Fired recently - waiting 3+ weeks for first ESD payment with no timeline?

welcome to the wonderful world of unemployment! they always say its just a waiting game but that doesnt help when ur bills r due NOW. i waited almost 5 weeks for my first payment last year even tho my claim was 'active' the whole time. its maddening

Your claim is probably stuck in what they call "adjudication" even if they didn't specifically tell you that. This happens a lot with people who were fired rather than laid off, as ESD needs to determine if you were fired for misconduct (which would disqualify you) or for other reasons. Did they mention anything about adjudication or fact-finding when you spoke with them?

OMG I FEEL THIS SO MUCH!!!! I waited 7 WEEKS last year before getting a penny, and every time I called they just said "be patient" like I can tell my landlord to be patient?! The ESD system is totally broken and they don't care at all about how long families have to wait. It's disgusting.

There are actually a few things you can do to potentially speed things up: 1. Check your ESD online account for any alerts or requests for additional information. Sometimes they need more documentation but don't clearly communicate this. 2. If you were fired, your claim most likely is in adjudication. This means an adjudicator needs to contact both you and your former employer to determine eligibility. 3. You should specifically request to speak with an adjudicator or claims specialist who can look deeper into your claim status. 4. Make sure you've completed your job search activities (3 per week) and are documenting them properly. 5. If you're experiencing severe financial hardship (which it sounds like you are), ask about expediting your claim due to hardship. The average wait time in 2025 has been about 3-4 weeks for straightforward claims and 5-7 weeks for claims requiring adjudication. They will backpay you for all the weeks you've claimed once approved.

I had a similar situation back when I got laid off in 2023. what i had to do was call my state representative's office. they have special liaisons who can contact ESD directly and sometimes speed things up. worth a try if youre desperate!

I went through this nightmare a few months ago. After trying for weeks to get answers from ESD with no luck, I tried Claimyr (claimyr.com) and they got me connected to an actual ESD agent in about 20 minutes when I had been trying for days on my own. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Once I finally got through to someone who could actually see my claim details, I found out there was a simple verification issue that needed to be fixed. My payments started the following week. Sometimes you just need to get to the right person who can see what's actually happening with your claim.

One thing no one tells you - CHECK YOUR SPAM FOLDER!!! I missed an important fact-finding interview request from ESD because it went to spam and my claim was delayed by WEEKS because of it. Also check your ESD messages inside your eServices account - sometimes they send messages there but don't email you about them!

Based on what you've shared, it sounds like your claim may be under routine review since you were fired rather than laid off. Here's what I recommend at this point: 1. Call ESD again, but this time specifically ask: "Is my claim in adjudication status? If so, what is the estimated timeframe for resolution?" 2. Ask if there's any additional documentation you can provide to help verify the circumstances of your separation. 3. Inquire about hardship expedition of your claim - be specific about your shut-off notices and dependent children. 4. Continue filing your weekly claims without interruption. 5. If you can't get clear answers by the end of this week, then try either the state representative approach or a service to help you connect with ESD. Also, while waiting, check with your utility companies - many have emergency assistance programs for people waiting on unemployment benefits. Same with your local Department of Social and Health Services for emergency assistance.

did u upload ur ID documents when u first applied? my sisters claim got stuck for a month bcuz she didnt realize she needed to verify her identity thru ID.me or whatever its called now

Update us when you get through to someone! I'm curious what's actually happening with your claim. My guess is still adjudication, especially since you mentioned being fired for "not being a good fit" - ESD often needs to verify with the employer that there wasn't misconduct involved. The good news is that "not being a good fit" usually doesn't disqualify you from benefits as long as you weren't violating company policies.