ESD Adjudication holding up payments - 10 weeks last time, desperate for timeline estimates

wow that sucks! i had adjudication last month but only took 2 weeks to clear. didnt do anything special just waited. maybe your case is more complicated? good luck!

Adjudication timeframes vary widely depending on the specific issue being reviewed and current caseloads. Identity verification should typically be resolved within 3-4 weeks in 2025, much faster than the 10 weeks you experienced last year. The ESD implemented new verification systems after the fraud wave during COVID. A few recommendations: 1. Check your ESD dashboard for any alerts requiring action 2. Make sure your ID documents are clear and all corners visible 3. Verify your current contact info is correct in your profile 4. If the documents you uploaded show 'received' status, don't resubmit as this can reset your place in line Unfortunately, once in adjudication, there's a specific process they must follow. Have you checked if you qualify for hardship acceleration? If you're at risk of eviction or utility shutoff, you can request expedited processing.

This is EXACTLY why I stopped applying for UI during our seasonal layoffs!!! The ESD system is DESIGNED to make us wait and suffer. Last time I had "adjudication" they claimed I didn't do enough job searches but I DID and uploaded everything correctly. Took 8 weeks to resolve and I had to borrow money from my parents at age 42!!! So humiliating. The system is rigged against seasonal workers. They know exactly who we are and that we go through this EVERY YEAR but they still put us through the same garbage. I bet they're hoping people just give up so they don't have to pay.

Have you tried calling ESD directly? I had a similar issue with adjudication last winter and was able to get it resolved in about 3 weeks instead of the 8+ weeks it took the previous year. The trick is actually getting through to a live person who can check your specific case. After spending days trying to get through the regular phone lines, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an ESD agent without the endless busy signals and wait times. They have a demo video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 The agent I spoke with was able to see exactly what was holding up my claim (a discrepancy between my reported hours and what my employer reported) and helped me resolve it during that call. Might be worth trying if you're in a tight financial situation.

OP, I'm confused about something. You mentioned both you and your husband are contract workers, but then you say you get seasonal layoffs? Are you actually W-2 employees who get laid off seasonally, or are you 1099 independent contractors? This could affect your claim processing. Regular UI is for W-2 employees. If you're truly independent contractors (1099), then you might be filing under a different program which could explain the delays. The regular UI process is pretty streamlined for standard seasonal layoffs if you're actual employees.

I handle unemployment issues for a small business and can share some insights about the current adjudication process: 1. Identity verification adjudication is typically taking 3-4 weeks in 2025 (much improved from 2023-2024) 2. You can potentially speed things up by: • Requesting a hardship acceleration if you're facing financial hardship (call and specifically ask for this) • Ensuring all documents are clear, complete, and match exactly what was requested • Having your employer contact ESD to verify your identity/employment (we've done this for employees) 3. If you're in the same job as last year and already went through verification, you can reference your previous claim number in a secure message and ask them to cross-reference Adjudication doesn't necessarily mean there's a problem - it's often just a mandatory review step for seasonal workers to prevent fraud. Don't lose hope!

Quick update on adjudication timeframes - I was at a WorkSource workshop last week and the ESD rep mentioned that current adjudication for identity verification is averaging 19 business days (about 4 calendar weeks) right now. They said there's typically a surge of claims in January that creates a backlog, but it's nothing like previous years. The rep also mentioned that people who upload their documents through the secure message portal tend to get processed faster than those who mail physical copies or use the general document upload system. Double-check that you used the identity verification specific upload option.

We were in adjudication for FIVE MONTHS last year for a "able and available" issue because my wife had surgery right before our seasonal layoff. had to sell our second car just to make it thru. finally got all backpay but the stress nearly killed us my best advice: document EVERYTHING. dates times names of who u talk to. and keep filing weekly claims even while in adjudication. if u miss even 1 weekly claim during adjudication it can reset the whole thing ask me how i know lol

Based on all the comments and your situation, here's a summary action plan that might help: 1. Keep filing weekly claims without fail 2. Ask your employer to contact ESD to verify your employment status 3. Reference your previous claim/verification in secure messages 4. Consider the Claimyr service others mentioned to get through to an agent 5. Request hardship acceleration if you're 2-3 weeks in with no progress 6. Double-check that your ID documents are perfectly clear and complete 7. Look into emergency rental assistance programs as a backup plan Most importantly, the 10-week timeframe you experienced last year isn't the norm now. The system has improved significantly for identity verification cases. The current 3-4 week average should give you some hope.