Weekly claim denials despite ESD qualification - what am I missing?
I'm at my wit's end with the unemployment system! I was told by ESD that I'm qualified for benefits back in December, but I've been trying for ALMOST 8 WEEKS to actually receive a payment with no luck. Every single week I file my claim, report my job search activities (always 3+ job applications as required), answer all the questions honestly, and then... denied. Again and again. The system keeps accepting my weekly claims but no money ever shows up. When I check my account, there's no obvious issues listed or messages explaining why I'm being denied. I've tried calling ESD at least 15 times but can never get through to a human being. Just endless hold music or automated messages saying they're too busy. Could there be something wrong with how I'm reporting my job searches? Or maybe there's some hidden issue with my claim that isn't being displayed? My savings are almost completely gone and I'm starting to panic about rent next month. Has anyone else dealt with this weird limbo where you're qualified but still denied every week?
16 comments
Join the conversation
Chloe Mitchell
same thing happnd to me last year! turns out even tho it says "qualified" on ur main page, I was actually in adjudication without realizing it. did u check the "decisions" tab on ur account? might show something there that explains whats going on. also make sure ur answering the able/available question right - if u say no to being able and avail for work they auto-deny u
0 coins
Aaron Lee
•Hmm, I just checked the Decisions tab and there IS something there! It says "Issue: Able and Available" with a status of "Pending" from the first week I filed. But I've been answering YES to being able and available every single week. Could this be why all my claims are being denied? Do I need to wait for them to resolve this first issue before I'll get paid for any week?
0 coins
Michael Adams
This sounds like a classic case of having an unresolved adjudication issue that's holding up all your payments. When ESD says you're "qualified," that just means you've met the initial eligibility requirements (like having enough work hours in your base year), but there could still be specific weekly issues preventing payment. The "Able and Available" pending decision you found is definitely the problem. Until that's resolved, ALL your weekly payments will be held, even if you're doing everything else correctly with your job search activities. Unfortunately, adjudication can take 8-12 weeks to resolve in some cases. I recommend continuing to file your weekly claims correctly, but you need to get in touch with an agent to clarify the able and available issue. They might need specific information from you to make a determination.
0 coins
Aaron Lee
•Thank you so much for explaining! This makes sense now. I had no idea everything would be on hold until that first issue is resolved. Do you know if there's any way to speed up the adjudication process? Is there a special number to call or email address specifically for adjudication issues?
0 coins
Natalie Wang
THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN BY DESIGN!!!! They make it nearly IMPOSSIBLE to reach anyone and hope you'll just give up. I had the EXACT same problem but mine was a "separation issue" in adjudication. I waited 16 WEEKS before getting paid a single cent even though I was supposedly "qualified" too. The ESD phone lines are a joke - they disconnect you after 2 hours of waiting just so their metrics look better!!! If you want benefits you HAVE TO keep calling relentlessly and documenting EVERYTHING.
0 coins
Noah Torres
•While I understand your frustration, the system isn't actually designed to make people give up. The reality is ESD is still dealing with staffing issues post-pandemic alongside higher than normal claim volumes. The adjudication specialists who resolve these issues are limited in number. That said, you're right that persistence is important - and documenting everything is excellent advice.
0 coins
Samantha Hall
When I had the same thing happen with my claim last month, I used this service called Claimyr that got me through to an ESD agent in about 15 minutes instead of spending days trying to call. Cost me some money but after I talked to the agent, they fixed the able and available flag on my account and my payments started coming through the following week. You can see how it works at claimyr.com and there's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 if you're curious. Was way better than continuing to get nowhere on my own.
0 coins
Aaron Lee
•That sounds like exactly what I need right now! I'll check out that website. At this point, I'm willing to try anything to get this resolved. Did the agent need any specific information from you to fix the able and available flag?
0 coins
Samantha Hall
just adding to what others said - make sure u double check ur job search activities! they need to be REAL jobs u actually applied to with contact info. my cousin got denied cuz he just put random companies. also u might have accidentally said u refused work somewhere?? that will stop everything too
0 coins
Noah Torres
•This is an important point! When reporting job search activities, you must include: 1. Specific position applied for 2. Company name 3. Method of contact (online application, email, in-person) 4. Contact information (either a person's name, phone number, or email) 5. Date of application If any of these elements are missing or vague, ESD may flag your job search activities as insufficient, which can lead to payment delays or denials. And yes, refusing suitable work is a major issue that would definitely stop payments.
0 coins
Ryan Young
Based on what you've described, you have an unresolved "Able and Available" issue in adjudication that's preventing all payments. This is very common and fixable, but requires speaking with an adjudicator. Here's what I recommend: 1. Continue filing your weekly claims correctly to maintain eligibility 2. Contact ESD directly about the specific Able and Available issue 3. Prepare documentation showing you've been able and available for work 4. If asked, explain any restrictions on your availability (part-time only, specific shifts, etc.) Able and Available issues are usually triggered when something in your application suggests you might have limitations on taking work. For example, if you mentioned caregiving responsibilities, transportation issues, or specific hour restrictions, this can trigger a review. Once resolved, you should receive all back payments for weeks you properly claimed, assuming you meet all other eligibility requirements for those weeks.
0 coins
Aaron Lee
•Thank you for the detailed explanation! I think I know what happened now. On my initial application, I mentioned that I could only work day shifts due to childcare issues (single parent). I didn't realize that would trigger an adjudication. I'm going to try contacting them with the Claimyr service someone mentioned above, and I'll make sure to explain that while I have a preference for day shifts, I do have backup childcare options for other shifts if needed. Hopefully that will resolve the issue!
0 coins
Sophia Clark
i filed for 3 months before getting paid so dont feel bad lol. the key is to KEEP FILING every week even if ur not getting paid cuz once they fix whatever the problem is they'll pay u all the back weeks. but only if u filed! just be patient its super annoying but eventually they figure it out
0 coins
Michael Adams
•This is crucial advice - absolutely continue filing your weekly claims even when payments aren't coming through. Think of it as reserving your place in line for each week. If you stop filing because you're not getting paid, you'll lose eligibility for those weeks permanently, even if the original issue gets resolved. Always better to have claims on file that can be paid retroactively once issues are cleared.
0 coins
Noah Torres
After reviewing your situation, I can confirm what others have said about the Able and Available adjudication holding up your payments. However, there's something important nobody has mentioned yet: you should check if you've been assigned to any mandatory WorkSource activities. Sometimes when there's an Able and Available flag, they also require participation in job search activities through WorkSource. Missing these can extend the adjudication period. Check your eServices account for any notices about WorkSource requirements. Also, when you do connect with an agent about your adjudication issue, ask them to verify there are no other hidden issues with your claim that could cause problems after the current one is resolved. Once the adjudication is complete and if they rule in your favor, you should receive all back payments for properly filed weeks in a lump sum.
0 coins
Aaron Lee
•I just checked and I don't see any WorkSource requirements on my account, but that's definitely good to know about! I'll make sure to ask about that specifically when I talk to an agent. Thank you so much for all the helpful information. I feel much less stressed now that I understand what's happening with my claim. I'll update here once I get this resolved in case it helps someone else in the future.
0 coins