ESD says I don't have enough hours despite working 50hr weeks - how to fix?

omg the SAME THING happened to me last month!! the system is so broken i swear 🤬 took me 2 weeks to fix it

This is actually a fairly common issue. The system only counts wages reported by your employer to the state, and sometimes there are reporting errors. Your employer might have misreported your hours or wages. Another possibility is that some of your work history falls outside the base year period ESD is looking at (they don't use the most recent quarter). You need to request a wage investigation. You can do this by sending a secure message through your eServices account. Go to your dashboard, click on "Send a message," and choose "Wages" as the topic. Explain your situation and mention you have paystubs to prove your hours. Upload copies of your paystubs if possible. If you can't do that for whatever reason, you'll need to speak with an ESD agent directly.

This happened to me too! My company switched payroll systems mid-year and somehow the hours didn't get reported right. Is your company still in business? You might want to contact your old HR department and ask them to check what they reported to ESD.

There are a few specific reasons this might be happening: 1. Your base year is likely the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed. So if you filed in April-June 2025, your base year would be January-December 2024. If you only started your job in mid-2024, you might not have enough quarters. 2. Sometimes employers miscategorize managers as exempt and don't properly report hourly work. 3. There could simply be a reporting error. What you need is a "wage investigation" but you're right that it's nearly impossible to get through on the phone lines. You need to speak with an agent to request this. I had a similar issue and wasted weeks trying to get through until someone told me about Claimyr (claimyr.com). It's a service that helps you get through to ESD on the phone - they basically navigate the phone system and call you back when they have an agent on the line. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Once you get through to ESD, explain that you need a wage investigation and have paystubs to prove your hours. They can override the system determination if you provide evidence.

The ESD system is a NIGHTMARE right now. I've heard they're understaffed by like 60% and the phone lines are completely overwhelmed. My brother had a similar issue and ended up having to contact his state representative's office - they have liaison services that can sometimes cut through the red tape faster than trying to navigate the system yourself. Might be worth a try if other methods fail.

Hey, just wondering - are you sure you're looking at the right type of unemployment? There's regular UI and then there's different types for different situations. Also sometimes the letters they send are super confusing and make it sound like you're denied when actually they just need more info. Did u get an actual denial letter or just seeing it in ur online account?

I know everyone hates this advice but keep trying the phone line first thing in the morning right when they open. That's literally the only time I've ever gotten through without waiting 3+ hours. Have all your paystubs ready when you call.

Just to follow up on what I said earlier - one more thing to check: make sure you're looking at the right employer in your claim. If you worked multiple jobs during your base year, all of them should be listed. Sometimes the system doesn't connect all your employment history automatically. Also, if you can't find a way to message them through eServices, try filing an appeal of the determination. There should be appeal instructions either in your online account or in the determination letter they send you. When you appeal, you can submit your paystubs as evidence.