ESD benefit hearing Tuesday - already receiving benefits but nervous about questions

I went through a hearing last month. They asked me specific questions about why I left my job and whether I was actively searching for work. Make sure you have your job search log ready and documentation about your separation from employment. They'll want dates, specifics about incidents, and any evidence you have. Even though you're getting benefits now, they could determine you weren't eligible and create an overpayment situation if things don't go well.

you'll be fine, just tell the truth. my hearing was only like 15 min and the judge barely asked anything. as long as ur doing ur job searches every week u should be good

I had a hearing with OAH (Office of Administrative Hearings) in January and here's what you should know: 1. Be prepared to explain in detail why you're eligible for benefits 2. Have your separation information clear (dates, reason, documentation) 3. Bring your job search records showing you've completed the required 3 job search activities each week 4. Be ready to explain any potential issues ESD might have flagged 5. Arrive 15 minutes early whether it's phone, video, or in-person 6. Be honest but concise in your answers The fact that you're already receiving benefits is a good sign, but they could be reviewing your eligibility retroactively. The judge will ask specific questions about your particular case - there's no standard script.

I HAD THE WORST EXPERIENCE with my hearing last year!!! The judge was RUDE and kept interrupting me and my former employer LIED about everything!! Then I got hit with a $5,700 overpayment notice two weeks later. The system is DESIGNED to trick people. They're ALREADY paying you so you think everything is fine but then BAM they want all the money back!!! Make sure you record the hearing (you're allowed to) and don't let them twist your words!!!

I used to work in an adjacent field to unemployment insurance and can tell you these hearings are typically reviewing a specific issue with your claim. Since you're already receiving benefits, they likely approved your claim initially but something triggered a review. Common reasons include: - Your employer disputed your eligibility after initial approval - There's a question about your job separation that needs clarification - Random audit of job search activities - Potential unreported earnings were flagged The notice you received should indicate the specific issue being addressed. Focus your preparation on that issue, and bring documentation that supports your case. The judge's questions will center around resolving that particular concern. By the way, after struggling to reach ESD about my own hearing last year, I discovered a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an ESD agent in under 25 minutes when I couldn't get through for days. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. It might be worth trying if you need clarification about your hearing before Tuesday.

Since your notice mentions "separation circumstances review," they're specifically looking at whether you quit voluntarily, were fired for misconduct, or were laid off through no fault of your own. Here's what you should prepare: 1. Timeline of events leading to your separation 2. Documentation of any warnings, performance issues, or layoff notices 3. Names and positions of supervisors involved 4. Any relevant company policies 5. Emails or messages related to your departure Be prepared for your employer to potentially present a different version of events. Stay calm and stick to the facts. Don't get emotional or argumentative, even if your employer says things you disagree with.

My sister had a hearing last month about her benefits. Don't stress too much! She said the judge was actually really nice and just wanted to understand the situation better. She's still getting her benefits no problem. I think sometimes they just do these hearings as a formality tbh.

Thank you all so much for the advice! I'm feeling much more prepared now. I'm going to gather all my documentation tonight, especially around the position elimination, and be ready to calmly explain what happened. I'll update this thread after the hearing to let you know how it went!