Waiting 7+ weeks for first ESD payment - no check yet, normal or problem?

same boat! 6 weeks for me and nothing. ESD is a joke

Your claim is stuck in adjudication. That 'additional review' message is the tipoff. ESD is seriously backlogged right now because of the tech sector layoffs. Normal processing is 3-4 weeks, but adjudication can add another 4-8 weeks easily. You need to call and speak with a claims specialist to find out exactly what's causing the delay - could be employment verification, separation issues, or just random system flags. Call right when they open at 8am for best chances.

After THREE MONTHS of waiting last year I finally called my state representative's office. They have a constituent services team that can escalate ESD issues. Miraculously, my claim was processed within 48 hours after they got involved. Don't wait as long as I did - find your rep and reach out NOW!!!

If your claim says 'additional review' it's almost certainly in adjudication. There should be a fact-finding questionnaire in your ESD account that needs to be completed. Check under 'Notices/Letters' in your eServices account. If you've already completed everything, then you're just waiting for an adjudicator to review your case. Unfortunately, wait times are particularly long right now due to staffing shortages at ESD and the recent tech layoffs. One thing that helps is making sure you continue to file your weekly claims even while waiting. When they do approve your claim, they'll pay all the back weeks at once as long as you've filed for them. For faster processing, try to reach a claims agent directly to check if there's any specific information they're waiting for.

I was in the exact same situation last month! Waited 8 weeks with no payment and couldn't get through on the phone. I tried Claimyr (claimyr.com) after someone here recommended it, and they actually got me connected to an ESD agent in about 25 minutes. The agent found that my claim was stuck because my former employer contested it but never submitted their documentation. The agent was able to push it through that same day and I got paid for all back weeks three days later. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Seriously saved my sanity after weeks of stress.

my nephew waited 11 weeks but turns out he checked the wrong box on the application about being self employed for a side gig. they never even told him that was the problem until he got thru on phone. check ur original application maybe u made a small mistake???

Quick update about current ESD timelines - I work with claimants regularly and can confirm that since the February system upgrade, initial claims are taking longer to process. Standard claims without issues are averaging 3-4 weeks for first payment, but anything that triggers adjudication is running 6-10 weeks right now. If your claim involves multiple employers, quit instead of layoff, or any earnings inconsistencies, you're looking at the longer end of that timeline. Keep filing your weekly claims and make sure your contact information is up to date in the system.

has anyone gotten backpay for all the weeks they waiting? im on week 5 of waiting

UPDATE: Finally got through to ESD this morning using Claimyr! The agent found that my claim was flagged for manual review because my employer reported a slightly different last day of work than what I entered (I put my last day in the office, they put the official termination date which was 2 days later). The agent updated it and said my payments should process within 48-72 hours. Such a relief to finally know what was happening! Will update when money arrives.