Client is not responding, neither releasing fund from escrow

[#1]

Hi,

Recently I got a contract where the client proposed me to work long term and I agreed. He gave me a contract on 31-Dec, with a total budget of 100 USD and 22.5 USD on escrow. For the escrow amount, I was supposed to complete a 1500 word article by 1-Jan-2022. I completed my task and asked for payment, but he is neither responding nor releasing the fund. Also, I got stuck about the decision on working long term, whether I will continue his work or find other, as I desperately need job now. 

What should I do?

[#2 · Accepted solution]

re: "Client is not responding"

That is fine.

I get paid the same whether a client responds or not.

Clients are not required to respond.

re: "neither releasing fund from escrow"
That is fine.

I get paid the same whether or not the client releases funds from escrow.

If the client does nothing, then Upwork releases all escrow money to me AUTOMATICALLY.

re: "with a total budget of 100 USD and 22.5 USD on escrow."

Ignore the "total budget."

The budget does not matter.

The only thing that matters is the money in escrow.

So this is a $22.50 project.

re: "I completed my task and asked for payment"

I don't ask for payment.

I simply click the "Submit work for payment" button.

Then Upwork releases the money to me AUTOMATICALLY if the client does nothing.

re: "but he is neither responding nor releasing the fund."

That is fine.

The client doesn't need to respond or do anything.

This means that I don't need to answer questions, or do any more work on the project. I just wait, and get paid automatically. So this is a good thing.

re: "What should I do?"

Just wait.

Then you will get paid automatically.

Don't send any messages to the client.

Don't click the "Submit work" button again.

re: "I got stuck about the decision on working long term, whether I will continue his work or find other, as I desperately need job now."

If you want to look for another job on Upwork, then go ahead. You're done with this $22.50 job. You don't owe that client anything else. Look for as much work as you want to.

Even if the $22.50 client had plans for you to do more work in the future, you can still find other clients, other jobs... Upwork doesn't place a limit on how many clients you work for. Just don't take on more work than you can reasonably handle.

[#3]

Thank you! Its a relief.

I actually submitted work for payment using the button, didn't ask for payment.

[#4]

re: "I actually submitted work for payment using the button, didn't ask for payment."

Then you'll be fine.

You can follow the 14-day countdown by going here:

Upwork -> My Jobs -> All Contracts -> [click on contract title]

You will see something like this, which tells you how many days ago you submitted:

[#5]

When you clicked the button, you asked for payment. It's the same thing.