ESD not counting my recent work history - how to get higher benefits?

Yes, this happens more often than you'd think. ESD uses wage data reported by employers to determine your benefit amount, and sometimes there's a lag in reporting. You definitely want to request a redetermination using the "Request for Redetermination of Monetary Determination" form (I think it's on the ESD website). For documentation, you'll need: 1. Paystubs covering the missing period (June 2023-present) 2. Your most recent W-2 3. A letter from your employer confirming employment dates if possible Once you submit this, they'll recalculate your benefit amount based on your highest-earning quarters. Don't wait on this - there's a limited time to request redetermination.

UGH the EXACT same thing happened to me last month!! ESD's system is such a MESS right now. They only had my employment through May 2023 even though I worked until February 2025. I submitted all my paystubs but I'm STILL waiting for them to update my claim. Been calling constantly but of course can't get through to anyone. Going on 3 weeks now with the wrong benefit amount. So frustrating!!!

I ran into this issue when filing my claim in January. The system only showed my wages through Q2 2023, missing almost 18 months of work history. The redetermination process fixed it, but it wasn't immediate. Here's what worked for me: 1. I uploaded digital copies of all my paystubs from July 2023 through January 2025 2. I included my final paycheck stub showing year-to-date earnings 3. I also uploaded my last two W-2s and a letter from my HR department 4. I clearly labeled everything with my claim ID number Then I waited... and waited. After about 10 days with no updates, I tried calling but couldn't get through. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to an ESD agent. They have this video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Once I actually spoke with someone, they expedited my redetermination and my correct benefit amount was updated within 48 hours. Definitely worth reaching an actual person for this issue.

this happened 2 me too! esd uses quarters for calculating n sometimes the most recent quarter isnt in there system yet. my job didnt report my last 2 quarters! i had 2 get my manager 2 write a letter with all my hours n then i sent my paystubs 2. took like 2 weeks but they fixed it n paid me the difference for the weeks i already got paid

Just be aware that ESD might only count completed quarters when calculating your monetary determination. Since we're currently in Q2 of 2025, they might only use data through Q1 2025 or even Q4 2024, depending on when your former employer reported the wages. The base year for claims filed in April 2025 is typically January-December 2024, but they should also include Q1 2025 if you qualify for the alternative base year. Make sure you're clear which quarters are actually missing from your determination letter versus which might not be countable yet.

I'm dealing with this exact same problem right now! Filed three weeks ago, and my benefit amount is ridiculously low because they're missing my last 7 months of employment. I submitted my redetermination request with paystubs last week and haven't heard anything back yet. Let me know if you find a faster way to get this resolved!

when i worked at boeing they were always late reporting our wages to esd. make sure u check ur determination letter carefully cuz sometimes they have some quarters but not others. like they might have jul-sep 2023 but not oct-dec. u need to only send proof for the missing ones.

A quick update on the document requirements - make sure you're also including a completed "Request for Redetermination" form with your paystubs and W-2s. It's available in your eServices account under "Upload a Document" > "Monetary Determination Documents". Also, if you're having trouble getting through to ESD (which is likely), remember that redetermination requests must be submitted within 30 days of receiving your monetary determination letter. Don't miss this deadline while trying to speak with someone on the phone.

One more thing - after you submit your redetermination request, keep filing your weekly claims as normal even though the benefit amount showing is incorrect. Once they process the redetermination, they'll adjust all previous payments to the correct amount. But if you stop filing while waiting for the fix, you'll miss out on those weeks entirely.