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Just wanted to add that if you're filing by phone and have any earnings to report from part-time work, make sure you have the exact gross amount ready before you call. The automated system will ask for the specific dollar amount you earned during that week, and you can't go back to correct it once you've entered it. I learned this the hard way when I had to call back and file all over again because I accidentally reported my net pay instead of gross pay.
This is such valuable information! I wish someone had told me this earlier. I've been doing gig work occasionally and wasn't sure how to report those earnings properly. Do you know if tips or cash payments need to be reported too, or just the amounts that show up on official pay stubs?
All income needs to be reported, including tips and cash payments! Even if it's not on an official pay stub, you're required to report any money you earned during that week. This includes gig work, freelance jobs, cash under-the-table work, tips - basically anything where you received payment for work performed. The key is to be honest and report the gross amount before any taxes or fees were taken out. If you're unsure about specific situations, it's better to call the customer service line and ask rather than guess.
This has been such a helpful thread! I never knew phone filing was an option and have been struggling with the website for months. Just to summarize for anyone else who might find this later: the number is 800-318-6022, it's available 24/7, and you need your SSN and PIN ready. I'm definitely switching to phone filing after reading everyone's experiences. Thanks to everyone who shared their tips about having pay stubs ready for earnings and writing down the confirmation number - those details really matter!
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Update: I just got off the phone with someone from Senator Murray's office! They took all my information and claim details and said they're sending an official inquiry to ESD on my behalf. They mentioned they've been getting a lot of these requests lately, so it seems like more people are trying this approach. They said to expect a response within 2 weeks. Fingers crossed this actually helps!
That's promising! Please keep us updated if it works. I'm about to send my letter today. This whole situation is so frustrating - I've paid into the system for years and now that I need help, it feels impossible to get through.
This is such a brilliant approach - thank you for sharing! I've been stuck in adjudication for 63 days and honestly hadn't thought about going through federal representatives. Reading through everyone's experiences here gives me hope that there might actually be a way to break through this bureaucratic nightmare. I'm going to follow @Sophia Miller's advice and write to both Senator Murray and my state reps with very specific details about my situation. The fact that Murray's office already responded to you so quickly is encouraging! For anyone else considering this - I think the key is that we need to flood their offices with these complaints so they understand this isn't just isolated cases but a systemic crisis affecting thousands of Washington workers. When enough constituents are screaming about the same issue, politicians have to pay attention or risk losing votes. I'll definitely update this thread once I hear back from their offices. Thanks again for pioneering this strategy!
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I've been doing exactly what you're doing - DoorDash for about 2 hours daily while on unemployment. Here's what I've learned after 6 weeks: definitely keep reporting everything including tips, but don't stress too much about the income reduction. With your $915 WBA, you can earn up to about $305 without any reduction at all. Even if you go slightly over some weeks, the reduction isn't dollar-for-dollar harsh like some people make it sound. One tip that's helped me a lot: I schedule my DoorDash hours for 5-7pm specifically so it doesn't interfere with potential job interviews or look like I'm unavailable during business hours. Also, I use a simple spreadsheet to track date, hours worked, gross earnings (including tips), and take a screenshot of my weekly earnings summary from the app every Sunday. This has made my weekly claim filing super straightforward. The mental health benefit of staying busy and having some routine is honestly worth the small reduction in benefits. Just stay consistent with your reporting and you'll be fine!
This is exactly the kind of practical advice I was looking for! The 5-7pm scheduling is brilliant - I hadn't thought about how the timing could affect how ESD views my availability for interviews. I'm definitely going to start being more strategic about when I dash. Your spreadsheet system sounds like a great way to stay organized too. I've been kind of haphazardly tracking things, but having a consistent weekly routine for documentation makes a lot of sense. Thanks for mentioning the mental health aspect too - that's honestly a big part of why I started doing this. Sitting at home all day was driving me crazy, and having those couple hours of activity really helps break up the monotony of job searching.
Been lurking here for a while but finally creating an account to share my experience! I'm in almost the exact same situation as you - doing DoorDash about 2-3 hours daily while on UI. Started about a month ago and honestly wish I had started sooner after reading all these responses. The income reporting isn't as scary as it seems once you get into a routine. I use the DoorDash earnings tab to grab my weekly totals every Sunday night when I file my claim. The key thing I learned (the hard way) is to report earnings for the week you WORKED, not when DoorDash pays you. I messed that up my first week and had to call to correct it. One thing I haven't seen mentioned much here is how this actually helps with the work search requirements. Since gig work counts as one of your three weekly activities, it takes some pressure off finding other activities. Plus, staying active and earning a little extra has been great for my mental state during this whole unemployment process. Your $40-50 daily range is pretty much exactly what I'm making too. Even with the benefit reduction some weeks, I'm still coming out ahead overall and feel way more productive. Keep doing what you're doing and stay consistent with the reporting!
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I went through the same thing a few months ago. The frustration is real! One tip that helped me - if you do try calling at 8am, have the number already dialed and hit call at exactly 8:00:00. Even a few seconds late and you'll be stuck in the queue forever. Also, don't hang up if you get the busy signal - sometimes it will actually connect you after a minute or two. The system is definitely broken but these little tricks can help you work around it.
That's a great tip about having the number already dialed! I never thought about timing it that precisely. The busy signal trick is good to know too - I always hung up immediately when I heard that. Thanks for sharing these workarounds, every little bit helps when dealing with this mess of a system.
This is super helpful! I've been making the mistake of calling a few minutes after 8am thinking it wouldn't matter. And I definitely always hung up on the busy signal - had no idea it might actually connect. Going to try both of these tips tomorrow morning. Really appreciate you sharing what actually worked for you instead of just the usual "keep trying" advice.
I had the exact same problem last year and ended up having to get creative. After weeks of trying to call, I actually contacted my state representative's office and they have a constituent services team that can help with state agency issues. They reached out to Washington ESD on my behalf and got a response within 3 days. It's not guaranteed but it's worth a shot if you've exhausted other options. You can find your rep on the Washington State Legislature website. Sometimes going through a different channel gets you faster results than the normal system.
That's really smart advice about contacting your state representative! I had no idea that was even an option. It makes sense though - they probably have established relationships with these agencies and can cut through the red tape that keeps us regular folks stuck on hold for hours. I'm definitely going to try this if the phone calling doesn't work out. Thanks for thinking outside the box and sharing what actually worked for you!
This is such a game-changer tip! I've been banging my head against the wall trying to get through to Washington ESD for over two weeks now. I never even considered that my state representative could help with something like this. It's frustrating that we have to go around the system like this, but if it works, it works. I'm going to look up my rep today and give their office a call. Did you have to provide any specific documentation when you contacted them, or just explain your situation?
Ava Garcia
Thank you everyone for all the helpful advice! I was able to get through to ESD this morning (after many attempts) and explained the situation. They were actually understanding about the confusion. I have to retroactively submit job search activities for the past weeks, but they're giving me time to do it. And I've started the proper standby request process now. Lesson learned - always verify everything in the ESD system and don't just take your employer's word for it!
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Miguel Silva
•That's great news! Glad you got it sorted out. Make sure to document everything going forward - save confirmation numbers, take screenshots, and keep records of who you spoke with. It'll make things much easier if any questions come up later.
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Darcy Moore
•So glad you were able to get it resolved! This is such a common issue - employers often think they've handled the paperwork when they haven't actually submitted it properly to ESD. Your experience is a perfect example of why it's so important to double-check your own account status rather than assuming everything was done correctly. Hopefully your standby request gets approved quickly so you won't have to keep doing the job searches while you're waiting to return to your landscaping job!
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Diego Vargas
I'm glad to see this got resolved! This is actually a really common issue that trips up a lot of people. For anyone else reading this thread - the key takeaway is that standby status has to be officially approved by ESD in their system, not just arranged between you and your employer. Even well-meaning employers sometimes think they've filed the right paperwork when they haven't. Always log into your eServices account to verify your status shows as "standby" before you stop doing job searches. And if you find yourself in a similar situation, contact ESD as soon as possible to get it straightened out - they're usually more understanding when you're proactive about fixing the issue rather than waiting for them to catch it later.
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