ESD approved my claim but disqualified all 7 weeks - any chance of winning appeal?

Yes, definitely keep filing your weekly claims while your appeal is being processed! That's super important because if you win the appeal, they can only pay you for weeks you properly filed for. As for winning, it really depends on why you were disqualified. The 'able and available' issue usually means they think you had restrictions on when or where you could work, or that you weren't actively seeking employment. Do you have documentation of your job search activities? Did you answer any questions about availability or transportation limitations on your weekly claims? Those are often the triggers for these disqualifications.

bruh same thing happened to me last month, complete BS. they said i wasn't "able and available" but i was literally applying to jobs EVERY SINGLE DAY. appealed it and waiting to hear back still. the whole system is rigged to deny people tbh

Appeals are actually won quite frequently, especially for 'able and available' issues which often come down to misunderstandings or incorrectly answered questions. In my experience helping claimants, about 60-70% of these specific types of appeals are successful when the claimant can document their job search activities and availability for work. Be very prepared for your hearing: 1. Bring all job search documentation (printed copies) 2. Have a clear explanation of your availability during each disqualified week 3. Bring any emails or messages about job interviews 4. Print out your weekly claim responses if you can access them The hearing will be conducted by an Administrative Law Judge who is independent from ESD. They're generally fair and will listen to your evidence. Just stick to facts and be very specific about dates and activities.

The 'able and available' disqualification is one of the most common and frustrating issues with ESD claims. I went through something similar in 2025 and won my appeal. The key was proving I was actively job searching and available to accept suitable work. Have you tried calling ESD directly to get specifics on why you were disqualified? Sometimes there's a specific reason that's not clearly explained in the determination letter. Knowing exactly what triggered the disqualification helps you prepare your appeal better. I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an ESD agent when I was in your situation. I had been trying for days with no luck. Their service got me connected with an actual ESD rep in about 20 minutes who explained exactly why my weeks were disqualified. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. It was super helpful to know the specific reason before my appeal hearing.

What kind of work were you doing before filing for unemployment? And what types of jobs are you applying for now? Sometimes ESD disqualifies people if they're too restrictive about what jobs they'll accept. Like if you were making $35/hour before and you're only applying to jobs that pay that much or more, they might flag you for not being 'available' for suitable work.

OK so here's what nobody tells you - the HEARING is your best chance. About 65% of appeals get reversed when you actually show up for the hearing (phone or in-person). DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. I mean literally print out all your job search logs, any emails from employers, confirmation emails from applications, EVERYTHING. Write down a timeline of every single thing you did to find work during those 7 weeks. KEY POINT: Be super clear about your availability during the hearing. If they ask "Were you available to work full-time during the weeks of X to Y?" your answer needs to be a clear "Yes, I was available for full-time work during all of those weeks." Don't add qualifiers or explanations unless specifically asked. I won my appeal in February after being disqualified for 5 weeks. The judge completely reversed ESD's decision because I had documentation of everything. You've got a good chance if you're well-prepared!

One thing to check - did you take any days off from job searching? Like for a doctor appointment or family emergency? Sometimes people don't realize that you need to be available for work EVERY day of the week you're claiming, and if you mark that you weren't available even for a single day, it can trigger a full week disqualification. Also, double-check your weekly claim answers. Sometimes just one wrong answer (like accidentally saying "no" to "were you able and available for work?") can cause this.

keep ur head up n dont give up!! my coworker had the same EXACT issue and she fought it and got ALL her money plus interest. took like 10 weeks tho so hang in there

After reviewing your responses here, I suspect there may have been a system issue or misinterpretation of your weekly claim answers. This happens more often than ESD admits. For your appeal, focus on these key elements: 1. Your consistent job search activities (3+ per week) 2. Your full availability for work (no restrictions on hours/days) 3. Your willingness to accept suitable work 4. Any miscommunications or system errors that might have occurred Technically speaking, the burden of proof in these hearings shifts to ESD. They must prove you were NOT available, rather than you having to prove you WERE available. However, having solid documentation significantly strengthens your case. The current appeal process is taking about 6-8 weeks from filing to hearing, and another 1-2 weeks for the decision. Administrative Law Judges are overturning about 58% of 'able and available' disqualifications according to the most recent OAH statistics.