pro tip: hit 4 then 2 then 1 then 3 in the phone menu. gets u to a different queue. worked for me last time

Just to follow up - did you get your standby issue resolved? If your employer has submitted the extension request, you should be able to see the updated standby end date in your eServices account under "Summary of Current Claim." If it's been more than 48 hours since they submitted it and you don't see the update, that would be a valid reason to call in as it might indicate a system issue.

I tried calling ESD for DAYS about a similar issue last month and could never get through. The wait times are insane. I finally used a service called Claimyr that got me connected to an ESD agent in about 20 minutes. Totally worth it when you need to actually talk to someone. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 and their website is claimyr.com if you end up needing to call about the union status thing.

To directly answer your questions: 1. Yes, file normally: report zero hours/wages, available for work, and answer all questions as usual. 2. You don't need to do anything special since the claim has remained active throughout. 3. Since he maintained an active claim by continuously filing, there will be no waiting week. 4. Verify his union referral status is correctly showing in the system to avoid job search requirements. 5. Payment should process normally as long as there are no new issues with the claim. The key is that by continuously filing even during periods of work, you've maintained the claim's active status, which makes the transition back to receiving benefits seamless.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO CONFUSE YOU ON PURPOSE!!! They make it impossible to understand so you miss deadlines and they don't have to pay you. I had 5 different issues on my claim last year and every ESD person told me something different. They're trained to give you the runaround.

Update: I finally got through to ESD this morning after trying for hours! The agent explained that the system glitched because I had multiple issues being processed at once. The disqualification was for a job separation issue, but I can't see the appeal option because the decision letter was just sent yesterday and hasn't updated in the system yet. The other adjudications are for separate weeks where I had reported some part-time hours. She said to watch my mail for the determination letter, which will have appeal instructions. Thanks everyone for the help and suggestions!

when i got unemploymnet in 2018 i didnt have taxes taken out and wow did i regret it at tax time lol. ur doing it the smart way trust me

One more thing to be aware of - sometimes ESD will adjust your claim amount slightly based on other factors. For example, if you had any part-time earnings during a week, or if there was an offset for something like child support. The adjustment might not be taxes in those cases. But since you mentioned this is your first payment and the difference is almost exactly 10%, tax withholding is definitely what you're seeing.

why is esd so impossibly bad at everything????? ive been on unemployment 3 times and every single time theres some kind of stupid system problem that takes weeks to fix. its like they WANT us to make mistakes so they can deny benefits. absolutely maddening.

I wanted to follow up on this thread. OP, if you get through to ESD, make sure to ask them specifically about a "BYE date adjustment" - using that exact terminology. The claims specialists know this procedure, but some of the frontline agents may not. Also, just to clarify something important: when you file for those weeks before you were laid off, be 100% honest about your work status. Don't try to game the system by reporting you weren't working if you were. That could lead to an overpayment determination or worse, fraud allegations. Lastly, document everything. Keep track of all communications, including dates and times of calls, names of representatives you speak with, and confirmation numbers for any changes made. This will be invaluable if there are issues later.