Got determination letter in SAW after denied claim - normal ESD procedure?

this happened to me last year!! the system is super confusing. i think they automatically generate those letters even when ur claim is denied. did u apply for anything else recently? sometimes they reopen old claims if u contact them for any reason too

This is actually normal ESD procedure. Even when claims are denied, they're required to issue a monetary determination that shows what your weekly benefit amount would have been if you had qualified. It's confusing because the letter often looks like you've been approved when you actually haven't. Check if the letter specifically mentions your disqualification reason (insufficient hours) somewhere. If you want to be 100% sure about your current claim status, you should call ESD directly.

The ESD system is a JOKE!! I got 5 different determinations over 3 weeks and NONE of them matched. One said I qualified, one said I didn't, one had the wrong employer listed. Total mess. Don't assume anything until you talk to an actual human being there.

Just want to add - check if the letter mentions "redetermination" anywhere. Sometimes ESD reviews denied claims automatically if new wage info becomes available from employers who report quarterly. If one of your employers reported additional hours after your initial denial, the system might have automatically recalculated your eligibility. This happened to my brother - denied initially but approved 2 months later after employer reporting caught up.

I'd like to clarify something important: when you receive a monetary determination after a denied claim, you should check two key things: 1. Look at the "Effective Date" on the new determination - if it's different from your original claim date, it could be a completely new claim period being evaluated. 2. Review the "Potential Benefits" section - even if it shows a weekly benefit amount, this doesn't mean you're eligible. It just shows what you would receive IF you qualified based on wages alone. The monetary determination is just one part of eligibility. If you were denied for insufficient hours initially, but this new determination shows different hours/wages, you might want to check if something changed in your wage record. Don't ignore this letter - either way, it's an official determination that could be appealed if incorrect.

One more thing to consider - if you applied for regular UI and were denied, but might qualify for another program like PIT (Paid Internship Training) or certain trade-specific benefits, the system sometimes automatically evaluates you for those. The new determination might be for a different type of benefit program entirely.