Filed unemployment claim in August, still pending with ESD - what's the holdup?

Your claim is most likely in adjudication, which is basically ESD's review process. The system now flags way more claims for manual review than it did back in 2017. Did you check if there's an 'Alert' or 'Issue' showing in your eServices account? Also, were you fired for cause or laid off? That makes a huge difference - if they're investigating whether you were fired for misconduct, that will definitely delay things.

omg i had the EXACT same problem!!! mine took 9 weeks to finally get approved. the stupid system is sooooo backed up right now. keep filing ur weekly claims even tho nothing is happening!! once they approve it theyll pay u retroactively for all those weeks..

Based on what you're describing, it sounds like your claim is in adjudication, which means ESD is investigating some aspect of your separation from employment. The most common reason for this delay is when there's a discrepancy between what you reported (laid off) and what your employer reported (possibly termination for cause). Here's what you need to do: 1. Keep filing your weekly claims without fail 2. Check your ESD Secure Message Center daily for any requests for information 3. Make sure your contact information is up to date 4. Document your job search activities (3 per week) meticulously The current average adjudication time is 6-10 weeks, so you're still within that window. Unfortunately, the 'high call volume' issue is very real - they simply don't have enough staff to handle the volume of claims and calls.

had a similar issue last year when I filed. turned out my previous employer was contesting the claim saying I quit instead of being laid off. check your mail carefully, ESD might have sent you a questionnaire about your job separation that you need to fill out and return. they won't process your claim until they get it back!!

I was stuck in the same situation for 8 weeks and was about to lose my mind! Couldn't get through on the phone no matter what time I called. I finally used this service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual ESD agent in about 20 minutes. It costs money but was worth every penny because the agent was able to see exactly what was holding up my claim and fixed it on the spot. You can check them out at claimyr.com - they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Seriously saved me from getting evicted.

There's a HUGE backlog of claims right now because ESD is dealing with a ton of identity theft and fraud issues. Their systems are flagging almost everything for manual review. I work in HR and we've had dozens of employees stuck in adjudication since summer. Your claim is definitely in adjudication even if it doesn't explicitly say so on your account. COVID changed everything about how ESD processes claims, and unfortunately they never went back to the pre-pandemic efficiency. The current standard processing time of 6-10 weeks is accurate based on what we're seeing with our employees. One thing to consider: did you work for more than one employer in your base year? Sometimes that can delay things too as they have to verify wages with multiple companies.

just my 2 cents but the ESD system is COMPLETELEY broken!!1! they dont care about people actually struggling. 7 weeks is NOTHING my brother waited 14 WEEKS last year and nearly lost his apartment. they need to be investigated for how badly they treat people!!!

One thing I forgot to mention - check if your former employer has responded to the ESD inquiry about your separation. You can call your old workplace HR department and ask if they've received and responded to the ESD claim notice. Sometimes employers miss these notices or delay responding, which holds up the whole process. If they haven't responded, kindly ask them to do so ASAP as it's affecting your benefits.

After reading through this thread again, I'd suggest taking up the recommendation to use Claimyr to get through to an agent. At this point, speaking with someone directly will be your fastest path to resolution. Just make sure you have all your information ready when you call - your SSN, claim ID number, employment history dates, and any correspondence you've received from ESD. The agent will need to verify your identity before discussing your claim details. Also, if your financial situation is becoming dire, you might want to look into hardship assistance programs while waiting for your unemployment to be approved. Most counties have emergency rental assistance and utility payment help available. Don't wait until you're completely out of funds to seek these resources.