ESD approved my training benefits then suddenly denied all weekly claims filed since March 2024 - what happened?

The exact same thing happened to me last year!! I got approved for Training Benefits, filed weekly for 5 months, then boom - denial letter saying I wasn't eligible for ANY payments. Turns out there was an 'adjudication issue' that nobody bothered to tell me about until I called. ESD is seriously broken!! They expect us to follow every tiny rule perfectly but then they can just change their minds months later? RIDICULOUS. Did your denial letter mention any specific reason?

This situation is definitely concerning but not uncommon unfortunately. There are several potential explanations for what happened: 1. There might have been an unresolved adjudication issue that wasn't clearly communicated to you 2. Your training program approval might have had conditions that weren't maintained 3. There could have been a job search verification that was flagged 4. Sometimes claims get approved conditionally pending further review Most importantly, you have the right to appeal this decision, and you should absolutely do so within 30 days of receiving the denial letter. Make sure to include copies of your approval letters, training documentation, and job search records with your appeal. The OAH (Office of Administrative Hearings) will review your case independently of ESD.

I've seen this happen several times with training benefits specifically. Often there's a disconnect between the Training Benefits Unit that approves your program and the Regular Claims Unit that processes weekly payments. Have you checked your eServices account to see if there were any alerts or messages you might have missed? Sometimes they post important notices there without sending emails or letters. Also, when you log in, check the "Decisions" tab to see if there's more detail about the denial reason. If you're going to appeal (which you should), you'll need to be very specific about which eligibility criteria you believe you've met.

I went through something similar and spent WEEKS trying to reach an ESD agent to fix it. Regular phone line was useless - always disconnected after 2+ hours on hold. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual ESD agent who could see my full claim history. The agent found that my claim had a flag that was incorrectly applied. They fixed it on the spot and I received all my back payments within a week. There's a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. I'd definitely try to speak with someone directly before going through the whole appeal process, which can take months.

From your description, it sounds like you might have had a standby status initially that expired, or there was a job separation issue that wasn't fully resolved during initial processing. When you received the approval letters, did any mention "conditional approval" or have any conditions listed? Also, did you receive any questionnaires during those 8 months that maybe went to spam? Training benefits approval doesn't automatically guarantee regular UI eligibility - they're reviewed separately.

hate to say this but esd does this alllll the time... they approve u then months later they change there mind and ur supposed to be ok with it???? i had to move back with my parents bcuz of this exact thing happening to me last year after 4 months of claims they said i wasnt eligible even tho i had approval letters too its just how they operate sadly

Based on your follow-up comment about finding something in the Decisions tab about availability, here's what likely happened: Even though Commissioner Approved Training (CAT) does waive the standard availability requirements, you still need to be considered "able" to work and available for suitable work that accommodates your training schedule. It sounds like there might have been a miscommunication between the Training Benefits Unit and the regular claims processing team. For your appeal, make sure to specifically address: 1. That you were approved for CAT (include approval letter) 2. That you understood this approval waived standard availability requirements 3. That you remained able to accept suitable work around your training schedule 4. That you continued to perform required job searches Also consider reaching an agent by phone as another commenter suggested - sometimes these issues can be resolved without a formal appeal if you get to the right person.

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I've decided to take a two-pronged approach: 1) I'll try to reach an ESD agent directly to see if this can be resolved without waiting for an appeal hearing, and 2) I'll file a formal appeal before the deadline just to be safe. I'm gathering all my documentation now - approval letters, training enrollment verification, job search logs, and screenshots from my eServices account showing I was filing properly. This whole situation is so stressful, especially since I've been counting on this money to get through my training program. Will update once I make some progress!