ESD randomly called me about my claim - is this legit or a scam?

Yes, this is completely normal! ESD does call claimants for fact-finding interviews, especially if there's something about your separation from employment they need to verify. They typically call from a blocked/private number. However, you did the right thing about the SSN - they should only need the last 4 digits for verification. You can always ask for their name and call back through the main ESD number if you're concerned.

same thing happened to me! got a call last month and i almost hung up thinking it was a scammer lol. turns out it was legit. they just needed to confirm some stuff about my last job since my employer contested my claim. make sure u call them back or your claim might get stuck!!

BEWARE!!!! There are TONS of unemployment scams going around in 2025!!! I got a similar call and gave them info and guess what? It WAS a scam! They stole my identity and tried to redirect my payments!!! ALWAYS call the official ESD number to verify ANY calls you receive! The REAL ESD agents will understand your caution.

This is a standard adjudication call. Since your claim has been in adjudication for 3 weeks, they're likely reaching out to resolve whatever issue is holding up your claim. The adjudicator needs to verify details about your separation from employment (especially if it was due to hours reduction rather than a complete layoff). If you're concerned about legitimacy, get the adjudicator's name and call back through the official ESD number. Ask to be connected to that specific adjudicator. If you miss these calls or don't respond, your claim could be denied for failure to participate in fact-finding.

I got calls from ESD during my adjudication too. FYI getting through to them on the phone is IMPOSSIBLE. I spent 3 weeks trying to get through before giving up. Your best bet is trying to call the moment they open at 8am, but even then I was on hold for hours and often got disconnected. Have you tried logging into your eServices account? Sometimes they post correspondence there about what information they need.

My claim was in adjudication for nearly 5 weeks before they called me. Did they say what they needed specifically? If it's about your hours reduction, make sure you have pay stubs or schedules showing how your hours were cut. This is super important! I almost got denied because I couldn't prove my hours reduction was substantial enough. ESD considers anything under 60% of your regular hours as qualifying for partial unemployment.

btw dont forget you still have to do your weekly claims during adjudication! i messed that up and lost 2 weeks of benefits because i thought i had to wait until adjudication was finished. keep filing every week!!!

Just to clarify, since there's some confusion in this thread - ESD does conduct fact-finding interviews by phone as part of adjudication. These are legitimate and necessary to process your claim. If your claim involves a complex separation (like hours reduction rather than full layoff), they need to gather information from both you and your employer. However, be cautious about: 1. Anyone asking for your full SSN (they should only need last 4 digits for verification) 2. Requests to change your payment method 3. Requests for banking information If you're uncertain, tell them you'll call back through the main ESD line. A legitimate adjudicator will understand and note this in your file.

When they called me about my restaurant job last month, they were actually super helpful. My manager tried claiming I was fired for misconduct (total BS - they just wanted to avoid the unemployment claim). The ESD adjudicator actually listened to my side and approved my benefits even though my employer contested it! Make sure you're honest and detailed about exactly what happened with your hours reduction.

Since your situation involves hour reduction rather than a complete separation, be prepared to explain: 1. Your normal/previous work schedule (hours per week) 2. How much your hours were reduced (needs to be at least 40% reduction) 3. Whether you were offered and refused any additional hours 4. Any communication with your employer about the reduction Having documentation like previous schedules, pay stubs showing the change, or any written communication about the reduction will strengthen your case. Hours reduction claims can be more complex than complete layoffs.

Just wanted to add - when you do call back, make sure you have your Social Security card or tax documents handy. They'll likely ask you to verify the last 4 digits of your SSN right away to confirm your identity before connecting you to the adjudicator. Also, if you get disconnected (which happens a lot), don't panic - they should have notes in your file about the callback request. The whole process can be nerve-wracking but it sounds like you're handling it exactly right by being cautious and verifying everything!