ESD adjudication 'in progress' status with changing dates - what exactly does this mean?
Hi everyone! I'm totally confused about what's happening with my ESD unemployment claim. It's been showing 'adjudication in progress' for almost 3 weeks now. I noticed there's also a 'change date' that keeps updating every few days even though nothing else seems to be changing. Does anyone know what this actually means? Is someone actively reviewing my case each time the date changes? Or is this just some automatic system update? Getting really worried since my savings are almost gone and I haven't received any payments yet. The ESD website is so confusing and I can't get through on the phone!
29 comments


Henry Delgado
same thing happened to me... the change date just means someone looked at your file but didnt decide anything yet. dont worry too much about it
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Gianni Serpent
•Thanks for responding! Do you remember how long yours was in adjudication before it finally got resolved? I'm getting really nervous about bills piling up.
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Olivia Kay
The "adjudication in progress" status means your claim has one or more issues that need to be resolved before benefits can be paid. The changing date typically indicates that an ESD agent has looked at your file or made some kind of update, but it doesn't necessarily mean they've made a decision yet. They might be waiting for additional information from you or a former employer. Have you received any notices in your ESD inbox requesting additional information? Sometimes they need documentation or clarification on something, and your claim won't move forward until you provide it. Also check if your status says "pending" or "processing" on your weekly claims - these are different statuses that require different actions.
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Gianni Serpent
•I checked my ESD inbox and there aren't any messages asking for documents or information. My weekly claims all say "processing - adjudication in progress" when I look at the status. Does that mean I just have to wait? It's so frustrating not knowing what's happening!
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Olivia Kay
•Unfortunately, that does mean you're in a waiting pattern. The adjudicator needs to review your case, and they're working through a backlog. With no specific information requests, all you can do is continue filing your weekly claims while you wait for a decision. Make sure you're completing your work search activities (3 per week) and documenting them properly in case you're asked about them later.
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Joshua Hellan
Ugh ESD is THE WORST!!! My claim was stuck in "adjudication" for SIX WEEKS last year and every time I called they just said "be patient" like I don't have bills to pay?? The changing date means absolutely nothing - it's just their system updating randomly to make it look like someone's working on your claim but NOBODY IS. The whole system is designed to make people give up!!!
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Gianni Serpent
•Six weeks? That's terrifying! Did you end up getting your benefits eventually or did something else happen?
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Joshua Hellan
•Yeah I finally got it but only after I contacted my state representative's office and had them intervene. Suddenly my claim was magically approved within 2 days after that. Funny how that works! 🙄
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Jibriel Kohn
I had success using Claimyr to actually get through to an ESD agent when my claim was stuck in adjudication. It's a service that basically waits on hold for you and then calls you when an agent is available. Cost money but was worth it for me since I was able to find out exactly what was causing the hold up (which turned out to be a simple verification issue). You can see how it works at claimyr.com or watch their demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 The agent I talked to explained that the change date updates whenever anyone in the system touches your file - could be an adjudicator, could be someone just assigning cases, or even some automated system process. So it doesn't necessarily mean progress is being made, just that something happened with your file.
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Gianni Serpent
•I hadn't heard of that service before! Did they actually tell you anything helpful when you got through? I'm wondering if it's worth trying or if they'll just tell me to keep waiting.
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Jibriel Kohn
•In my case it was definitely worth it. The agent was able to see exactly what was holding up my claim (an employer response that was flagged as potentially contradicting my statement). They explained what would happen next and gave me a realistic timeframe. Just having that information made the wait less stressful. Sometimes they can even expedite things if your situation is causing hardship.
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Edison Estevez
i know im supposed to do 3 job searches while waiting for adjudication but do they actually check those? i have been looking but forgot to save some of the job posting information 😬
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Olivia Kay
•Yes, they absolutely can and do check job search activities! While not every claim gets audited, if yours is selected for review and you can't provide documentation of your job searches, you could be disqualified and have to repay benefits. You need to record the date of contact, employer name, position, contact method, and result for each activity. Don't risk it - make sure you're properly documenting everything going forward.
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Edison Estevez
•yikes ok thanks for the warning... gonna start being more careful about writing everything down
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Emily Nguyen-Smith
My adjudication took 4 weeks to resolve in January 2025. The key things to remember while you're waiting: 1. Keep filing your weekly claims on time 2. Complete and document your job search activities (3 per week) 3. Check your ESD account inbox daily for any messages or requests 4. Make sure your contact information is up-to-date The changing date usually means some kind of activity on your claim, but ESD processes cases in order of receipt (for the most part), so they might just be noting something in your file without making a determination yet. If it goes beyond 4-5 weeks, consider reaching out to your state representative as they can sometimes help move things along.
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Gianni Serpent
•Thank you for this clear breakdown! It's helpful to know what to expect. I'll keep filing my weekly claims and documenting everything carefully. Is there anything specific I should say if I do end up contacting my state representative? I've never done that before.
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James Johnson
Hey just wondering did u leave ur job voluntary or were u laid off? Cuz that makes a HUGE difference in adjudication time... voluntary quits take way longer to process i learned that the hard way last year 😞
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Gianni Serpent
•I was laid off - my position was eliminated when my company downsized. They told me they were making cuts due to budget issues. Does that usually take less time to process?
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James Johnson
•Oh that's good news for you! Layoffs are usually processed faster because there's less to investigate. When I got laid off in 2023 it took about 3 weeks. But when my friend quit because of a hostile work environment it took her almost 8 weeks to get through adjudication because they had to interview her former boss and everything. So you should hopefully hear something soon!
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Olivia Kay
UPDATE: Just wanted to check in - has there been any change in your claim status? Sometimes claims can suddenly be approved after sitting in adjudication for weeks with no apparent movement.
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Gianni Serpent
•Yes!! My claim was just approved yesterday - after 24 days in adjudication. No explanation for what took so long, but I'm just relieved. All my weekly claims that were pending got paid at once. Thanks everyone for the help and advice during the wait!
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Emily Nguyen-Smith
•That's great news! Glad it worked out. Make sure you keep up with your job search requirements and weekly claims. Sometimes people get tripped up thinking everything is fine after adjudication ends, but you still need to maintain compliance with all the program requirements.
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Aidan Percy
Congrats on getting approved @Gianni Serpent! 24 days is a long time to wait but glad it finally came through. For anyone else still waiting in adjudication - this is a good reminder that these claims do eventually get processed even when it feels like nothing is happening. The system is slow but it does work eventually. Keep filing those weekly claims and hang in there!
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ApolloJackson
•Thanks for sharing this update! It's really encouraging to hear success stories like @Gianni Serpent s'case. I m'currently on day 18 of adjudication myself and was starting to panic, but seeing that 24 days isn t'unusual helps me feel less stressed about it. The waiting is the hardest part when you don t'know what s'happening behind the scenes. Going to keep filing my weekly claims and stay patient!
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Yuki Tanaka
@ApolloJackson hang in there! Day 18 is still within the normal range based on what everyone's shared here. I know the uncertainty is brutal - I was checking my account multiple times a day during those 24 days. Just keep doing what you're doing with the weekly claims and job searches. The fact that @Gianni Serpent got approved gives me hope for everyone else still waiting. This thread has been so helpful for understanding that we're not alone in this process!
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Ella Lewis
•This whole thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm new to this community and currently on day 12 of adjudication myself. Reading everyone's experiences really helps with the anxiety of not knowing what's happening. @Gianni Serpent your success story gives me hope, and @ApolloJackson knowing someone else is going through the same thing right now makes me feel less alone. Thanks to everyone who shared advice about keeping up with job searches and weekly claims - I was wondering if I still needed to do those during adjudication but now I know to stay on top of everything!
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Julian Paolo
Welcome to the community @Ella Lewis! I'm glad this thread has been helpful for you. Day 12 is still early in the process, so try not to stress too much yet. One thing I learned during my own adjudication wait is to screenshot your weekly claim confirmations and keep a backup record of your job search activities - just in case there are any system glitches or if you need to reference them later. The ESD system can be unpredictable sometimes. Also, if you haven't already, make sure your direct deposit info is set up correctly so when your claim does get approved, the payments can go through smoothly. Wishing you a quick resolution!
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AaliyahAli
•Thanks @Julian Paolo for the warm welcome and great advice! I hadn t'thought about screenshotting my weekly claim confirmations - that s'really smart. I ll'start doing that right away. My direct deposit is already set up from when I first applied, but I ll'double-check to make sure everything looks correct. It s'so reassuring to have experienced people like you sharing practical tips. This waiting game is tough but at least I feel more prepared now thanks to everyone s'guidance!
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Sean Doyle
I'm new to this community and currently dealing with my first unemployment claim experience. Reading through this entire conversation has been incredibly helpful and reassuring! I've been in adjudication for 8 days now and was starting to panic, but seeing @Gianni Serpent's successful resolution after 24 days and hearing from others like @ApolloJackson and @Ella Lewis who are going through the same thing makes me feel so much better. The advice about keeping up with weekly claims, documenting job searches, and taking screenshots is invaluable. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space where people can share real experiences and practical tips during what is honestly one of the most stressful times. It's amazing how much anxiety gets reduced just by understanding that this waiting period is normal and that claims do eventually get processed!
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