ESD phone claims - filing times vs. payment receipt timeline comparison?

filed at 9am on a tuesday. got payment 5 business days later. the rep told me mornings are better bc they process stuff same day usually

I've been a claims specialist for over 15 years (not with ESD, but in the insurance industry), and I can tell you that the time of day you file generally doesn't affect payment processing speed. What matters more is whether your claim has any issues that require adjudication or additional verification. Phone applications go through the same processing queue as online applications once they're entered into the system. The standard timeline is 7-10 business days for initial processing, plus the waiting week where no benefits are paid. If you're on day 8, you're still within the normal processing window. Check your eServices account to see if your claim shows any issues or if it's in adjudication status.

I filed over the phone twice during my last unemployment spell. First time was at 2:30pm and I got my first payment 11 days later. Second time (after my claim needed to be reopened) was at 8:15am and I got paid in 6 days. So maybe there is something to the morning theory? But honestly I think it probably just depends on whether your claim has any flags or issues needing adjudication. That's what causes the real delays.

I literally just went through this whole nightmare last month. Called at like 1pm, waited on hold for THREE HOURS, then the agent told me my identity verification didn't match their records or something? Had to send in all these documents and my claim went into adjudication for like 3 weeks. Finally I just got fed up with waiting and found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an ESD agent in like 20 minutes instead of hours on hold. The agent I spoke with was able to clear up the ID verification issue right away, and my payments started 4 days later. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 - totally worth it when you're desperate to talk to someone at ESD!

In my experience, there are several factors that affect payment timing more than the time of day you call: 1. Whether your identity verification is complete 2. Whether your employer responds quickly to ESD's request for information 3. If there are any eligibility issues flagged on your claim 4. The overall volume of claims ESD is processing that week I filed by phone at 10:30am on a Wednesday and received my first payment 9 business days later. However, when I had to call about an issue with a weekly claim later in my benefit year, I called early (7:15am) and the issue was resolved immediately with payment the next day. Make sure you've submitted all requested documentation and continue filing your weekly claims while you wait. You can also check your claim status on eServices to see if there are any pending issues that might be delaying payment.

I called at 8am sharp when they opened last month and still had to wait 30 minutes! But my payment came through in 4 business days. My coworker filed online and it took him 2 weeks to get paid, so I think phone might be faster in general if you can actually get through. The ESD phone system is THE WORST though, I got disconnected twice before finally getting through on my third try.

When I filed for UI last January I had to call in 5 DIFFERENT TIMES because they kept saying my identity verification didn't match!!!! I finally got through at 7:05am (called right when they opened) and the lady was super nice and fixed everything. Got paid 6 days later. But then they randomly stopped my payments in March saying I didn't do enough job searches even though I DID and uploaded them ALL to my eServices account!!! Had to call again and was on hold for FOUR HOURS before getting hung up on!!!! The system is broken!!!!!

While there's some anecdotal evidence in this thread suggesting morning calls might be processed faster, I'd like to clarify how ESD actually handles claims: 1. Phone and online claims enter the same processing queue 2. Claims are typically processed in the order received, not by time of day 3. The standard initial processing time is 7-10 business days plus the waiting week 4. Adjudication issues can add 3-6 weeks to processing time Some factors that might create the appearance of time-of-day differences: - Morning calls might get same-day entry into the system while afternoon calls might be entered the next business day - Staffing levels are often higher during morning hours - Friday afternoon claims might not be processed until Monday/Tuesday For the fastest processing, make sure you have all your information ready before calling, respond promptly to any requests for additional information, and continue filing your weekly claims while waiting for your initial payment.

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences! I'm going to keep filing my weekly claims and will try calling again next week if I still haven't received anything. Sounds like the morning might be slightly better for getting through, but the actual payment timing depends more on whether there are any issues with my claim. I'll post an update once I get paid!