First-time UI claim stuck in adjudication - can ESD still deny my pending weekly claims?

Unfortunately, yes, they can still deny you. Monetary eligibility just means you've earned enough in your base year to qualify for benefits. The adjudication process is where they review other qualification factors - like the reason you separated from your job, whether you're able and available to work, etc. Adjudication doesn't necessarily mean you did something wrong! It's just their investigation process. But it can take 3-8 weeks (sometimes longer) depending on their backlog and the complexity of your situation. Keep filing your weekly claims while waiting - that's very important.

hang in there! i was stuck in adjudacation for 5 weeks last year and thought id never get paid. then suddenly all the money appeared in my account one day. just keep doing your weekly claims even tho it feels pointless

nope they never said why! just suddenly got fixed. esd is weird like that

I went through this exact situation in January. Here's what I recommend: 1. Keep filing your weekly claims no matter what 2. Check your ESD account dashboard daily for any alerts or action items 3. Check your spam folder for ESD emails requesting information 4. Call ESD first thing in the morning (8:00 am) when they open And yes, if they approve your claim, you'll get backpay for all those pending weeks. The adjudication process is taking 4-6 weeks right now due to high claim volume.

I went through EXACTLY what you're describing last month. My claim was in adjudication for 6 weeks with all weeklies pending. I finally got through to ESD using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they have a system that connects you with an agent instead of getting the busy signal. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 When I finally talked to an agent, they told me they were missing one document that I didn't even know they needed. Within 3 days of fixing that, my claim was approved and ALL my pending weeks paid at once. Made a huge difference for me.

The ESD agent I reached was actually really helpful once I got through. She could see exactly what was holding up my claim (in my case it was a missing employer response) and she expedited it once I explained my financial situation. Having a direct conversation instead of just waiting made all the difference.

THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!! I was in "adjudication" for TEN WEEKS last year and nearly lost my apartment. They claim they're "investigating" but it's just a stalling tactic. And good luck calling them - I tried 472 TIMES (yes I counted) before giving up. When they finally approved me, there was ZERO explanation for the delay. It's criminal how they treat people who are already struggling!!!

It sure FEELS like a stalling tactic when you're about to be evicted! I know dozens of people who've had the same experience. Maybe it's not intentional but the EFFECT is the same - people suffering while bureaucrats take their sweet time!

did u check ur eservices messages? sometimes they send questions there not email and if u miss answering them it makes everything take longer

A few more things that might help you: 1. If you're facing imminent eviction or utility shutoff, make sure to mention that if you get through to an agent. They sometimes have procedures to expedite claims in hardship situations. 2. Document everything - keep a log of all your call attempts, any correspondence, and continue filing your weekly claims accurately. 3. Consider contacting your state representative's office. They sometimes have liaisons who can help expedite unemployment issues for constituents in dire situations. 4. While waiting, apply for other assistance programs like food benefits or emergency rental assistance if available in your area. The adjudication process is frustrating but necessary to ensure only eligible claimants receive benefits. Hang in there!

my neighbor works at esd (not supposed to tell people lol) but she says they are SUPER backlogged right now because they had to update their computer systems in January and it caused a huge delay in processing claims. she said if your claim is straightforward (like you got laid off and employer doesn't contest it) you should get approved eventually but if there's anything complicated it could take longer

Good news is that once your claim is approved, you'll receive all the back payments for those pending weeks at once. I went 7 weeks without payment, then suddenly got a lump sum of about $4,900 when they finished adjudication. Make sure you're completing your job search activities (3 per week) and documenting them properly while you wait.

You don't need to upload the job search log unless specifically requested, but you do need to keep detailed records. ESD can audit your job search activities up to one year after you receive benefits, so document everything - job title, company, application date, contact information, application method, etc. The WorkSource job search log template is helpful for this.

just wanted to say hang in there buddy. the waiting is the worst part, i know. it WILL get resolved eventually