it resolved that same day. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Basically, I just needed to submit a written statement explaining my daily availability, that I had reliable transportation, and that nothing was preventing me from accepting work. The agent processed it while I was on the phone and my payments resumed the following week.

my cousin had this happen last month. she said they wanted her to write a statement about why she was able and avaliable for work during those weeks. she had to say stuff like what hours she could work, that she had her own car, and explain that she wasnt sick or out of town. she said the important part was being super specific about her availabilty like "i was available to work monday-sunday from 6am-11pm and had reliable transportation via my personal vehicle a 2019 honda civic." she got approved after that

This happened because something triggered a flag in their system. Usually it's one of these: - Your previous employer reported something - Your work search activities weren't properly recorded - You answered a weekly claim question in a way that raised a flag - Random audit (happens to about 5% of claims) Just submit a detailed letter addressing your availability. Be specific - don't just say "I was available" but instead explain "I was available 7 days a week, from 6am to 10pm, had reliable transportation via my personal vehicle, had no health restrictions, and was actively seeking employment as evidenced by my work search activities." Include dates for the specific period they're questioning.

Thanks everyone for the advice! I'm drafting a detailed statement right now that includes: - My daily availability (specific hours) - Confirmation I have my own car and valid license - Mention that I wasn't out of town or sick during that period - List of the jobs I applied for showing I was actively searching I'm going to try calling early tomorrow, but if I can't get through I'll check out that Claimyr service. Will update once I hear back from ESD!

i had a similar thing but it was cuz i was in school part time. they wanted proof my classes wouldn't interfere with work availability. i had to get a letter from my school showing class schedule. maybe theres something specific they think might be making u unavailable?? sometimes they don't tell u the real reason in the letter

I'm dealing with the exact same thing right now! Got the letter yesterday asking for proof I was "able and available" during the first two weeks of March. Like you said, it feels impossible to prove a negative. I've been reading through all these responses and it sounds like the key is being super detailed in your statement. I'm planning to write something like "During March 1-14, 2025, I was available to work Monday through Sunday from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM. I have reliable transportation (2020 Toyota Camry), no medical restrictions preventing work, was not enrolled in school, had no travel plans, and was actively seeking employment as documented in my work search log." The frustrating part is they don't tell you WHY they're questioning it. Was it something I said in my weekly claims? A random audit? Really wish they'd be more transparent about what triggered the review in the first place. Definitely going to try calling first thing Monday morning. If anyone has tips on the best time to call to actually get through, I'd appreciate it!

I'm going through this nightmare right now too! Got flagged for "able and available" for the last week of February. What's driving me crazy is that I was literally sitting by my phone every day hoping someone would call for an interview, and now they want me to PROVE I was ready to work? Based on what everyone's saying here, I'm putting together a statement that covers: - Exact hours I was available (I'm doing 6 AM to 10 PM, 7 days a week) - Transportation details (my 2018 Honda Accord with valid license and insurance) - No medical issues, no travel, no other commitments - Reference to my work search log showing I applied to 8 jobs that week The thing that really gets me is how they make it sound like you did something wrong when really they're just doing random audits. I've been unemployed for 3 months and have applied to over 100 jobs - if that doesn't show I'm "available" I don't know what does! Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences. At least now I know this is normal ESD bureaucracy and not just them picking on me specifically. Going to submit my documentation tomorrow and keep my fingers crossed.

I just went through this exact situation two months ago and totally understand your frustration! The "able and available" review is actually pretty routine - they randomly audit claims to ensure compliance with federal requirements. Here's what worked for me: I wrote a detailed statement covering the specific weeks they questioned, including: - My exact availability hours (I put 7 AM to 8 PM, Monday-Saturday) - Transportation details (reliable vehicle with valid license) - Confirmation I had no medical restrictions, wasn't traveling, no school conflicts - Referenced my work search activities during those specific weeks The key is being very specific about the time period they're questioning. Don't just say "I was available" - give them concrete details about HOW you were available. I submitted it through the eServices portal under "Upload Document" and selected "Able and Available Issue." Got approved within 8 business days without needing to call. Your job search log showing 5 applications per week is actually great supporting evidence - make sure to reference that in your statement since it demonstrates you were actively seeking work during the questioned period. Hang in there, this usually resolves pretty quickly once you submit the documentation!