Fired without formal documentation - now stuck in ESD adjudication. Normal or red flag?

Unfortunately, most fired employees go through adjudication. It's standard procedure when there's a separation that isn't clearly a layoff. ESD has to determine if you were fired for misconduct, which would disqualify you from benefits. Even when employers don't formally contest, ESD still investigates the circumstances. Make sure you've submitted any documentation showing your side of the story. If you have emails or performance reviews that contradict the termination, upload those to your claim. Adjudication typically takes 3-5 weeks right now, but can stretch longer during busy periods. Did you receive any separation documentation when they terminated you? That could be helpful to have ready.

evry single fired person goes to adjudication, happens to everybody dont worry. my claim took 6 wks in adjudication and i got approved even tho my boss SAID he wasnt gonna fight it but then he DID!!! they lie all the time lol. just wait it out

I've been through this exact situation. Your former employer likely checked a box on their ESD response form indicating you were terminated rather than laid off, which automatically triggers adjudication. Even if they don't actively fight your claim, the mere fact that they reported a termination rather than a reduction in force means ESD has to investigate. Here's what I recommend: 1. Call ESD to check if your employer has actually contested your claim or provided any details about your termination 2. Submit a detailed statement explaining the lack of documentation and the positive meeting just before termination 3. List any witnesses who can verify your performance was satisfactory 4. Continue filing your weekly claims while in adjudication The lack of formal write-ups actually works in your favor. Without documented warnings, it's harder for them to prove misconduct.

I went thru this 2 months ago. Got fired cuz my manager didn't like me. No writeups either. ESD adjudication took FOREVER (7 weeks!!!) but I got approved. My advice: keep detailed notes about EVERYTHING. When u talk to ESD, write down who u talked to and what they said. This helped me a lot when they kept giving me different answers every time I called.

The adjudication process is standard procedure when there's a separation that isn't clearly a layoff. ESD must determine if you were fired for work-related misconduct, which would disqualify you from benefits. Even when employers verbally say they won't contest, ESD still investigates. I've been through this myself and helped numerous others navigate the system. Your lack of formal write-ups actually works in your favor. ESD typically looks for a pattern of documented warnings before accepting an employer's claim of misconduct. I suggest using Claimyr to actually reach an ESD agent directly (claimyr.com). Their service helped me get through when I was in a similar situation. They have a good video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 If you get through to ESD, ask these specific questions: 1. Has my employer responded to the initial claim? 2. Did they provide any documentation about my separation? 3. What's the current estimated timeline for adjudication completion? Keep filing your weekly claims while waiting for adjudication to complete!

Last year I got laid off (not fired) and my claim still went to adjudication for 3 weeks. I think they're just overworked and put everything in adjudication these days. Won't make a difference in the end if there's no misconduct documentation.

To answer your original question more directly - adjudication is for any separation where ESD needs more information to determine eligibility. This includes: 1. Most terminations (they need to determine if misconduct occurred) 2. Quits (they need to determine if you had good cause) 3. Layoffs where the employer disputes the nature of separation 4. Cases with conflicting information In 2025, ESD is processing most clean layoffs without adjudication, but almost all terminations go through adjudication. The key is that they need to determine you weren't fired for misconduct (which would disqualify you). Since you mention having that one probation notice, they'll want to see if that relates to your termination. I recommend uploading it even though you didn't sign it, along with your explanation of why you disputed it. More documentation is better than less.

I've heard if you contact your state representative's office they can sometimes expedite your claim. My friend was stuck in adjudication for 5 weeks and called their state rep, suddenly got approved 3 days later. Worth a try!

Quick update on the Claimyr service I mentioned - I just want to clarify that when I used it, I was able to get through to ESD within about 25 minutes instead of spending days trying to call myself. The agent I spoke with told me my employer had actually submitted a response claiming I was terminated for "excessive absences" which was completely untrue. I was able to contest this immediately and provide documentation showing perfect attendance. If I hadn't gotten through, I would have never known what they were claiming. Sometimes finding out what your employer is actually telling ESD is half the battle.

Update: I tried the Claimyr service that was recommended, and I actually got through to ESD! The agent told me my employer DID respond and said I was terminated for "failure to meet performance expectations" but they didn't provide any documentation to back it up. The agent said without documentation, it would likely be decided in my favor, but the adjudication could still take 4-6 more weeks due to backlog. I explained about the lack of write-ups and the positive meeting two weeks before termination, and she added notes to my claim. She also suggested I upload a written statement explaining this in detail, which I just did. Frustrated that my employer wasn't honest with me about not contesting, but at least now I know what I'm dealing with. Thanks everyone for your help!