ESD weekly claim by phone vs online - faster processing after holidays?
I've been having weird glitches with my ESD online account so I decided to call in my weekly claim today instead of filing online. With Monday being a bank holiday, I'm wondering if anyone knows whether phone claims actually process faster than online claims during holiday weeks? The agent I talked to wasn't sure. I'm getting anxious because I really need this payment to hit before my rent is due on the 15th. Has anyone else noticed any difference in processing times between phone vs online claims, especially around holidays?
17 comments
Join the conversation
Logan Scott
from my experience phone claims actually take LONGER to process!! i filed by phone last month when the website was acting up and it took 2 extra days compared to when i file online. something about manual review or whatever. the bank holiday will probably slow things down no matter what method u use tho :/
0 coins
Mila Walker
•Oh great, that's not what I wanted to hear! Did you eventually get paid though? I'm just worried because I'm cutting it really close with bills this month.
0 coins
Chloe Green
I've been on UI since January and have found that the processing time is essentially the same for both methods. The holiday will likely add a 1-day delay regardless of how you filed. The important thing is that your claim was submitted before the weekly deadline. ESD typically processes claims in 2-3 business days, so you should still receive your payment before the 15th if there are no other issues with your claim.
0 coins
Mila Walker
•Thanks for the info! That's reassuring. I did make sure to file before the deadline. Fingers crossed it goes through without any hiccups!
0 coins
Lucas Adams
My neighbor filed by phone and got flagged for identity verification which took 3 weeks to resolve! Online is always better in my opinion.
0 coins
Mila Walker
•Yikes! That sounds like a nightmare. I've already verified my identity months ago though, so hopefully that won't happen to me.
0 coins
Harper Hill
I've been on standby with ESD for 7 weeks and have tried BOTH methods. Let me tell you the TRUTH about this system. It doesn't matter HOW you file - phone or online - what MATTERS is whether your claim has any "issues" that trigger adjudication. The holiday will 100% delay everything by at least a day because the banking system doesn't process ACH transfers on federal holidays. But if your claim is clean with no issues, you'll still get paid this week.
0 coins
Caden Nguyen
•This is correct. The method of filing doesn't affect processing speed nearly as much as whether your claim has any pending issues. One thing to note though - if this is your first time filing by phone after previously filing online, ESD might flag it as a pattern change which could trigger additional verification. This is rare but does happen occasionally.
0 coins
Avery Flores
i file online every week no problems ever payments always come same day each week dont know why anyone would call when the website works fine
0 coins
Mila Walker
•The website has been giving me error messages every time I try to log in for the past two weeks. I've tried different browsers and everything. That's why I had to call this time.
0 coins
Zoe Gonzalez
Have you tried using Claimyr to reach an ESD agent directly? When I had a website login issue last month, I couldn't get through on the regular phone line for days. I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got connected to an agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. The agent was able to check my claim status and fix my account access issues. Might be worth trying if you keep having login problems.
0 coins
Lucas Adams
•Does that actually work? I've been trying to reach someone at ESD for WEEKS about my standby status!
0 coins
Zoe Gonzalez
•It worked for me! Much better than waiting on hold for hours or getting disconnected constantly. I was skeptical too but was desperate after trying for 3 days to get through.
0 coins
Caden Nguyen
To directly answer your question about holidays: ESD itself operates on business days, but the bank holiday does affect when funds are released to your account. Here's how the timing typically works: 1. Claim filed (online or phone) - Day 0 2. ESD processes claim - 1-2 business days 3. Bank transfer initiated - Day 2-3 4. Funds available in your account - Day 3-4 With Monday being a bank holiday, the entire schedule shifts by one day. If you filed today (Tuesday), you'll likely see funds by Friday or Monday. One tip: If you're continuing to have issues with the online system, request a SAW account reset. Sometimes the issues are related to cached credentials rather than the ESD system itself.
0 coins
Mila Walker
•This is super helpful! Thank you for breaking it down so clearly. I'll try the SAW account reset - didn't know that was an option.
0 coins
Ashley Adams
is anyone else having problems with job search requirements? i cant log into worksource and esd says i need 3 job searches but the worksource site is down!!! so stressed
0 coins
Chloe Green
•You might want to start a new thread about WorkSource issues since that's a different topic. But briefly - you can still record your job searches offline and enter them later when the site is working again. Keep detailed notes of all your job search activities.
0 coins