How long after OAH hearing will I receive ESD decision & how are we notified?

In my experience, OAH decisions typically take 1-2 weeks to arrive after your hearing. They'll mail you the official written decision to the address they have on file, but it will also eventually show up in your eServices account under the 'Decisions' tab. The judge is required to issue the decision within 30 days, but most come much sooner than that. \n\nIf the decision is in your favor, ESD will usually process any back payments within a week after the decision is finalized. If you win, don't forget that you'll still need to file for all those back weeks if you haven't already done so.

Thanks! That's really helpful. I've been checking my mail obsessively. I have been filing my weekly claims this whole time even though they weren't paying me, so hopefully if I win, they'll release all those payments quickly. Do they notify you by email when the decision is posted to eServices, or do I just need to keep logging in to check?

when i had my hearing last yr it took 9 days to get the letter in the mail. no email or anything just showed up in my mailbox. good luck!!

Thanks! I appreciate knowing your timeline. I'll keep an eye on my mailbox. Did your decision also show up in your eServices account or just the physical mail?

OAH is SUPPOSED to issue decisions within 30 days but in reality it can take ANYWHERE from a few days to several weeks!!! The system is completely BROKEN. My hearing was in February and I didn't get my decision until MARCH 15TH!!! Almost 4 WEEKS of waiting and checking my mailbox every single day while bills piled up. And then when I finally got the decision letter, they DENIED my claim even though I had PROOF my employer was lying. The whole system is designed to make you give up!!

While I understand your frustration, I wanted to clarify that the timing can vary based on case complexity and current workload. Most decisions do come within 2 weeks, though some take longer. And while the system certainly has flaws, remember that judges are bound by very specific legal standards when making decisions - it's not simply about who they believe more, but about how the facts align with unemployment law. If you were denied, you have the right to petition for review with the Commissioner's Office within 30 days of the decision.

Mine took about 10 days to arrive in the mail. Good luck! The waiting is definitely the hardest part.

I went through this in Jan 2025. The decision came in the mail after about 12 days. They don't email you at all about it which is super annoying considering everything else is electronic these days. Just keep filing your weekly claims like normal so if you win, they'll process all your back payments. \n\nBTW when I was waiting for my hearing I couldn't get through to ESD on the phone for weeks - kept getting busy signals or disconnected. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an ESD agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. It was the only way I could verify they had all my documents before my hearing.

Oh that's good to know about the service - I've been trying to call them to ask about this exact question but keep getting the \

Yes there is a fee, but honestly it was worth it to me just to get some answers and peace of mind before my hearing. I was stressing out not knowing if all my evidence had been received.

i got mine after 8 days but my cousin waited 3 weeks for hers so i guess it depends on how busy they are maybe??

Just wanted to add - after you receive the decision, if it's in your favor, give ESD about 5-7 business days to process any payments. If nothing happens after that timeframe, then it's worth calling them to follow up. The OAH decision is binding on ESD, but sometimes they need a nudge to actually implement it in their system.\n\nAnd to answer your question from earlier - no, they don't send an email notification when the decision is posted to eServices. You just have to keep checking. The physical mail will likely arrive first though.

Thank you so much for the follow-up! This is really helpful information. I'll keep an eye on both the mail and eServices, and I'll make sure to call if I don't see payments after a favorable decision. This whole process has been so confusing and stressful.

When I had my hearing last year it was for a completely different reason (voluntary quit issue) but I remember I actually got my decision pretty fast, like 4-5 days. But that was probably unusual because I remember the judge saying something about how it was a straightforward case. The notice showed up in my eServices account first and then the mail came like 3 days later. So maybe check your online account every day too?

Just so you know, if you WIN your case ESD will still take FOREVER to actually PAY YOU! I won my hearing after 3 weeks of waiting for the decision, and then it took ESD another TWO WEEKS to release my payments!! They claim they need \

While processing times can be frustrating, there is actually a legitimate process ESD must follow to implement OAH decisions. They have to review the decision, update your claim status in their system, calculate the correct benefit amount, and process any back payments. This typically takes 5-7 business days, though it can sometimes take up to two weeks during high volume periods. It's not about keeping your money longer - the staff processing these decisions are different from those handling appeals.

Wanted to update everyone - got my decision in the mail today! Took exactly 11 days after the hearing. The judge ruled in my favor! So relieved right now. Now I just have to wait for ESD to process the payments. Thanks everyone for your help!

That's great news! Congrats! Hope you get your payments soon!

Excellent! Keep an eye on your eServices account over the next week. You should see the payment status change to