ESD pending issues taking forever to resolve - anyone else stuck with 'requires more research' message?

yep, same boat here. mine's been stuck on "pending" for 3 weeks now with that exact same message. its infuriating that they tell you NOT to contact them but then dont give any timeline for when they'll make a decision. how are we supposed to plan??

From my experience, anytime it says "requires more research" it means you're in adjudication. Something in your application triggered a flag that needs human review. Could be anything - your reason for separation, availability for work, earnings reported, etc. Unfortunately adjudication is taking 5-6 weeks right now from what I've heard.

I went through this exact situation in January. Mine said "requires more research" for about 4 weeks before it finally resolved. The most frustrating part is being completely in the dark about what the issue even is. In my case, it turned out they were verifying my previous employment and wages with my former employer, who was slow to respond to ESD. I only found this out after it was resolved. Keep filing your weekly claims, document ALL of your job search activities meticulously (save screenshots of everything), and prepare yourself for a wait. The good news is that if approved, you'll get backpaid for all those weeks you claimed during the pending period.

mine was stuck 4 almost 7 weeks!!! they say dont call but i called EVERYDAY and couldnt get thru. ESD is the WORST!!!! why make us wait with no$$ and no info???

Let me explain what's happening behind the scenes: When you see "requires more research" with a pending issue, your claim has been flagged for adjudication review. This happens in about 30% of all claims and isn't necessarily a bad sign. Common reasons for adjudication include: 1. Verification of separation reason (especially if there's any hint of being fired or quitting) 2. Wage verification if there's a discrepancy between what you reported and what your employer reported 3. Availability for work questions (if you indicated any limitations) 4. Identity verification issues 5. Previous benefit year issues The current ESD adjudication timeframe is approximately 4-6 weeks. They work cases in the order received, with few exceptions. Contacting them generally won't speed up the process, but if you're experiencing severe financial hardship, you can note that in your messages to them, as some offices do have hardship protocols. Meanwhile: - Continue filing weekly claims - Document all job search activities thoroughly (you may need to verify these later) - Check your ESD account messages daily - Make sure your contact information is current - Check your spam/junk folders for ESD communications If approved, you'll receive all backdated payments for weeks you properly claimed.

Has anyone noticed if filing your weekly claims differently makes any difference? I'm wondering if maybe I answered something wrong in my weekly claim that triggered this. Like maybe I should have said NO to being able and available that one day I had a doctor's appointment? I'm overthinking everything now.

Thanks everyone for the responses. This is really helpful (though scary to hear how long some of you had to wait). I'm going to keep filing my weekly claims and documenting everything carefully. Might try some of the suggested methods to contact them if this drags on much longer. Will update if anything changes on my end!

Just a quick update on current timeframes - my neighbor's claim just got through adjudication after 5 weeks and 2 days. She had the 'requires more research' message too. So that seems to be the current timeline people should expect. Not great, but at least there's an end in sight!

This happens all the time!!! ESD is literally the WORST agency in the state. They intentionally make everything confusing and put everyone in adjudication so they don't have to pay benefits right away. It's their way of discouraging people from collecting unemployment at all. I went through 3 months of adjudication last year for no reason whatsoever - my employer even confirmed everything was fine on their end!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - filed 2 weeks ago and still stuck on "requires more research" with no additional info. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and terrifying at the same time! It sounds like 4-6 weeks is the norm, which is honestly devastating when you're already struggling financially. I've been religiously filing my weekly claims and keeping detailed records of all my job searches just in case. The hardest part is not knowing WHAT they're researching or if there's anything I can do to help speed it up. Thanks to everyone sharing their timelines and experiences - at least now I know I'm not alone in this frustrating limbo!

I'm in the exact same situation and it's really scary not knowing when this will resolve. I've been stuck on "requires more research" for almost 3 weeks now. What's helped me cope a bit is creating a detailed spreadsheet tracking everything - when I filed, what documents I submitted, my job search activities, and even screenshots of my account status each day. I figure if/when they ask for more info, I'll have everything organized. I've also started looking into local food banks and assistance programs just in case this drags on longer. It shouldn't have to be this way, but we have to protect ourselves while waiting for ESD to do their job. Stay strong everyone - sounds like most people do eventually get approved and receive all their backpay.

I'm dealing with this exact same nightmare right now - been stuck on "requires more research" for 2.5 weeks and it's absolutely terrifying. What makes it worse is that I was laid off due to company downsizing, so there shouldn't be any separation issues to investigate. I keep checking my account obsessively hoping something will change, but it's always the same message. Reading everyone's experiences here helps me feel less alone, but hearing about 4-6 week waits is honestly making me panic about how I'm going to survive financially. I've been applying to jobs like crazy and documenting everything, but the job market is rough right now too. Has anyone had success with getting emergency assistance while waiting for ESD to make their decision? I'm trying to stay positive but this whole system feels broken when people are left hanging for weeks with no income and no real communication about what's happening.

I'm going through this exact situation right now too - week 3 of "requires more research" status and it's absolutely nerve-wracking. What's been helping me stay (somewhat) sane is setting up a routine where I only check my ESD account once per day at a specific time, instead of obsessively refreshing it every few hours like I was doing initially. I've also been keeping a simple journal of the waiting process because honestly, the stress and uncertainty is really taking a toll on my mental health. One thing I discovered is that my local library has free financial counseling services and they helped me prioritize which bills to pay first while waiting for this to resolve. They also pointed me toward some community resources I didn't know existed. If anyone else is struggling with the financial stress of waiting, definitely check what services your library or community center offers - sometimes there are hidden gems of support available. Hoping we all get good news soon. This waiting game is brutal but at least we're not going through it alone.

I'm in week 2 of this exact same situation and reading everyone's experiences is both helpful and terrifying! The "requires more research" message with zero additional context is so frustrating. I keep second-guessing everything I put on my application wondering if I somehow triggered this. What's really getting to me is that I was a model employee for 3 years before getting laid off due to budget cuts, so I can't figure out what could possibly need "research." I've been keeping up with my weekly claims and job searches, but the uncertainty is killing me. Has anyone found any patterns in terms of what day of the week approvals tend to come through? I know it's probably random but I'm grasping at straws here trying to find any sense of predictability in this process. Thanks to everyone sharing their timelines - it helps to know the 4-6 week range even though that's absolutely brutal when you have bills due.

I'm going through this exact nightmare too and it's honestly one of the most stressful things I've ever experienced. Been stuck on "requires more research" for almost 4 weeks now and every day feels like an eternity. What really gets to me is how they tell you not to contact them but then give you absolutely no timeline or updates. I've been doing everything right - filing weekly, documenting all my job searches, keeping my info updated - but still just sitting in this black hole of uncertainty. The financial stress is real but honestly the mental toll is just as bad. I find myself constantly wondering if I made some mistake on my application or if there's something I should be doing differently. Reading everyone's experiences here helps me feel less alone in this, even though hearing about 6+ week waits is terrifying. For anyone else going through this - I've found that setting up a simple daily routine helps with the anxiety. I check my account once in the morning, do my job searches, then try to focus on other things. Some days are harder than others but we're all in this together. Hoping we all see some movement soon because this waiting game is absolutely brutal.

I'm in the exact same situation and it's honestly such a relief to find this thread - I was starting to feel like I was the only one dealing with this nightmare. Been stuck on "requires more research" for 2 weeks now after being laid off from my job of 4 years due to company downsizing. Like many of you, I can't figure out what could possibly need investigating since my separation was clearly not my fault and I provided all requested documentation upfront. The worst part is feeling completely powerless while bills keep coming. I've been following everyone's advice about continuing to file weekly claims and documenting everything, but the uncertainty is eating away at me. Reading that 4-6 weeks is normal is both helpful to know and absolutely terrifying given my financial situation. One thing that's been helping me cope is reaching out to family and friends for emotional support - I was embarrassed at first but realized there's nothing shameful about needing help when you're caught in bureaucratic delays through no fault of your own. Also started looking into community resources early rather than waiting until I'm completely desperate. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and timelines. It really does help to know we're not alone in this frustrating limbo, even though I wouldn't wish this stress on anyone. Hoping we all get good news soon!

I'm in week 2 of the exact same situation and this thread has been both incredibly helpful and anxiety-inducing! Like everyone else, I was laid off due to budget cuts at my company where I worked for 5 years with no performance issues, so I have no idea what could need "research." The complete lack of communication from ESD is the most frustrating part - even a simple "we're reviewing your employment verification and expect it to take 4-6 weeks" would be so much better than this vague "requires more research" message. I've been religiously filing my weekly claims and keeping detailed records of everything, but the mental stress of not knowing when this will end is really getting to me. I keep oscillating between "surely it'll resolve any day now" and "what if this takes months?" Reading everyone's experiences here helps me feel less alone, even though hearing about 6+ week waits is terrifying when you're already struggling financially. For those asking about emergency assistance - I've found that calling 211 connects you to local resources pretty quickly. Also check if your utility companies have hardship programs you can apply for while waiting. It's not ideal but at least there are some safety nets while we wait for ESD to get their act together. Thanks to everyone sharing their timelines and coping strategies. This waiting game is absolutely brutal but it helps knowing we're all in it together. Will definitely update if anything changes on my end!