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. 😟
34 comments


Chloe Boulanger
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
•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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James Martinez
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
•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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James Martinez
•both. check ur account everyday thats wat i did. also check ur email they sometimes send notices there
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Olivia Harris
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
•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
•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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Alexander Zeus
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
•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
congrats on getting the call!! im still waiting after 7 weeks lol. no call nothing. this system is so broken
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Chloe Boulanger
•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
•didnt even think of that!! will try tomorrow thx
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Gabriel Graham
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
•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
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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Gabriel Graham
•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
•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
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
•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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Chloe Boulanger
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
•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
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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Miguel Hernández
•Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the same thing recently. $4,200 in backpay sounds amazing - that would be a huge relief right now. I'm trying to stay positive since it was clearly a layoff situation, but you know how it is when you're stressed about money. I'll definitely keep checking my eServices account obsessively! 😅 Thanks for the encouragement!
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Sebastián Stevens
I'm in a similar boat right now - got my adjudicator call yesterday and they asked about my layoff from the retail store I worked at. The whole call was maybe 8 minutes and felt so quick! Reading everyone's experiences here is really helpful. It sounds like most people hear back within 3-10 business days, which gives me hope. The worst part is just the waiting and not knowing. Like you, I'm running low on savings and have bills coming up. But it does seem like budget cuts/layoffs are usually approved pretty quickly since there's no question about misconduct or quitting voluntarily. Fingers crossed for both of us! 🤞 Keep us updated when you hear back - I'll do the same. This community has been such a lifeline during this stressful process.
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Ethan Clark
•Hey Sebastián! It's such a relief to know someone else is going through this at the same time. That 8-minute call feeling rushed is so relatable - I kept thinking "wait, is that it?" afterwards! But from what everyone's saying here, it sounds like the short calls are actually normal and a good sign that our cases are straightforward. The waiting really is the hardest part, especially when you're watching your bank account dwindle. But you're right that layoffs due to budget cuts seem to have good approval rates since there's no gray area about misconduct. I'll definitely update this thread when I hear back - please do the same! It helps so much to have others going through the same timeline. Sending positive vibes your way! 🤞✨
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Isabella Oliveira
I just went through this exact process a few weeks ago! Got my adjudicator call on a Wednesday afternoon - similar short call, maybe 12 minutes. She asked about my layoff from the healthcare facility where I worked (also budget-related cuts). I was so nervous during the call that I felt like I rambled, but she seemed to understand the situation clearly. Got my determination letter 4 business days later - APPROVED! The relief was incredible. Since your separation was due to budget cuts like mine, you should be in good shape. Those are typically the most straightforward cases for ESD to approve. One tip: I set up notifications on my phone to check my eServices account every few hours because I was so anxious. The determination showed up there first, then I got an email notification about 2 hours later. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you're stressed about money, but try to hang in there. Based on what you've described, it really sounds like your claim will be approved. Keep filing those weekly claims - that backpay is going to feel amazing when it hits your account! 💪
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Fatima Al-Sayed
•Isabella, thank you so much for sharing your timeline and outcome! It's incredibly helpful to hear from someone who just went through this exact situation. 4 business days sounds totally manageable, and knowing you got approved after a similar layoff situation gives me a lot of hope. I love the tip about setting up phone notifications to check eServices - I'm definitely going to do that because I know I'll be obsessively checking anyway! The fact that you felt like you rambled during the call but still got approved is also reassuring since I felt the same way. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and encouragement! 🙏
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Ryder Everingham
I went through this same process about 2 months ago! Got my adjudicator call on a Thursday morning and it was nerve-wracking but actually went smoothly. Like yours, it was pretty short - about 15 minutes. She asked detailed questions about my layoff from the manufacturing plant where I worked (also due to budget cuts and downsizing). I received my determination exactly 6 business days later and was approved! The key thing that helped my case was that I had saved the email from my supervisor explaining the layoffs were due to company financial issues - having that documentation ready when they asked really seemed to help. Since your separation was clearly due to budget cuts, you're in a really strong position. Those types of layoffs are usually the easiest for ESD to approve since there's no question about misconduct or voluntary separation. The adjudicator is probably just doing their due diligence to verify the details with your former employer. Keep filing those weekly claims and try not to stress too much (I know, easier said than done!). When I got approved, I received about $5,400 in backpay within a week. That financial relief was life-changing after weeks of uncertainty. You've got this! 🙏
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Kyle Wallace
•Ryder, this is so encouraging to hear! Having that email documentation about the layoffs being due to financial issues is such a smart move - I actually have similar documentation from my employer about the budget cuts that led to my layoff, so I'm feeling more confident about my case. 6 business days seems very reasonable, and $5,400 in backpay would be absolutely life-changing right now! I really appreciate you sharing your specific timeline and outcome. It helps so much to hear from people who've been through this exact situation recently. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but stories like yours give me hope that everything will work out. Thank you for the encouragement! 💙
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Aaliyah Reed
I just want to add some encouragement here! I went through the adjudication process about 6 months ago after being laid off from my teaching position due to district budget cuts. Got the call from an adjudicator on a Monday, and she asked very similar questions about my separation - why I was laid off, if there were any performance issues, etc. The call was only about 8 minutes long and I remember feeling like it went by so fast! I received my determination 5 business days later and was approved. The relief was incredible! Since your situation involves a clear layoff due to budget cuts (like mine was), you're in a really good position. Those are typically the most straightforward cases for approval since there's no question about misconduct or voluntary separation. One thing that really helped me during the waiting period was keeping busy with job search activities and trying not to refresh my eServices account every 10 minutes (though I totally did anyway 😅). The determination will show up there first, usually in the morning, and then you'll get an email notification. Hang in there - the waiting is absolutely the worst part, but based on what you've described, I'm confident your claim will be approved. That backpay is going to feel amazing when it hits your account! Keep us posted on how it goes! 🤞
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Mateo Hernandez
•Aaliyah, thank you so much for sharing your experience as a teacher who went through this! It's really comforting to hear from someone else who had a budget cut layoff situation. An 8-minute call sounds very similar to what I experienced, and 5 business days for a determination gives me a good timeframe to expect. I'm definitely guilty of refreshing my eServices account way too often already 😅 but I'll try to stay busy with job searching. Your confidence about my approval really means a lot - this community has been such a source of hope during this stressful time. I'll definitely keep everyone posted once I hear back! Thanks for the encouragement! 💕
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GalacticGuru
I went through this exact situation about 6 weeks ago! Got my adjudicator call on a Friday afternoon - very similar to yours, about 12 minutes of questions about my layoff from the nonprofit I worked at (also due to budget cuts). The adjudicator was actually really professional and seemed to understand that it was a clear-cut layoff situation. I got my determination letter 5 business days later and was APPROVED! 🎉 The backpay came through about 3 days after that - nearly $4,800 which was such a huge relief after burning through my emergency fund. Since your separation was due to budget cuts and you were in nursing (essential field), I think you're in a really strong position. Budget-related layoffs are usually pretty straightforward for ESD to approve since there's no question of misconduct or voluntary separation. The hardest part is definitely the waiting! I must have checked my eServices account 20 times a day during those 5 days. But try to stay positive - from everything you've described, this sounds like it should go smoothly. Make sure to keep filing those weekly claims in the meantime. Keep us updated on how it goes! Fingers crossed you'll have good news very soon! 🤞
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Madeline Blaze
•GalacticGuru, this is exactly what I needed to hear! Your timeline sounds so similar to mine - Friday call, 5 business days for determination, and a budget cut layoff situation. $4,800 in backpay sounds incredible right now! I'm trying to stay optimistic since everyone here seems to think budget-related layoffs are pretty straightforward cases. I'm definitely guilty of checking my eServices account way too frequently already, but it's hard not to when you're anxious about the outcome. Thanks for the encouragement and for sharing your positive outcome - it really helps to know that others in similar situations got approved relatively quickly. I'll definitely update everyone once I hear back! 🙏
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