How long does ESD wait for employer response before deciding unemployment claim?

ESD typically gives employers 10 business days to respond to a request for information about your separation. If they don't hear back within that timeframe, they're supposed to make a determination based on the information they have available - which is usually just your side of the story. So if your employer doesn't respond, that's actually good for you in most cases. However, sometimes there can be delays if the employer requests an extension or if ESD needs additional information. If it's been more than 3 weeks, I'd recommend trying to contact ESD to check on your claim status.

i had this exact same thing happen last yr. my boss was mad i left so he ignored esd completely. they ended up approving me after like 3 wks. just keep filing ur weekly claims even while waiting!!!

In my experience, ESD will wait FOREVER to make a decision if they don't hear back from employers. I waited 6 WEEKS last time because my employer never responded, and ESD kept extending the deadline for them!!! The system is totally rigged against workers. You might want to try contacting your employer directly to see if they received the request and if they plan to respond. That's what finally worked for me.

Has anyone tried calling the employer and just asking them to respond to ESD? I wonder if that would help or just make things worse...

After trying for weeks to get thru to ESD about a similar situation (employer never responded), I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got connected to an ESD agent in about 15 minutes. Seriously, it was like magic after spending hours getting busy signals and hangups. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 The agent was able to see that my employer had never responded, and they pushed my claim through that same day. Might be worth trying if you're getting desperate.

To give some additional context on this process: When you file a claim, ESD sends a request for information to your employer via their SIDES e-Response system. Employers have 10 business days to respond, after which ESD should make a determination based on available information. However, several factors can extend this timeline: 1. If the employer requests an extension (which they can do) 2. If your case requires additional fact-finding by an adjudicator 3. If there are discrepancies between your statement and your employer's If it's been more than 3 weeks, I'd recommend contacting ESD. Continue filing your weekly claims while you wait - if your claim is eventually approved, you'll receive back payments for all eligible weeks.

One more thing to be aware of - even if your employer doesn't respond initially, they can still appeal later if ESD approves your claim. So keep any documentation related to your separation just in case. This includes emails, performance reviews, separation notices, etc.

anybody else notice that esd's website always says their gonna make a decision in like 2-3 weeks but it ALWAYS takes longer lol