Filing weekly ESD claims by phone vs online - which gets paid faster?
Anyone else noticing a difference between filing claims online versus calling in? I switched to filing by phone about 3 weeks ago after my online claims kept getting stuck in processing for 5+ days. Since then, my payments have been hitting my account WAY faster - usually showing as 'paid' by Monday morning and in my bank account by late afternoon the same day. The ESD website still says to expect a 48-hour processing period after filing, but I'm wondering if that's only for web claims? Also heads up - next Monday is President's Day so payments will probably be delayed. Has anyone else compared both methods?
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Liam Sullivan
i've only used the website bcuz i figured it would be faster... maybe thats why my payments are always taking so long?? i usally dont see the $$ until weds or thurs. didn't know u could still file over the phone tbh
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Mei Chen
•Yeah, you can totally file by phone! Call the weekly claims line at 1-800-318-6022. It takes about the same amount of time as the website once you get used to the prompts, but the money comes through MUCH faster in my experience.
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Amara Okafor
This is actually a known factor with ESD processing. Phone claims typically get processed through their mainframe system more immediately, while web claims go through additional validation checks which can add 24-48 hours. This isn't officially documented anywhere, but it's been consistently true for years. Just be aware that phone claims have a higher error rate since there's no visual confirmation of your answers.
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CosmicCommander
•Is this for real? I've been filing online for MONTHS and waiting until Wednesday or Thursday every single week for my payments! No one at ESD ever mentioned this when I've called about slow payments!
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Giovanni Colombo
I HATE THE PHONE SYSTEM!! Tried it twice and both times they said I entered something wrong and my payment was delayed a WEEK while they "reviewed" it. At least with the website I can SEE what I'm entering. Plus the automated voice is SO SLOW and you can't go back if you mess up! If online takes 2 extra days but actually WORKS I'll take that any day over their garbage phone system.
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Mei Chen
•That sucks you had that experience! I haven't had any issues with the phone system once I got used to it. Maybe it depends on your specific claim situation? Mine is pretty straightforward - no part-time work to report or anything complicated.
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
Filing by phone has been pretty reliable for me too. One thing I noticed is that if you file on Sunday morning by phone, it seems to process faster than filing Sunday night online. Probably just when their systems do their processing batches. Also remember you can file by phone anytime between Sunday and Friday of the week you're claiming!
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Dylan Cooper
•This is good advice. I've noticed a pattern where earlier filing (whether online or phone) tends to get processed faster. Their systems likely run big processing batches Sunday night, so getting your claim in early puts you in the first batch.
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Sofia Ramirez
If you're having trouble reaching ESD by phone for other issues (not just weekly claims), I've had great success using Claimyr to get through to an actual agent. Saved me hours of redial frustration. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Worth checking out if you've been stuck trying to resolve more complex issues that the automated systems can't handle.
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CosmicCommander
•Does this actually work? I've been trying to get through to someone about my adjudication for weeks! Has anyone else tried this service?
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Sofia Ramirez
•Yes, it really does work. I was in adjudication for 5 weeks with no movement until I got through to someone who could actually look at my file. They told me they were missing a document I had already uploaded twice. Was able to resubmit while on the phone and my claim was approved two days later.
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Dylan Cooper
Just to clarify a few things about ESD's processing times: 1. Weekly claims filed by phone or web are typically processed in overnight batches 2. Phone claims enter directly into the mainframe system with fewer validation steps 3. Web claims go through additional security and validation protocols 4. Bank transfer times vary by financial institution (ACH vs. direct deposit systems) 5. Claims filed early Sunday generally process faster than those filed late Sunday And yes, Monday (February 17) is President's Day, so all payments will be delayed by one business day since banks don't process transfers on federal holidays.
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Mei Chen
•Thanks for breaking this down so clearly! This explains why my phone claims are processing faster. Do you work for ESD or just have experience with their systems?
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Dylan Cooper
•I don't work for ESD, but I've been through the system multiple times over the years and have spent a lot of time researching how their processing works when my own claims had issues. The phone system actually uses their older but more streamlined mainframe technology, which is why it can be faster but also more error-prone.
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Liam Sullivan
tried calling today instead of using the website, the system kept asking me weird questions about my job search that i never get online??? got confused and hung up lol guess ill stick to the website even if it takes longer
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Amara Okafor
•The phone system asks questions in a different order and sometimes uses slightly different wording, but it's collecting the same information. If you're required to do job searches, both systems will ask about them - though the web interface might be easier to navigate for that specific requirement.
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