Got a call from ESD for additional claim info - decision promised by end of week - normal process?

This is totally normal. i got a similiar call about 2 months ago when i filed after getting laid off from construction work. They said same thing to me - decision by end of week - and then I got approved 2 days later. They're just crossing t's and dotting i's. Don't stress!

This is actually a really standard part of the adjudication process. When there's any question about eligibility (even minor ones), ESD has to verify details before approving benefits. What you're describing is called a fact-finding interview. The good news is that they're actively working on your claim rather than it sitting in the queue. A business closure is typically a qualifying reason for unemployment, so as long as you provided consistent information, you should be fine. The promise of a decision by week's end is a positive sign - many claims can take much longer to resolve.

I went through this exact process in January. The key is making sure all your documentation matches what you initially reported. In my case, there was confusion about my last day worked versus when the company announced layoffs. The fact they promised a decision by end of week is a good sign - when they're planning to deny benefits, the process usually drags out longer in my experience. If your restaurant truly closed and you have documentation proving that, you're in a strong position for approval.

Been there! Definitely normal especially when your employer might have given different info than you did. Fingers crossed for you!!

I experienced almost the identical situation last month with my ESD claim. The agent called asking about information I'd already provided multiple times. After getting nowhere with the regular ESD phone lines for weeks (constant busy signals, disconnects, and 4+ hour hold times), I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an ESD agent quickly. They have a demo video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. After actually talking to someone, it turned out there was a simple mismatch in dates that was holding up my claim. Having that direct conversation cleared everything up, and my claim was approved two days later. If you don't hear back by the promised date, might be worth checking out.

everytime ESD calls me i get so nervous i start forgetting dates and details lol. one time i gave them the wrong start date for my job and had to call back to fix it. they r used to ppl being confused so dont worry

THEY PROMISED ME A DECISION IN 48 HOURS AND IT TOOK 3 WEEKS!!! Don't believe anything ESD tells you about timelines. The whole system is broken and designed to discourage people from collecting benefits they deserve. I had to call 27 TIMES before getting through. Every single thing they asked for was already in my original application. The adjudication process is just a delay tactic!!!

do u know if the person who called u was an adjudicator or just regular esd staff? makes a difference

If they promised a decision by week's end, I'd wait until then before worrying too much. However, if you don't hear anything by Friday afternoon, you absolutely need to follow up. The fact that you have documentation of the restaurant closure is excellent - that's a straightforward qualifying event for unemployment benefits. Keep checking your online account too, as sometimes decisions appear there before you get official notification.

One important thing to note: even if they decide by the end of the week, it might not immediately show up in your account or result in payment. There can be a processing delay of a few days between decision and payment. Also, if approved, they'll pay you retroactively for all eligible weeks, so you won't lose any money due to this delay. The call you received is actually a positive sign that your claim is being actively worked on rather than sitting in the backlog.