ESD 'disqualified' status vs. denied: my claim improved after waiting 5 weeks

you're LUCKY!! I've been stuck with the disqualified status for 9 WEEKS!!! called literally 46 times (yes i counted) and can't get ANYONE. they're saying i quit my job but i was laid off, my boss even wrote a letter!!! esd system is completely BROKEN!!!!

This is really important info! I work as an employment counselor and see people giving up ALL THE TIME when they get the disqualified status. Here's what's actually happening: When ESD needs to investigate any part of your claim (employment separation reason, wages from multiple employers, availability for work issues, etc.), they place it in adjudication and technically the status shows as "disqualified" until the investigation is complete. Time frames vary wildly depending on complexity: - Simple verification issues: 2-3 weeks - Employer contesting layoff: 4-8 weeks - Multiple employer wage investigations: 4-10 weeks - Identity verification issues: 3-6 weeks Like OP said, KEEP FILING YOUR WEEKLY CLAIMS during this time! If your claim is ultimately approved, you'll get backpay for all weeks properly claimed. And make absolutely sure you're completing your 3 job search activities each week and documenting them correctly.

Yeah this happened to me too! My claim said disqualified for 7 weeks and I was about to give up when it suddenly switched to paid. The whole time I thought I was doing something wrong with my weekly claims.

my neighbor said disqualified DOES mean denied and I should just apply again... now I'm confused??

I had a similar experience but it took WAY longer. After 8 weeks of "disqualified" status I finally managed to reach an ESD agent who told me they were just verifying my identity because I had moved from out of state during my base year. They said they were backlogged but my case was "in the queue." For those having trouble getting through on the phone, I finally had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have this service that basically keeps dialing for you and gets you in the ESD phone queue. Costs money but was worth it after weeks of frustration. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Once I actually talked to a human at ESD, they were able to expedite my adjudication and I was paid within a week. Sometimes just getting someone to look at your claim makes all the difference.

Yes, it worked for me after trying for weeks on my own. They basically keep calling for you until they get through, then connect you. I got through on my first attempt with them, but I know others who needed 2-3 tries depending on call volume. Still way better than hitting redial yourself hundreds of times. Once you talk to an actual person at ESD, things usually move forward.

Absolutely. "Disqualified" just means it needs review, which is exactly when you SHOULD call. An agent can often see what's causing the hold-up and either resolve it on the spot or escalate it to an adjudicator. That's what happened in my case - they saw it was just sitting in a queue and flagged it for priority review.

This whole thread is super helpful. I've been freaking out since yesterday when my status changed to disqualified. I was let go from my retail management position last month (store closing). Think I'll wait a couple weeks before panicking based on everyone's experiences here. One question tho - should I keep doing job search activities while disqualified? Seems pointless if I might get denied anyway?

I think what they mean by "disqualified" is "not qualified yet" rather than permanently rejected. English isn't my first language, but that wording seems very confusing! In my country's unemployment system they use "pending review" which makes much more sense. ESD should really update their terminology to be more clear.

@profile3 - To answer your earlier question about job search activities: Yes, online applications absolutely count! Each week you need 3 qualifying activities which can include: 1. Submitting job applications (online or in person) 2. Having job interviews (phone, video, or in-person) 3. Attending WorkSource workshops (virtual or in-person) 4. Creating/updating profiles on job sites (LinkedIn, Indeed, etc.) - but this only counts once 5. Reaching out to your network about job opportunities 6. Meeting with career counselors or recruiters Just make sure you're documenting each activity with: date, employer/organization name, position or activity type, contact info, and result/action taken. You don't need to upload proof, but keep your own records in case of an audit.

I've been working with the ESD system for years (helping family members and friends with claims), and here's something important to understand: The "disqualified" status is just their default placeholder during investigation. It doesn't mean they've made a decision yet. And yes, it's SUPER confusing because later, if they actually do deny your claim after investigation, they also use the term "disqualified" in their determination letter. Two completely different situations with the same label. Also, for those worried about long waits: Early 2025 is actually a relatively good time to be dealing with ESD compared to the chaos of 2020-2022. Their current target for adjudication is 4-6 weeks versus the 12+ weeks we saw during peak pandemic times.

Update on my situation: I got a letter in the mail today with more details about the adjudication. They're specifically looking at my job separation reason and asked for additional documentation about the layoff. I've uploaded the requested info to my ESD portal. Feeling more confident now understanding that this is just part of the process!

No, the status didn't change yet after uploading. The letter said it could take 1-2 weeks for an adjudicator to review the new documents. The online status still shows disqualified, but I'm trying to be patient based on everyone's experiences here!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently on week 3 of "disqualified" status after being laid off from my warehouse job due to company downsizing. I was starting to panic thinking I'd never get benefits, but reading everyone's experiences gives me hope. I've been keeping up with my weekly claims and job search activities, so hopefully it's just a matter of waiting it out. Thanks especially to @be5caa622891 for the detailed breakdown of what ESD is actually doing during these investigations - that really helped me understand the process better!