ESD appeal decision says 'reversed' after employer initiated hearing - what does this mean for my benefits?

' Reversed means the judge overturned the original ESD decision. So if ESD originally approved your benefits and now the decision 'is'reversed , then yes,'you ve been disqualified. If you were denied benefits initially and now'it 's'reversed , then you won. Check what the original determination was to know forsure.

The term 'reversed' in appeal decisions means the judge disagreed with ESD's initial determination. You need to know what the original determination was to understand what this means for you. If ESD initially approved your benefits and the decision was reversed, you may now be disqualified. Look at your initial determination letter to confirm. And yes, if the decision was reversed against you, you'll likely receive an overpayment notice for benefits already paid. However, wait for the official decision letter - it will explain everything in detail including any appeal rights you still have.

OMG this system is so DELIBERATELY CONFUSING!!!! They can't just say 'You lost' or 'You won'?? No, they have to use terms like 'reversed' and 'affirmed' that nobody understands! I went through this nightmare last year and wasted THREE WEEKS trying to figure out what my decision meant, calling over and over just to get disconnected. When I finally got through, the rep told me I could have just checked the 'Decisions' tab to see the full text of the decision letter instead of waiting for mail!! Check there if you haven't already!

Have you tried calling the OAH directly? not ESD, but the Office of Administrative Hearings - they're the ones who handle the appeals and might explain what the reversal means in your case. Unfortunately in my experience with this, 'reversed' usually means the judge overturned whatever the original ESD decision was. so if u were initially approved, reversed probably means disqualified. but don't panic until u get the official explanation!!

If you're struggling to reach ESD or OAH to get clarity on your appeal decision, I'd recommend trying Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a service that helps you get through to an ESD agent quickly without waiting on hold for hours. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. With an appeal decision that affects your benefits, it's crucial to speak with an actual agent who can explain exactly what the reversal means in your specific case and what steps you need to take next.

when i had my hearing last year the judge told me that the decision would be mailed within 2 weeks. mine said 'affirmed' which meant my disqualification stayed in place. but my cousin had one where the employer appealed and it got reversed and that was actually good for him because the original decision was that he didn't qualify. so it really depends on what the original determination was. btw, you can still appeal this decision to the commissioner's review office if you disagree with the judge's ruling, but you only have 30 days from when that letter is sent

Update: Finally got through to an ESD agent this morning. The 'reversed' decision means the judge overturned ESD's original approval of my benefits. The agent confirmed I'll be receiving an overpayment notice for about $5,800 in benefits I've already received. I can either pay it back in full, request a payment plan, or file for a waiver if I can prove financial hardship. I'm also going to appeal to the Commissioner's Review Office within the 30-day window. The agent said I should focus on showing why the judge didn't correctly apply the law to my situation rather than just restating my original arguments. Thanks everyone for your help with understanding this!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress! I went through something similar last year and the uncertainty is awful. One thing that helped me was getting a copy of the judge's written decision as soon as possible - it should spell out exactly why they reversed ESD's original decision and what specific law or regulation they based it on. This information will be crucial if you decide to appeal to the Commissioner's Review Office. Also, when you apply for that payment plan, ask if they can put a hold on collection activities while your Commissioner appeal is pending. Some people have success with this, though it's not guaranteed. Document everything and keep copies of all correspondence. Hang in there!