ESD keeps denying my approved claim - voicemails ignored for 3 weeks

same boat. 4 weeks no response and bills due tmrw. did u try the message center on eservices? sometimes they respond there faster than vm

This sounds like there might be an issue with your job search requirements rather than your overall qualification. When you got the determination letter saying you qualified, that just means you're eligible for UI based on your work history and reason for separation. But if your weekly claims are being denied, it's often because of either: 1. Missing job search activities (you need 3 per week) 2. Reporting earnings incorrectly 3. Answering one of the weekly attestation questions in a way that disqualifies you Can you check if your job search log is up to date in eServices? Also, double-check your weekly claim answers - sometimes one wrong answer (like saying you weren't available for work) will trigger an automatic denial.

ESD is THE WORST!!!! I had almost the exact same problem last year. Qualified but then claims denied for no reason. Took them 2 MONTHS to fix it and they never explained what happened. They just suddenly started paying me including back pay. The system is completely broken and they don't care about us at all. Try calling your state representative - that's what finally worked for me.

I work with unemployment claims every day, and this pattern suggests there might be a flag on your account that's causing an automatic denial. The most common reasons are: 1. Identity verification issues (happened a lot after the pandemic fraud) 2. An employer appealed your claim 3. A system glitch where your job search activities aren't being properly recorded 4. A mismatch between your reported information and what your employer reported Unfortunately, these issues almost always require speaking with an ESD agent directly. The voicemail system is overwhelmed, and messages often don't get returned for weeks. Your best bet is to try calling the main line right when they open (usually 8:00 AM) and keep trying continuously for the first hour. That's when you have the best chance of getting through.

I had this exact problem and wasted weeks trying to reach someone at ESD. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an ESD agent in about 30 minutes instead of endless busy signals. They basically call for you and when they get through, they connect you. You can see how it works in their video: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 When I finally spoke to someone, turns out there was a flag on my account because my employer had contested my eligibility (even though I'd been approved). The agent removed the flag and all my past weeks processed within days. Wish I'd known about this sooner instead of stressing for weeks!

Have you checked if there's an alert or document in your eServices account that needs your attention? Sometimes there's a questionnaire or additional information request that's not obvious unless you click around in the portal. I missed one of these for two weeks and my payments were held up. Also, are you calling the general number or the specific adjudicator's direct line? The direct lines are usually much better for actually reaching someone.

i got thru to ESD last week after trying for like a month!!!! trick is to call *exactly* at 7:59am, not 8am when everyone else calls. the system starts up a minute early sometimes. also try thursday. for some reason thursdays were less busy for me.

One more thing to consider - check if you have any "issues" listed under your claim. Log into eServices, go to your claim status page, and look for an "Issues" or "Decisions" tab. Sometimes there's a specific issue that needs to be resolved but the notification doesn't come through clearly. If you see anything there, it will tell you what's causing the denial. If you do get through to someone, make sure to ask them to check for any "flags" on your account. Often there's a system flag that's automatically denying your payments that can be removed by an agent.

Based on everything you've shared, this definitely sounds like an internal system flag that's causing automatic denials. Your best course of action now would be: 1. Try the 7:59am calling trick mentioned above 2. Consider using the Claimyr service if you continue having trouble getting through 3. Contact your state representative (this often works well) 4. If all else fails, you can request a formal appeal of the denials, which at least guarantees you'll get a hearing The good news is that once this is resolved, you should receive all back payments you're entitled to. Make sure to keep filing your weekly claims even while this is being sorted out.