Fired with separation pay but claim moved to adjudication - will ESD approve?

adjudication just means they're reviewing ur claim. happens to like everybody. dont stress yet

Separation pay (sometimes called severance) may affect your unemployment benefits, but it doesn't automatically disqualify you. Here's what's happening: 1. ESD is reviewing your employer's statement about why you were terminated 2. They're determining if your separation qualifies under UI rules 3. They're calculating if/how your severance payment affects your benefit amount The fact that your employer said they'd "approve" your claim is helpful, but ultimately ESD makes the determination. Adjudication is standard procedure when there's a job separation with severance involved. They need to verify details with your employer. Make sure you're still filing your weekly claims during adjudication - this is crucial for backdating payments once approved.

I got a severance package when my company downsized last year too (about $7,200) and my claim went to adjudication for SEVEN WEEKS!! I was freaking out!!! Called ESD like 50+ times and could never get through. Finally I got a letter saying I was approved but they reduced my weekly benefit amount for the first 6 weeks to account for the severance. Something about "allocating" the severance over a time period. Ugh, the waiting was AWFUL.

When a claim goes to adjudication after receiving separation pay, ESD reviews several factors: • If the separation was qualifying (not misconduct) • How the separation pay should be allocated • Whether there are any other issues needing investigation Since your employer indicated they'd support your claim, the adjudication process may be shorter than average. However, ESD will typically allocate your separation pay over several weeks based on your pre-termination wages, which may reduce or eliminate benefits during that allocation period. In 2025, the standard adjudication processing time is averaging 3-5 weeks for straightforward cases. Keep filing weekly claims during this period so you'll receive benefits for eligible weeks once a determination is made.

After trying for WEEKS to reach ESD about my adjudication status (got disconnected every single time), I finally used a service called Claimyr that got me through to an ESD agent in about 30 minutes. Cost some money but worth it to finally get answers about my claim status. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 showing how it works. The agent explained everything about my separation pay and how it was being allocated. Saved me tons of stress waiting for letters that never seemed to arrive.

ADJUDICATION IS A NIGHTMARE!!! I waited 9 weeks last year after being laid off with severance and they STILL denied me because my former employer lied about why I was let go!!! Had to appeal and wait ANOTHER 6 weeks before getting approved. The system is designed to make you give up. Document EVERYTHING and keep filing those weekly claims no matter what.

To address your question about deductions: They won't deduct the entire separation pay amount at once. They'll allocate it over a number of weeks based on your previous weekly wage. So if you were making roughly $1,450/week, they might allocate your $5,800 severance over 4 weeks. During those weeks, your unemployment benefits would be reduced or possibly zeroed out. After that allocation period ends, you'd start receiving your full weekly benefit amount (assuming you're otherwise eligible). This is why continuing to file weekly claims is so important - so they can calculate which weeks are affected by the allocation and which weeks you should receive full benefits.

yeah my brother had almost the exact same thing happen and he got approved but had to wait like 4 weeks. just keep doing the job search stuff and filing every week

Yes, absolutely continue filing weekly claims and completing your three job search activities each week, even during weeks when your benefits might be reduced or zeroed out due to severance allocation. This maintains your claim as active in the system and establishes your eligibility for those weeks once the severance allocation period ends. If you don't file for a week, you can't receive benefits for that week later, even if you would have been eligible after adjudication is complete. Missing weekly claims is one of the most common mistakes that leads to benefit payment delays.