ESD approved my claim but no payments yet - what's next?

Congrats on getting approved! That's the hardest part, but no, payments don't automatically start. You need to file your weekly claims every week to receive benefits. Log into your eServices account and file a claim for each week you've been unemployed since your initial application date. First payment typically comes 2-3 business days after your first weekly claim is processed, assuming you have direct deposit set up. If you're using the debit card option, it can take 7-10 days to receive the card in the mail.

Omg thank you!! I had no idea I needed to file weekly claims starting immediately. I thought the approval meant they would just start sending payments. Going to log in right now and figure this out!

Make sure u didnt miss any weeks! u can only backdate weekly claims for like 4 weeks i think

Wait really? I applied 3 weeks ago but haven't filed any weekly claims yet. Can I still claim those weeks or did I just lose that money??

You need to file a weekly claim for EACH week you want to receive benefits. This is the most common mistake people make. The approval letter just means you're eligible, but you must certify each week that you're still unemployed, available for work, and actively seeking employment.\n\nHere's what to do:\n1. Log into eServices immediately\n2. Look for the \

Thank you for the detailed steps! I just tried logging in and it's letting me file for the past 3 weeks, so thankfully I didn't lose anything. I had no idea about the job search activities though - do I need to have already done 3 activities for each of these past weeks or can I start now?

When I got approved last year, it took forever to get my first payment even after filing weekly claims! The system kept putting me in adjudication over and over for stupid reasons. SO FRUSTRATING!!! Every time I called ESD I just got the stupid automated message saying high call volume and they hung up on me. I literally couldn't pay my rent for 2 months while waiting.

That sounds awful! Did you eventually get backpay for all those weeks? I'm worried now because I can't afford to wait months for this money.

I tried calling ESD like 50 times when I had payment issues and never got through. Then I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got connected to an ESD agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 - saved me weeks of stress trying to get my claim fixed.

Thanks for the tip! I'll keep this in mind if I run into problems. Hoping my claim goes smoothly but it's good to know there are options if I need to talk to someone.

does that service really work? i thought it was a scam

The approval letter is basically just saying

I double-checked my direct deposit info and it's correct, so at least I don't have to worry about that part. For the job search activities, what counts? Does applying online work? Or do I need to physically go somewhere?

my cousin got approved and forgot to do his weekly claims for like 2 weeks and he just lost that money forever so make sure u file even if its late!!!

That's terrible! I'm definitely not going to miss any weeks. Thanks for the warning.

To answer your question about job search activities - yes, online applications definitely count. Each week you need to complete 3 job search activities which can include:\n\n1. Submitting job applications (online or in-person)\n2. Attending job interviews\n3. Creating profiles on job search websites\n4. Attending WorkSource workshops (virtual or in-person)\n5. Taking skills assessments related to your field\n6. Networking events or job fairs\n\nKeep detailed records of everything - date, company name, position, contact info, method of application, etc. ESD can audit your job search activities at any time.

This is so helpful, thank you! I've been applying to jobs already so I'll just make sure to keep better records of everything. Does ESD provide a form for tracking these activities or should I create my own spreadsheet?

ESD provides a job search log form you can download from their website, or you can track your activities in eServices directly. I personally prefer keeping my own detailed spreadsheet AND entering the info in eServices each week.\n\nOne more important thing - after you file your first weekly claim, watch your correspondence inbox in eServices carefully. They often send important follow-up questions that can delay your payments if not answered promptly.\n\nOnce everything is set up correctly, payments are usually very consistent - they'll arrive the same day each week as long as you file your weekly claim on time.

I really appreciate all this information! I just filed my back weeks and set a calendar reminder to file every Sunday morning from now on. Such a relief to understand how this all works now. Thank you everyone for your help!