ESD says 'disqualified' right after filing first weekly claim - bar closed down

this happens sometimes when u file a weekly claim b4 the initial claim is fully processed. the system is wonky. it doesn't necessarily mean ur denied completely, just that weekly claim got flagged bc ur initial isn't approved yet. check if ur initial claim says "pending" or "processing"

Don't panic just yet. "Disqualified" on a weekly claim when your initial claim is still in adjudication is fairly common. Adjudication means they're still reviewing your eligibility. When a business closes/sells, they may need to verify the circumstances with your employer. Since this is your first claim, the system automatically prompts you to file weekly claims, but they won't pay those weeks until your initial claim is approved. Keep filing your weekly claims every week even if they show as "disqualified" for now. If your initial claim gets approved, those weeks should change status and become payable retroactively. You haven't done anything wrong - this is just how the system works.

I work with ESD claims regularly and want to clarify a few things: 1. The "disqualified" status on your weekly claim is temporary while your initial claim is in adjudication. This is normal. 2. "Adjudication in progress" means they're investigating specific factors about your eligibility. For business closures, they typically verify the closure was not due to misconduct on your part. 3. You should receive a notice in your ESD account explaining what specific issues they're adjudicating - check your letters/messages section. 4. Continue filing weekly claims every week without fail, even if they show as disqualified. If/when your initial claim is approved, they'll go back and pay those weeks. 5. The adjudication process typically takes 3-5 weeks currently (as of 2025), but can be shorter or longer depending on your specific situation. It's important to check your ESD account messages regularly and respond to any requests for information immediately to avoid delays.

lol i went thru this EXACT thing last month and it was a NIGHTMARE waiting for approval!! i called esd like 50 times and could never get through. their phone system is the WORST!!!! i wanted to throw my phone through a window 😡😡😡

@OP They could only provide information in my case, but that alone was helpful. My adjudication was for a similar reason (restaurant closed), and the agent explained exactly what verification they were waiting for and confirmed all my weekly claims would be paid retroactively once approved. She also flagged my account with a note about my rent situation, though I'm not sure if that actually helped speed things up.

I think everyone is missing something important here. If your bar SOLD rather than just closed, you might qualify for different treatment. When I got laid off because my company was acquired, I had to provide additional documentation about the sale. Did your employer provide any documentation or separation letter explaining the sale? You should upload that if you have it. Also, make sure you're marking your reason for separation correctly - it should be "Business Closed or Sold" NOT "Laid Off Due to Lack of Work" - they're different categories in ESD's system and it affects how they process your claim.

You can't edit your initial claim reason yourself, but you can upload a statement clarifying the correct reason through your ESD account. Go to your dashboard, click on "Upload a Document" and select "Provide Additional Information." Explain that you mistakenly selected "Laid Off" when the correct reason is "Business Sold." Include any documentation you have from your employer about the sale/closure. This might actually help speed up your adjudication since you're proactively addressing what they're likely trying to verify.