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ESD weekly claim says 'paid' but shows $0 - payment processing stuck?

I'm freaking out a little because my unemployment payments suddenly stopped. Last week my ESD account showed status as "paid" but the amount was "$0" (which makes zero sense). Now this week's claim (filed on the 23rd) is still stuck on "processing" after 5 days - normally I get paid within 48 hours. I've triple-checked all my answers were the same as usual when filing. Is the system glitching? Do I need to call ESD directly about this, or is there somewhere in eServices where I can see what's causing the payment issues? Really need this money for rent due next week...

Melissa Lin

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probly means ur claim is under review now. happened to me 2. sometimes they randomly check ur eligibility again or something. sucks but u gotta call them

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Effie Alexander

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Ugh that's what I was afraid of... Did you have to wait long when you called? I've heard horror stories about being on hold for hours.

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Lydia Santiago

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Just went through this exact thing!!! When it says "paid" but $0 it usually means something flagged your account. Could be a job search issue, earnings reported, or even identity verification. Check your notices/letters in your eServices account ASAP!

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Effie Alexander

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Thanks, I just checked and there's nothing new in my letters/notices section. I've been doing all my job search activities regularly and reporting correctly. This is so frustrating!

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Romeo Quest

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This is a classic sign that your claim has hit an adjudication issue. The "paid $0" status happens when the system processes your claim but doesn't release funds due to a pending issue. Since you can't see any notices, it's likely a brand new flag on your account that hasn't generated paperwork yet. Unfortunately, you absolutely need to speak with an ESD agent to resolve this. They won't fix it automatically in most cases.

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Effie Alexander

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Thank you for explaining! Any tips on getting through to an actual person? I've never had to call them before.

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Val Rossi

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I had this exact problem last month. "Paid $0" usually means there's an eligibility issue they're investigating. When I finally got through to ESD, they told me it was because I had checked the "working part-time" box by mistake on one question. Check your weekly claim confirmation emails carefully for any differences from previous weeks. But honestly, you need to call them ASAP - these issues don't resolve themselves, and the longer you wait, the more weeks might get held up.

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Effie Alexander

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I didn't check any different boxes, I'm 100% sure. But you're right, I need to call them. I'll try first thing tomorrow morning.

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Eve Freeman

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I had the same $0 paid status in January when my claim randomly went into adjudication after 4 months of no problems! It was because I had a new part-time job interview and they wanted to verify I was still eligible. Took 3 WEEKS to resolve because I couldn't get through on the phones. Finally got through using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they have this system that holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available. Totally worth it because I was about to get evicted! They have a demo video too: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3

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Melissa Lin

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i used that service 2. ESD is impossible to reach otherwise i swear

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Clarissa Flair

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Let me clarify something here: the "paid $0" status specifically indicates that your weekly claim was processed but payment was blocked due to an eligibility issue. This is different from adjudication, which would show as "pending" or "adjudication in progress." The most common reasons for a $0 payment are: 1. Excess earnings reported that week 2. Job refusal flag 3. Availability issue (indicating you weren't available for work) 4. Work search requirements not met 5. Benefit year expired First, check your "Notices/Letters" tab in eServices - look for anything recent. Then check your "Decisions" tab for any new status updates. Finally, verify in your payment history if there's a specific denial code listed next to the $0 payment. If nothing appears in any of those places, you're correct that you'll need to call ESD directly. The issue might still be in process and not yet reflected in your online account.

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Effie Alexander

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Thank you so much for this detailed breakdown! I checked all those tabs and found nothing new. I did manage to get through to ESD finally. Turns out they flagged my account because I had an interview the previous week (which I reported correctly). The agent removed the hold and said both payments should process within 48 hours. What a relief!

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Caden Turner

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This EXACT thing happened to my nephew last month!!! ESD is SO BROKEN!!!! He did everything right for 6 months then suddenly $0 payments with NO EXPLANATION!!! Called for WEEKS with no answer!!! By the time he got through they said it was a "system error" and fixed it but he almost got EVICTED waiting!!!! THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST WORKING PEOPLE!!!

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Val Rossi

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While it's definitely frustrating, most of these issues aren't actually "system errors" but legitimate verification checks that ESD has to perform by law. The real problem is their understaffed phone lines making it impossible to resolve simple issues quickly.

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Lydia Santiago

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did u change anything in ur last claim? sometimes even tiny things trigger their system. my friend put she was "not available" for ONE day (for a doctor appointment) and that messed up her whole payment

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Effie Alexander

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Update for everyone: I finally got through to ESD! The issue was that I had reported an interview (which I'm supposed to do for job search activities) but their system flagged it as possibly affecting my availability. The agent cleared it up right away and said both weeks' payments should arrive within 2 business days. Such a relief!

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