ESD claim shows 'active' status but no payments received - what's happening?

An 'active' claim just means your application is in the system and being processed. It doesn't necessarily mean payments have been approved yet. There's often an invisible 'pending' status where they're verifying your information with your former employer or checking eligibility. Check if there's an 'issues/decisions' tab or section in your eServices account - that's where they'd list any problems with your claim. Sometimes there are identity verification or fact-finding issues that need to be resolved before payments start.

same thing hapened to me last month! claim said active for FIVE WEEKS b4 i got my first payment. turns out they were doing some kind of 'background verification' that doesn't show up anywhere on ur account. super annoying they dont tell u whats happening!!

This is actually extremely common with ESD. 'Active' status just means your claim has been established, but there are several behind-the-scenes processes that happen before payments begin: 1. Employer verification (they contact your former employer) 2. Wage verification (confirming your reported earnings) 3. Identity verification (even if not explicitly requested) 4. Initial eligibility determination Some of these steps don't show visible status indicators on your account. The first payment typically takes 2-4 weeks from when you file, but can take longer if there are any flags in the system. If it's been over 3 weeks with no communication, I'd recommend trying to contact them to check if there's a specific hold on your claim that needs addressing.

CLASSIC ESD!!!! I spent TWO MONTHS with an "active" claim and no money last year! They were "reviewing" my case but never bothered to TELL ME or ask for ANYTHING! Then one day money just appeared in my account with no explanation! The system is BROKEN and they don't care that people have bills to pay!!!! 😡😡😡

have you checked your spam folder? sometimes the notices from esd go there. also make sure you look at the "alerts" section of your eservices account. they might have sent you something that needs a response.

I was in the exact same boat last month! Try checking if you have a waiting week. The first week after you file is usually a waiting week where you file but don't get paid. So if you filed 3 weeks ago, you should only be expecting payment for the past 2 weeks. Also check if your payment method is set correctly (direct deposit vs debit card). By the way, when I was going crazy trying to get through to ESD, I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual ESD agent in about 25 minutes instead of spending days trying to call. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Once I talked to an agent, they found the issue (employer dispute that wasn't showing on my account) and fixed it right away. Might be worth trying if you're desperate to talk to someone.

Yeah it worked for me! I was skeptical at first but after trying to call ESD myself for over a week with no luck, I was willing to try anything. They basically keep dialing for you and then call you once they get through. The agent was able to see things on my account that I couldn't see myself.

One other thing to check - make sure all your weekly certifications show as "processed" and not just "submitted." Sometimes you can have an active claim but if your weekly claims aren't processed properly, no payment will be issued. Also, if this is your first unemployment claim ever, they sometimes take longer to process as they're establishing everything from scratch. If you've claimed before, it's usually faster. Definitely try to get through to an agent if you can - they might be able to see a pending issue that isn't visible to you through the online portal.

Active status means your claim has been established, but payment approval requires several additional steps. In 2025, ESD has been taking around 2-4 weeks for initial payments due to increased verification processes. Here's what you should do: 1. Continue filing weekly claims on time 2. Check for any correspondence in your eServices message center 3. Verify your identity documentation is complete (if they requested it) 4. Make sure you're reporting your job search activities correctly (3 per week) If nothing shows in your online account under issues/decisions but it's been more than 4 weeks, there's likely an internal review happening. Only an ESD agent can tell you the specific status.

when i filed last year my claim also said active but turns out they needed additional info from my employer who was taking their sweet time responding. maybe call your former employer and ask if ESD contacted them? sometimes they ignore ESD requests which holds up your claim

Based on your comments that your weekly claims show as "submitted" rather than "processed," that's likely your issue. When they show as just submitted, it means ESD hasn't completed reviewing them. This could be due to: 1. Your employer not responding to their verification request 2. A potential eligibility issue that requires manual review 3. Random selection for fraud prevention checks 4. System backlog during high claim periods The fact that you don't see any pending issues is actually promising - it suggests there's nothing specifically wrong with your claim, just that it's in a processing queue. Definitely try to speak with an agent as they can often push these through once you reach them.