Reopened ESD claim stuck in limbo since June - no decision after 6+ weeks

same boat here!! reopened in July and still nothing. the esd site is useless

Reopened claims are taking 4-8 weeks for processing right now due to high volume and staff shortages. If you had any changes in your work history since your last claim, it can trigger additional review. Keep filing your weekly claims even while waiting for the decision - if approved, you'll get backpay for those weeks. Also, make sure you're completing your 3 job search activities each week and documenting them properly. This is required even while your claim is in pending status.

I was in your exact situation back in May - reopened after a 4-month gap and it took SEVEN WEEKS to get a decision. What drove me CRAZY was that my coworker who got laid off at the same time got approved in just 2 weeks!!! The ESD system is completely broken and arbitrary. I called 23 times in one day and never got through. When I finally got approved, they never explained the delay - just suddenly started paying benefits including backpay. Honestly the whole system feels designed to make people give up.

I was able to get through to ESD and resolve my reopened claim delay using Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to an ESD agent without the constant busy signals and disconnects. I was skeptical at first but I watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3) and decided to try it. Got connected to an ESD rep in about 20 minutes who told me my claim was flagged for verification because of the gap between claims. They were able to remove the hold while I was on the phone. You can check them out at claimyr.com if you're desperate to talk to someone.

Not to freak you out but my reopened claim got denied after waiting 5 weeks because I didn't report some freelance income from when I wasn't on unemployment. Double-check that all your income reporting is correct because they're being super picky with reopened claims right now.

have u tried the live chat function on the esd website? sometimes its faster than calling. i waited 45 mins in queue last week but finally got someone who could help

I want to add one more important thing - when they DO review your claim, they'll look at your work search documentation. Make absolutely sure you're doing all 3 required activities each week and logging them properly in your eServices account. I've seen many people get denied retroactively because they weren't keeping up with job search requirements while waiting for a decision.

my cousin works for esd (not telling me anything specific due to confidentiality) but said theyve been slammed with reopened claims since the tech layoffs started. basically implied that unless theres something wrong with ur application its just a waiting game. keep filing weekly and wait it out unfortunately

One thing nobody mentioned yet - have you checked your correspondence inbox in eServices? Sometimes they send requests for additional information there but DON'T email you about it. I missed one of these messages for 2 weeks which added to my delay. The correspondence section is separate from the main dashboard.

Update on my situation - I finally got approved after using Claimyr to reach an agent. Turns out my claim was stuck because I had worked in two different states since my last claim period. The agent was able to manually push it through once I explained my situation. If you're still stuck after another week, I'd seriously consider trying to get through to an actual person.

Since you mentioned your claim ended in December and reopened in June, make sure you understand that this is still considered part of your benefit year if it's within 52 weeks of your initial claim. This means your weekly benefit amount would typically be the same as before, but your total available benefits would be reduced by what you already received. If it's past your benefit year, you'd be filing a new claim entirely, which might explain the additional processing time.