Unexpected $8 ESD payment appeared in my account - haven't claimed since pre-2025?

same!! i got $12.43 two days ago from esd. no clue why??? havent filed since 2023. checked my eservices and theres literally nothing there explaining it

This sounds like what's called a "benefit adjustment payment." ESD periodically audits old claims and if they find they underpaid you (even by a small amount), they're required by law to issue the difference. It could be from a wage correction your former employer reported, a recalculation of your benefit year, or an adjustment based on interest. You should get a letter explaining it in the next week or so. Nothing to worry about - it's your money!

DONT SPEND IT!!!! This happened to my brother last year (was like $15) and then 3 weeks later ESD sent him a letter saying it was an error and he had to pay it back plus a $25 processing fee! Complete scam. Call them right away before they try to charge you fees.

I've been trying to get through to ESD for 2 weeks about a similar issue (mine was $23). Their phone lines are CONSTANTLY busy and I keep getting disconnected. After 15+ calls I STILL haven't spoken to anyone. I actually tried using this service called Claimyr that a friend recommended - claimyr.com - and they got me connected to an ESD agent in about 20 minutes. The agent explained it was a retroactive adjustment from my 2023 claim due to a wage recalculation. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Saved me days of frustration.

When i worked at a call center for unemployment during covid, we would sometimes process these small adjustments in batches. Theyre usually from wage corrections when employers report updated information or from system audits. Just make sure its actually from ESD (check the ACH details) and not some random deposit. But yor probably fine

im dealing with a MUCH BIGGER problem with esd right now!!! they say i owe $7,500 from an overpayment from 2022 but i reported everything correctly!!! the system is completely broken. im fighting it and have a hearing scheduled next month. so frustrating!!!! at least your random $8 is money coming TO you not FROM you lol

This is definitely a retroactive adjustment payment. ESD is required by law to make these payments when they discover an underpayment, no matter how small. You'll receive a determination letter in the mail that explains the specific reason for the adjustment. It typically takes 5-10 business days after the payment for the letter to arrive. The most common reasons are: 1. Wage recalculation after an employer submitted corrected information 2. Interest applied to delayed payments from your original claim 3. Correction of a technical calculation error in your original benefit amount You don't need to do anything - the money is rightfully yours. This happens quite frequently and is a normal part of the unemployment insurance system.

I got a similar surprise payment last month - $14.72 from ESD completely out of nowhere! I hadn't filed since early 2023 either. Like others mentioned, I did eventually get a letter about 8 days later explaining it was a "benefit year adjustment" due to updated wage information from one of my former employers. Apparently they had to correct some quarterly wage reports and it bumped up my benefit calculation slightly. The letter had all the details and math showing how they calculated the difference. So definitely keep an eye out for that explanation letter - it should arrive soon!

I work in payroll and see this pretty frequently on the employer side. When we submit quarterly wage corrections to ESD (which happens more often than you'd think - data entry errors, missed bonuses, corrected dates, etc.), it can trigger these small adjustment payments months or even years later. The system automatically recalculates everyone's benefits when new wage data comes in. Your $8 is probably from something as simple as your old employer correcting a typo in their wage report. Completely normal and nothing to stress about!