ESD adjudication stuck at 5 weeks - how to actually reach a human?

Adjudications are taking FOREVER now. Mine took 7 weeks last month. Their system is completely broken.

Adjudication timeframes vary based on the specific issue that triggered it. Usually identity verification takes 3-4 weeks, while employer disputes can take 6-8 weeks. You should be able to see what specific issue triggered the adjudication somewhere in your online account under the 'Issues and Decisions' tab. Make sure you're still filing your weekly claims during this time, even though they won't pay out until adjudication is complete. If approved, they'll pay all weeks retroactively.

have u tried calling riht when they open? thats what i did and only waited like 45 min

I was stuck in adjudication for 6 weeks last summer for an 'able and available' issue too. It was because I answered 'no' to whether I was available for work one week when I had a medical appointment. Even though I explained it in the comments, it still triggered a manual review. The most frustrating part was not being able to talk to anyone about it! I finally got through by using Claimyr (claimyr.com). It's a service that essentially waits on hold for you and calls you back when they get an agent. Totally worth it for me since I was about to lose my apartment. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 The agent was able to tell me exactly why my claim was held up and what documents they needed. Got paid about a week after that call.

The 'Able and Available' issue is actually one of the faster adjudication types to resolve. It typically indicates they need to verify you're actively seeking work and available to accept suitable employment. A few important things to know: 1) Continue filing your weekly claims and make sure you're completing and documenting your 3 job search activities each week 2) Check your spam/junk folders for emails from ESD - they often send interview requests that get filtered 3) Make sure your contact information is up-to-date in the system 4) If you haven't already, upload your ID documentation in the secure document uploader section, even if they haven't explicitly requested it yet If you need immediate financial assistance while waiting, you can contact your local WorkSource office for emergency resources or consider applying for TANF if you have dependents.

The ESD system is DELIBERATELY designed to be impossible to reach anyone!! They WANT you to give up so they don't have to pay your benefits. I spent 9 WEEKS in adjudication last year and only got resolution after contacting my state representative. They have a constituent services team that can escalate your case. Email them TODAY!

I had a similar situation last year but it was about my job separation reason. This whole thing reminded me that I also had trouble with my identity verification taking forever before that. The system kept saying my driver's license didn't match their records even though I triple checked everything. Then my neighbor told me her cousin works at ESD and apparently they're super understaffed since 2020. Anyway, hope you get it sorted out soon!

UPDATE: I finally got through to ESD this morning! Used the Claimyr service that someone recommended here, and it worked perfectly. Was connected to an agent in about 30 minutes. Turns out my adjudication was delayed because they needed additional information about my availability during a specific week. The agent scheduled a phone interview for next Tuesday and said my claim should be processed shortly after that if everything checks out. Thank you all for the helpful advice! I'll update again after my interview.