ESD suddenly approved my 4-year-old unemployment claim - is this normal?

wow thats crazy!! i never heard of them going back that far. did they send u any letters or emails before the money showed up?

This isn't common, but it does happen. ESD has been working through backlogs from the pandemic era, and sometimes very old claims get processed when they review them. What likely happened is your claim was stuck in adjudication and they finally got around to reviewing your documentation. Since they determined you were eligible, they're required to pay benefits even if it's years later. I would recommend a few things: 1. Check your ESD account for any new determination letters that explain their decision 2. Print/save all documentation showing the approval 3. Contact ESD to confirm this is legitimate (though be prepared for a long wait) The money is legally yours if you were eligible during that period and answered all their questions truthfully.

This happened to my brother-in-law last year! His claim from 2020 suddenly got approved in 2024 - it was from when he was on standby during the initial COVID shutdown. ESD told him they were still processing claims from that period because they had such a massive backlog. Don't spend the money just yet though. Double-check that they calculated your benefit amount correctly based on your earnings during your base year. They might have made an error in your favor, and if so, they can demand repayment even years later.

DONT TOUCH THAT MONEY!!!!! ESD does this all the time and then comes back 6 months later with an overpayment notice saying you owe it all back PLUS INTEREST!!! happened to me and two of my cousins. The system is completely broken and they will make YOU pay for THEIR mistakes!!!!

I've been trying to reach ESD for three weeks about my current claim and can't get anyone on the phone. Try using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they got me connected to an actual ESD agent in less than an hour after waiting on hold for days. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Since your situation is unusual, you really should talk to an actual agent to confirm everything is legitimate and get it documented that you verified the payment was correct.

This reminds me of my claim from when I worked at Boeing. Filed it right before getting called back to work so never followed up. Wonder if I should check my old account lol. You're lucky they didn't just deny it automatically!

One more important thing to note - this payment may have tax implications. Even though the claim is from 2021, if you received the payment in 2025, it counts as income for your 2025 taxes. ESD should send you a 1099-G form next January that you'll need to include with your tax return. Make sure your address is updated in the ESD system so you receive this form.

My advice is to call ESD directly to verify this payment is legitimate and get documentation. Yes, it might be legitimate back pay, but it could also be a system error. Either way, you want this documented in case questions arise later.