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Noah Ali

Got a call from ESD adjudicator today - what happens next in my claim process?

I finally got a call from an ESD adjudicator today after waiting almost 5 weeks in adjudication! The call only lasted about 10 minutes, and she asked a bunch of questions about my separation from my last nursing job. She said something about adding notes to my file and that a decision would be made, but didn't give me any timeframe. Has anyone gone through this? How long after talking to an adjudicator did you get a decision? Does this mean my claim is almost approved, or could they still deny me? I'm getting really anxious because my savings are almost gone and I have a car payment due next week. 😟

This is actually a good sign! When an adjudicator calls, it means your claim is actively being reviewed. In my experience, you should receive a determination within 3-5 business days after they speak with you. The adjudicator adds their notes to your file, and then a determination is made about whether you qualify for benefits. Make sure to keep filing your weekly claims during this time, even if you haven't been approved yet.

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Noah Ali

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Thank you! That helps a lot. I'll keep filing my weekly claims. Do you know if I'll get an email when the determination is made or will I have to keep checking my eServices account?

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i had same thing happen last month. got a call from adj. they asked about why i quit my job and stuf. took 8 days til i got a decision. was approved but they didn't pay me for the waiting week FYI

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Noah Ali

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8 days isn't too bad! Was the determination letter in your eServices account or did they mail it to you?

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both. check ur account everyday thats wat i did. also check ur email they sometimes send notices there

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Olivia Harris

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The ESD system is incredibly frustrating. Just because you got a call doesn't guarantee approval. I spoke with an adjudicator twice and still got denied initially because my employer claimed I was fired for misconduct (which was NOT true). Had to go through the whole appeal process which took ANOTHER 6 weeks. Not trying to scare you, but prepare yourself for either outcome. Document EVERYTHING. Save any emails or text messages from your employer about your separation.

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Noah Ali

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Oh no, that sounds horrible! My employer laid me off due to budget cuts, so I'm hoping there won't be any dispute. Did you eventually get approved after your appeal?

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Olivia Harris

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Yes, I eventually won my appeal and got backpay for all the weeks I was eligible. If your separation was clearly a layoff due to budget cuts, you should be fine. Just make sure you have any documentation showing that was the reason.

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I was in a similar situation last year. After the adjudicator called me, it took about 4 business days to get my determination (it was approved). Since yours was a layoff due to budget cuts, that's generally considered a qualifying reason for unemployment benefits. The adjudicator might also be contacting your former employer to verify the information you provided. One thing I did that really helped was using Claimyr to reach an ESD agent when I hadn't heard anything after a week. They connected me directly to an ESD rep who could see the notes in my file and tell me exactly what was happening. Saved me hours of busy signals and hold times. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 if you want to check it out.

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Noah Ali

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Thanks for the tip about Claimyr! If I don't hear anything by the end of next week, I might need something like that. The waiting and uncertainty is the worst part of this whole process.

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Alicia Stern

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congrats on getting the call!! im still waiting after 7 weeks lol. no call nothing. this system is so broken

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Have you tried contacting your state representative? Sometimes they can help move your claim along if it's been stuck for that long. 7 weeks is well beyond the normal processing time.

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Alicia Stern

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didnt even think of that!! will try tomorrow thx

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When I received my adjudicator call last month, I got a determination the very next day! But I've heard from friends who waited up to 10 business days. The adjudicators have to complete several steps after they talk to you: 1. They may need to speak with your former employer 2. They review any documents you or your employer submitted 3. They compare your statements with your employer's statements 4. They research any applicable legal precedents for your separation reason 5. They document their findings and make a recommendation If your separation reason is straightforward like a layoff with documentation, it might be faster. If there are conflicting stories or complicated circumstances, it could take longer.

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Noah Ali

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This is super helpful - thanks for breaking down the process! My situation is pretty clear-cut, so hopefully that means it'll be on the quicker side.

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Drake

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So I had my adjudication call back in January and got approved 3 days later but then guess what? They put my account on hold AGAIN two weeks later for a different issue! Something about my work search activities not being sufficient even though I was following their requirements exactly. The whole system is just designed to make you give up, I swear.

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The work search requirements can be tricky. Make sure you're completing 3 qualifying job search activities each week and documenting them properly. Common mistakes include not saving enough details about each activity or not having enough variety in your activities (they want a mix of applications, networking, etc.).

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Drake

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Yeah I eventually figured that out. Apparently just applying for jobs online wasn't enough - had to do some WorkSource workshops too. Wish they'd make that clearer from the beginning!

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Sarah Jones

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my brother in law got a similar call and was approved the next day! he was so relieved. but then my sister got denied after her adjudicator call. i think it really depends on why you separated from your job.

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Noah Ali

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That makes sense. Since mine was a budget-related layoff, I'm hoping it'll be straightforward. Did your sister appeal her denial?

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One more thing to consider - if you're approved, you should receive backpay for all the eligible weeks you've claimed during the adjudication period (minus the waiting week). Make sure all your weekly claims are filed and up-to-date. When you get your determination, it will specify your weekly benefit amount and any backpay you're entitled to. The determination will also explain your appeal rights if you're denied.

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Noah Ali

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That's good to know about the backpay! I've been diligently filing my weekly claims even though I haven't received any money yet. At this point, I'm looking at almost $6,800 in backpay if I get approved.

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StarSeeker

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Hey Noah! I went through the exact same thing about 3 months ago. Got my adjudicator call on a Tuesday and received my determination letter (approved!) the following Friday. Since you mentioned it was a budget-related layoff, that's typically one of the clearest cases for approval - you weren't terminated for cause or misconduct. The adjudicator probably just needs to verify the details with your former employer and make sure everything lines up with what you told them. In the meantime, definitely keep filing those weekly claims like others mentioned. When I got approved, I received about $4,200 in backpay within 3-4 business days of the determination. Try not to stress too much (easier said than done, I know!). The fact that they called you shows your claim is moving through the system. Keep checking your eServices account daily - that's where the determination letter will show up first. Good luck! 🤞

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