ESD denied my benefits claiming 'insufficient good cause proof' despite quitting for new job then getting fired - appeal timeline?

The Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) is currently running about 4-6 weeks from appeal filing to scheduled hearing for most standard cases. After your hearing, you can expect another 1-2 weeks for the decision to be issued. Make sure you prepare thoroughly - have all documentation organized chronologically and be ready to clearly explain the timeline of events. The judge will focus specifically on whether you had good cause to quit the first job (which it sounds like you did with the job offer) and whether you were fired for misconduct at the second job (which impacts eligibility). If you were fired without misconduct during a training period, that should qualify you for benefits, but you need to be very clear about this distinction during your hearing.

YES! Continue filing your weekly claims while waiting for the appeal! This is super important. If you win your appeal, they can only pay you for weeks that you properly filed a claim, even if you were eligible. I learned this the hard way and lost out on about $3,700 because I stopped filing during my appeal process.

i went thru something similar last yr. quit my warehouse job for better position at amazon. then they let me go after 2 weeks saying i wasnt 'fast enough' whatever that means. esd denied me first but i appealed and WON. but yeah it took forever... almost 2 months for me

did it myself. just be honest and have ur paperwork. the judge was actually pretty nice

Make sure you're VERY specific about why they fired you from the new job!! If there's even a HINT that it might have been for misconduct, ESD will deny you. My friend got denied because during his hearing he mentioned that he "might have been a little late a couple times" during his training period, and the judge latched onto that as misconduct!!

Having gone through the ESD appeals nightmare myself, I can tell you it's absolutely worth getting through to an actual ESD agent BEFORE your hearing to understand exactly why they denied you and what evidence they're using. That insight can be crucial to how you prepare. After wasting weeks trying to get through on the regular ESD line, I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me connected to an ESD agent in about 20 minutes instead of days of redialing. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Saved me tons of frustration and I was way better prepared for my hearing with the insights I got.

I used it last month when my claim was stuck. It actually works - got through to an agent in about 25 mins after trying for literally DAYS on my own. Worth it just for my sanity lol

One more crucial thing: during your hearing, the judge will likely ask the employer representatives from BOTH jobs questions. The first employer might argue that you didn't have good cause to quit because you could have requested a leave of absence instead of resigning. Be prepared to explain why that wasn't a realistic option. For the second employer, they'll need to provide specific reasons why they terminated you. 'Not a good fit' is vague and typically doesn't constitute misconduct, which works in your favor. If they don't appear at the hearing (which happens often), the judge will only have your testimony to consider regarding the termination.

The whole system is RIGGED against workers!!!1! I went through THREE appeals and they kept finding new reasons to deny me. First it was "voluntary quit" then it was "failure to look for work" then some other nonsense. They just don't want to pay benefits that WE PAID INTO!!! The appeal judges are just rubber stamps for ESD!!

make sure you get your appeal submitted ASAP! there's a strict deadline (i think 30 days from denial?) and they won't make exceptions if you miss it

Quick question - are you applying in 2025? I was told by ESD that the rules changed slightly this year for situations exactly like yours. Now they're specifically looking for documentation that proves you had a "reasonable expectation of continued employment" at the new job. Do you have anything in writing that mentioned a permanent position or passed probationary period? That might help your case.

Final piece of advice based on helping several clients with similar appeals: Practice explaining your situation concisely. The judges hear dozens of cases and appreciate when claimants can clearly articulate: 1) Why you had good cause to quit the first job (offer letter for better position), 2) That you were performing adequately at the new job, and 3) That you were terminated for reasons other than misconduct. Stick to facts rather than emotions, and when asked yes/no questions, answer directly then elaborate only if needed. Good luck with your appeal!