ESD claims I refused work offer but I never got an offer - help!

oh no thats terrible. the same exact thing happened to my cousin last month and he had to wait 6 weeks with no benefits while they 'investigated' and he almost got evicted. ESD is such a mess sometimes!! did u try calling them?

This is a fairly common issue with ESD. Here's what likely happened: the employer you applied to reported to ESD that they offered you a position and you declined it. Sometimes this happens due to miscommunication or the employer trying to avoid UI tax increases by claiming applicants refused work. You need to appeal this immediately! You only have 30 days from the date of the determination letter. Make sure you request a hearing specifically about the "refusal of suitable work" determination. In your appeal, clearly state that you never received any job offer from this employer and request all evidence they submitted to ESD claiming you refused work.

ESD ALWAYS sides with employers. this is how the system works against regular people. they probably just made up that u refused work so they could deny ur benefits and save money. u should contact ur state representative about this blatant FRAUD!!! the whole system is rigged i tell u

You really need to get on the phone with an ESD agent ASAP. I struggled with this exact issue for weeks trying to resolve it through eServices messages. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual ESD agent in about 20 minutes instead of waiting on hold forever. There's a video demo here: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 that shows how it works. The agent was able to look at the employer's specific claim against me and I was able to dispute it immediately. Saved me from having to go through the entire appeal process.

While you're working on contacting ESD, start gathering evidence that you never received a job offer. Check all email accounts including spam folders, voicemail, text messages, and regular mail. Document everything with dates and times. You'll need to file what's called a "Request for Redetermination" through your eServices account. While your appeal is pending, you MUST continue filing your weekly claims even if payments stop temporarily. If you win your appeal (which is likely if you truly never received an offer), you'll receive all back payments.

One other important thing: When you speak with ESD, ask them specifically for the "method of contact" the employer claims they used to offer you the position. They should have this information in their records. This will help you target your search for evidence and prepare your defense. If they say the offer was made by phone on a specific date, check your call logs. If by email, search all folders for that date range.

I had something similar but it was because I missed an interview not a job offer. Are you sure the notice is for refusing work and not missing an interview? Because those are different issues with ESD but people mix them up sometimes. For missed interviews you can sometimes just explain the situation but for refused work offers its way more complicated to fix.

Just wanted to update everyone - I had to deal with this exact issue back in January. After finally getting through to ESD, they told me the employer had submitted my application rejection email as "proof" I refused work! Apparently when I replied to their initial offer saying their salary was too low (it was $15K below market rate), they reported that as me refusing suitable work. ESD sided with me in the end because the salary was significantly below my previous earnings. Make sure you explain your full work history and previous salary to ESD when you talk to them.

After you speak with ESD, consider requesting records from the employer as well. You have the right to know what communication they're claiming constituted a job offer. Send a formal email to their HR department requesting copies of all communication between you and their company, specifically any job offers they claim to have extended. Having documentation from both sides will strengthen your case if this goes to an appeal hearing.