ESD unemployment stuck in pending status for 7 weeks - normal wait time?

Unfortunately, this is happening to a lot of people in 2025. My claim was stuck in 'pending' for 8 weeks before anything happened. The system is completely overwhelmed right now. Make sure you're still filing your weekly claims on time - you'll get back pay for all those weeks once your claim is approved. Have you checked if there's an 'adjudication' or 'issue' showing on your account?

Seven weeks is definitely longer than average, but not unheard of these days. A few things to check and try: 1. Look under the "Notices/Letters" section of your eServices account - see if there are any requests for information you might have missed 2. Check your Secure Message Center for any communications 3. Make sure your identity verification is complete - many claims get held up because of ID verification issues 4. If you've changed jobs in the last 18 months, ESD might be verifying with all your previous employers Also, if you were let go due to budget cuts, make sure that's clearly documented. Sometimes employers contest claims by saying something different, and that triggers adjudication.

ya this happnd 2 me too... took 9 weeks b4 i got anything. keep calling them every single day thats what i did and finally got thru. the system is broken n they dont care about us at all.

I had a very similar situation last year, but with mine it was stuck in adjudication for about 2 months. I was absolutely desperate by the end! Have you filled out the hardship form? It's supposed to expedite your claim if you're about to be evicted or have your utilities shut off. It didn't work for me personally, but I've heard others have had success with it.

After dealing with ESD for months last year, I discovered a service called Claimyr that actually got me through to an ESD agent in under 30 minutes when I'd been trying for weeks on my own. It's the only thing that finally moved my claim forward. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 that shows how it works. Their website is claimyr.com. It was a lifesaver for resolving my pending status after 6+ weeks of getting nowhere.

It absolutely works. I was skeptical too but when you're desperate, you'll try anything. They basically use a system to call ESD repeatedly until they get through, then connect you immediately. Mine took about 25 minutes to get through when I'd been trying for literally weeks with no success. The agent I spoke with was able to identify that there was a wage verification issue holding up my claim, and she pushed it through while I was on the phone.

NOBODY at ESD cares about us!!! I waited 11 WEEKS only to get DENIED because my employer LIED about why they fired me!!! Now I'm in the middle of an appeal and that's taking FOREVER TOO!!! The system is DESIGNED to make you give up!!! Don't trust ANYTHING they tell you!!!

UPDATE: I just wanted to let everyone know what happened in case it helps someone else. I responded to those messages in my Secure Message Center about my past employment, and then I used the Claimyr service that was recommended here. It actually worked - got me through to an agent in about 40 minutes (which is WAY better than the hours I spent trying on my own). The agent told me my claim was stuck because they needed to verify wages from a part-time job I had for 3 weeks last year (which is what the secure message was about), but the system hadn't properly flagged it for follow-up. She was able to update my claim right on the spot, and she said I should see payments for all my back weeks within 48-72 hours. I'm still holding my breath until the money actually hits my account, but at least now I know what was happening! Thanks everyone for your help and advice!