ESD denied my claim because of online school - despite 70+ job search logs!

Yes, this is unfortunately common with ESD. They have a policy about school attendance affecting availability, but they often misapply it to online/flexible programs. You need to appeal this decision ASAP - you only have 30 days from the date on your determination letter. In your appeal, emphasize: 1. Your courses are completely flexible/self-paced 2. You've been actively job searching (mention the 70+ activities) 3. You've been attending interviews and are fully available for work 4. Your school schedule would not prevent you from accepting any suitable employment Also, get a letter from your school confirming the flexible/self-paced nature of your program if possible. ESD often reverses these decisions on appeal when they see evidence that school doesn't interfere with availability.

omg this SAME EXACT THING happened to me last year!! i was taking 2 classes online @ night and they denied me saying i wasnt available for work. so stupid. i appealed and won tho. just make sure u have proof that ur school is flexible

You definitely need to appeal this decision. I work with unemployment cases, and this is a clear misapplication of the 'available for work' requirement. Make sure your appeal clearly documents: 1. The self-paced nature of your coursework 2. Your ability to accept work (emphasize any work hours you're available) 3. Your active job search (70 activities is impressive and exceeds requirements) During your appeal, continue filing weekly claims without interruption. Missing weekly claims during appeal could create bigger problems later. Also, request a hearing specifically - sometimes they'll reverse the decision without a hearing once they review your appeal letter.

I tried calling esd for 2 WEEKS sTRAIGHT about my school issue and never got through!!! The system is totally BROKEN and they dont even care. They just want to deny claims anyway they can!!!! good luck

I'd suggest answering truthfully about school attendance on your weekly claims but adding a note in the comments section explaining that your schooling is online and doesn't affect your availability. I had a similar issue and won my appeal by providing: 1. A letter from my online university stating the flexible nature of coursework 2. My completed job search log showing active searching 3. A written statement explaining my availability During the appeal hearing, focus on demonstrating that you're meeting the primary requirement - being available for work. The administrative law judge will likely be more reasonable than the initial ESD determination.

Back in 2023 I had this exact problem and spent months fighting it. The stupid thing is that I was taking ONE online class that required maybe 5 hours a week total, but they acted like I was attending Harvard full-time with no flexibility lol. Anyway during my appeal I got a lawyer who specializes in unemployment and she told me ESD has been incorrectly applying this rule for years. We won the appeal and I got all my backpay. Don't give up!!!

To answer your question about weekly claims during appeal: you should continue to file and answer truthfully about attending school. However, when it asks if school affects your ability to work, answer NO. Then use the comments section to briefly explain that your courses are online and self-paced. Regarding representation, you don't necessarily need to hire a lawyer. The Unemployment Law Project provides free or low-cost representation for unemployment appeals. They're excellent and can help guide you through the process. Their website is unemploymentlawproject.org. Also, make sure to carefully review the "Commissioner's Approved Training" regulations. Sometimes you can get your educational program officially approved, which resolves availability issues. But the appeal is your immediate priority given the timeframe.

One more important thing - in your appeal hearing, be prepared to directly address how many hours per week you spend on coursework, what times of day you typically do your schoolwork, and specific examples of how you've adjusted your school schedule for job interviews or potential work opportunities. These specific details can make a huge difference in demonstrating that your education doesn't impact availability. Also, if you've had any job offers or interviews during this period, document them as further evidence of your availability.

If you need help getting in touch with ESD before your appeal, try Claimyr (claimyr.com). It helped me get through when I was stuck in a similar situation with online classes. Before using it, I spent days trying to reach someone at ESD. With Claimyr, I got through in about 20 minutes and was able to speak directly with an agent who noted important details in my file before my appeal hearing. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3

It's completely legitimate. It's a call-back service that helps navigate ESD's phone system. Many people on this forum have used it successfully. Back to the main topic - when you file your appeal, be extremely specific about your school schedule. Don't just say it's "flexible" - provide your actual class schedule, assignment due dates, and explain exactly how you manage your time. Also request a copy of your complete claim file through a public records request before your hearing - this way you can see exactly what ESD is basing their decision on. The more prepared you are with specific evidence, the better your chances.