Just got laid off - how long until first ESD unemployment payment arrives?

I filed in February after my contract wasn't renewed. If everything goes smoothly (meaning they don't need to contact your employer for additional info), you should get your first payment about 2-3 weeks after filing. Yes, the one-week waiting period is still in effect - that's the week after you apply when you don't get paid even though you're eligible. My tips: - File your claim as early as possible Monday (the system can get overloaded) - Have your employment info ready (past 18 months of work history) - Make sure you answer all questions accurately - any inconsistencies trigger adjudication - Set up direct deposit right away for faster payment - Start doing your job search activities immediately (you need 3 per week) - File your weekly claim every single week even if your initial claim is still processing Good luck! The ESD website is actually pretty user-friendly compared to what it used to be.

lol dont hold ur breath, took me 8 WEEKS to see a penny from esd!!! their system is broken and nobody answers the phone EVER

I just went through this last month. They do still have the waiting week. I filed on a Tuesday, had to wait that whole week (unpaid), then filed my first weekly claim the following Sunday. Got my first payment on Wednesday after that, so about 8 days after the waiting week ended. Make sure u answer all the eligibility questions carefully!!! I accidentally clicked that I was on vacation for one day (I wasn't) and they put my whole claim in adjudication for 3 weeks. Had to call like 50 times to get through to someone to fix it.

After trying to get through to ESD for DAYS and constantly getting hung up on, I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to an agent in about 45 minutes. Totally worth it when you're dealing with a claim issue or have questions about your specific situation. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 As for timing, my claim was straightforward and it took exactly 2 weeks from filing to my first deposit. But that was with no complications. If your employer contests anything or there's any mismatch in your information, it could take much longer.

I'm an employment counselor, and I work with people navigating unemployment regularly. Here's what you need to know about timing in 2025: 1. The waiting week is still in effect (first week after you apply) 2. Standard processing time is 10-14 days after your waiting week 3. Direct deposit is 2-3 days faster than the ESD debit card option 4. Your first payment may be larger as it could include multiple weeks Factors that commonly delay claims: - Identity verification issues - Employer challenging the separation reason - Missing or incomplete work history - Answering yes to any of the eligibility questions without explanation - Gaps in employment in the last 18 months For a standard layoff with a long-term employer who doesn't contest it, expect your first payment about 2.5-3 weeks after filing your initial claim. Don't forget to file your weekly claims every week, even while waiting for the initial claim to process!

Is this your first time filing for unemployment? Because they'll make you do ID verification through ID.me which can take FOREVER. I got stuck in their video chat queue for hours!!! And then ESD didn't even process my verification for another week after that!! The whole system is designed to make you give up honestly.

my brother just got laid off too and he got his first unemployment check in like 12 days i think? but his company did everything right and submitted all the paperwork on time. sometimes the employer drags their feet and that makes everything take way longer

To answer your earlier question - yes, they do ask for employer contact information. They want the company's official name (as it would appear on tax documents), mailing address, phone number, and your employment dates. Having your final paystub is helpful because it usually has the employer's EIN (tax ID) on it, which helps ESD match your claim to the right employer account. They don't specifically ask for an HR contact person, just the general company contact info. Though if your claim does go into adjudication for any reason, having an HR contact name and direct number can be helpful to provide to the claims specialist.

YES i did direct deposit! Way faster than their debit card option. Just make sure u enter ur banking info correctly cuz if u mess that up it's another HUGE delay to fix it.

Another tip - make sure you start doing your job search activities immediately and document them properly. Even during your waiting week, you need to complete and log 3 job search activities. If you don't, they can deny benefits for that week once your claim is approved. The WorkSource workshops count as activities and are pretty easy to complete online.