ESD payment delays after appeal approval and training benefits - 6 weeks with no money!

EXACT SAME THING happened to me in january!! won my appeal, but then had to wait almost 2 months to get my first payment. the system is completely broken. nobody at ESD even knows how their own system works, i swear

Have you checked your payment method in your ESD account? Sometimes after an appeal they don't automatically connect your payment method back to your claim. Go to the Payment tab and make sure your direct deposit info is still there and says 'active'.

I had this problem last year after winning my adjudication. The issue was that even though my appeal was approved, there was a separate 'benefit release hold' on my account that had to be manually removed by an ESD agent. The website showed everything as approved and even 'paid' but the money was being held in their system. Only an agent can fix this type of technical issue.

After trying for weeks to reach someone, I finally used this service called Claimyr that got me connected to an ESD agent in about 20 minutes. It costs money but was worth it for me since I was waiting on thousands in backpay. The agent was able to see the hold on my account and remove it while I was on the phone. My backpay hit my account 3 days later. You can see how it works at claimyr.com or check their demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3

I think what might also be happening is that your Training Benefits approval is creating confusion in the system. When I had TB approved last year, they had to manually adjust something in their system to make the payments flow correctly. It created like a 5-week delay where my claims showed as paid but no money was coming through. Once they fixed it though, all the backpay came at once.

Look, you need to stop wasting time calling the regular number. After you win an appeal, you need to contact the BENEFITS PAYMENT CONTROL unit directly. They're the only ones who can release funds after an appeal decision. Their direct number is hard to find but try asking for that specific unit when you do get through to someone.

Its part of ESD but they handle all the special payment cases. Don't think they have a public number you can call directly. You have to get transferred to them by a regular agent first. Thats why you NEED to talk to someone first to get to them.

I tried that Claimyr service someone mentioned above after fighting with ESD for months. Honestly didn't think it would work but I got connected to an agent in about 15 minutes. The agent saw there was a payment block on my account because the system hadn't fully processed my appeal decision. They fixed it while I was on the phone. Just sharing because I was in a similar situation after winning an appeal.

The agent explained that when appeals are approved, there's a separate process that has to happen to actually release the funds. Something about the appeal system and payment system not being directly connected. In my case, the decision was recorded but the payment system still had an old block that needed manual removal. Apparently pretty common after appeals.

Whatever route you choose to get through to ESD, make sure you have your OAH appeal case number ready. Also take screenshots of your account showing the 'processed - paid' status for your claims. These will help the agent track down exactly what's happening with your payments. Request they send you an email confirmation of whatever action they take on your account so you have documentation.

Just want to update everyone that I finally got through to ESD today! There was indeed a payment block on my account that the agent was able to remove. She said it's a common issue after appeals - the judge's decision gets recorded but there's a separate step to release payments that sometimes doesn't happen automatically. She said I should receive all my backpay within 3 business days. What a relief!