Successfully expedited ESD adjudication by contacting Governor's office - got backpay in 24 hours!
So after sitting in 'separation adjudication' limbo for almost 8 weeks (!!), I was about ready to sell my car just to make rent. I'd called ESD probably 30+ times and either couldn't get through or got disconnected. Tried emailing twice - nothing. I was seriously losing hope. On a whim, I decided to try calling the Governor's office yesterday (Option #4 on their menu). Only waited about 10 minutes before speaking with a surprisingly helpful staff member. I explained my situation, gave them my claimant ID, and asked if they could please escalate my claim since I was now two months without income and facing possible eviction. Y'ALL... this actually WORKED!! Less than 30 minutes after that call, I got a call from an ESD specialist who said they were personally reviewing my case. They asked a few questions about my separation from my restaurant job (it closed permanently - not my fault), and said they'd expedite the decision. This morning at 5:45am I woke up to an email saying my adjudication was complete and my claim was APPROVED! I checked my bank account at lunch and nearly $6,450 in back payments had already been deposited!! If you're stuck in adjudication hell and getting nowhere with regular ESD channels, CALL THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE! I wish I'd done this weeks ago instead of struggling and stressing. Thank you to everyone in this community who suggested this approach. There's hope!!
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Kelsey Chin
Thank you SO MUCH for posting this!! I'm on week 7 of adjudication (illegal termination case) and literally crying every night because I can't get ANYONE to talk to me. I've sent messages through eServices, called at different times, even tried contacting my WorkSource office. Did you just use the main governor's office number? Any tips for what to say when I call?
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Vincent Bimbach
•Yes, just the main governor's office number! When the automated system answers, press 4 for constituent services. Be really specific about how long you've been waiting and mention any hardships (can't pay rent, medical bills, whatever applies). Have your claimant ID ready. The person I spoke with was super understanding - I think they get these calls all the time unfortunately.
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Norah Quay
This is accurate information. I worked for ESD until 2023, and governor's office escalations are taken very seriously. They trigger what's called a "legislative liaison review" which basically means your claim gets pulled to the front of the line. A few important points for anyone trying this route: 1. Be honest about your situation - don't exaggerate hardships 2. Have your claimant ID, last 4 of SSN, and contact info ready 3. Only do this if you've genuinely been waiting an unreasonable time (6+ weeks) 4. Be polite to everyone you speak with 5. Make sure your contact information is updated in your ESD account so they can reach you The separation adjudication backlog is particularly bad right now because ESD is transitioning to a new case management system while also dealing with staffing shortages.
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Kelsey Chin
•Is 7 weeks considered unreasonable? I've been trying to be patient but my savings is gone and credit cards maxed. Also, does it matter if I've already filed an appeal or would that complicate things?
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Leo McDonald
i tried this last month and nothing happend. called twice and they took my info but esd never called me back. still waiting. maybe u got lucky or maybe it depends who u talk to there?
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Norah Quay
•It can sometimes depend on the nature of your adjudication issue. Separation issues (like OP mentioned) are generally easier to resolve quickly than identity verification or availability issues. If you're still waiting, I'd suggest calling again and specifically mentioning how long it's been since your first escalation attempt.
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Jessica Nolan
I'm so happy for you! Nothing worse than that helpless feeling when you're drowning financially and the system keeps you hanging. I went through something similar back in January - 9 weeks in adjudication for a quit with good cause case (unsafe working conditions). If anyone is desperate to talk to an actual ESD agent but can't get through the regular channels, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected in about 15 minutes when I'd been trying for days. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 It didn't immediately solve my adjudication but I finally got answers about what was happening with my claim. For me, the peace of mind was worth it.
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Angelina Farar
•does that service actually work? seems sketchy to me...has anyone else tried it?
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Sebastián Stevens
•I've used it twice. It does work - they basically use an automated system to continuously call ESD and then connect you when they get through. Saved me hours of redial hell. Just make sure you have all your claim info ready because once you're connected, you need to move quickly.
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Bethany Groves
CONGRATS!!! I've been in adjudication for my standby status for 5 weeks now. Hotel I work at is doing renovations and I have a return-to-work date of July 18th, but ESD is questioning it for some reason despite my employer confirming everything. I'm going to try calling the governor's office tomorrow morning!!! One question - after they approved you, did your account show any updates on eServices right away? Or did you just get the email first? I always obsessively check my account online but never see changes happening in real time.
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Vincent Bimbach
•The email came first, then a few hours later my eServices account updated to show all the weekly claims as "paid" instead of "pending." Good luck with your standby issue! That seems straightforward enough that they should be able to resolve it quickly once it gets escalated.
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Angelina Farar
Wait I'm confused...I thought we were supposed to call our local legislative representatives, not the governor directly? That's what my neighbor told me to do. Are they the same thing?
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Norah Quay
•They're different, but both can work. Legislative representatives (your state senator/representative) can submit formal inquiries that also get prioritized. The governor's office route is sometimes faster because they have a dedicated constituent services team that handles unemployment escalations regularly. Either approach is valid if you're truly stuck.
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Angelina Farar
•oh ok thx for explaining. so many confusing steps to this whole process!! i hate esd so much lol
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Vincent Bimbach
UPDATE: Just wanted to share that I got my first regular weekly payment on time this morning! So the fix seems permanent, not just a one-time thing. Make sure after your adjudication is resolved that you keep filing your weekly claims on time and accurately reporting any work/earnings.
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Kelsey Chin
•I just called the governor's office this morning and they took my info! Fingers crossed it works as well for me as it did for you. Thanks again for sharing this tip!!
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KingKongZilla
I don't understand why we have to go through all these hoops just to get what we're entitled to. The whole system is designed to make people give up. I was in adjudication for 11 WEEKS last year and ended up having to borrow money from family (which I hate doing) just to survive. The ESD agents should all have to go through what we do and see how THEY like being treated this way.
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Norah Quay
•While I understand your frustration, most ESD agents are genuinely trying their best. The system is understaffed by about 30% compared to pre-pandemic levels, and the technology infrastructure is outdated. The new UTAB system being implemented this year should help with some of these issues, but the transition is causing temporary delays as staff learn the new processes.
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Jessica Nolan
Just a heads up for anyone dealing with adjudication - make sure all your job search activities are still being logged properly in your weekly claims EVEN WHILE you're in adjudication. I made the mistake of thinking I didn't need to do them until my claim was approved, and then had to deal with a whole separate issue about failing to meet job search requirements. You still need those 3 activities every week!
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