Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. It's clear that the timing and documentation are crucial. I'll wait until I'm medically cleared and have everything properly documented before filing with Washington ESD.

I went through something similar a few years ago. The "able and available" requirement is non-negotiable with Washington ESD - I learned that the hard way when I tried to file while still on restrictions. One thing that helped me was keeping a detailed timeline of my medical progress and work status changes. Also, don't forget to check if you have any unused vacation or sick time that your employer might pay out - that can help bridge the financial gap until you're cleared to work and eligible for UI benefits.

Bottom line - yes your unemployment counts as income but don't let that stop you from applying. I qualified for $180/month in SNAP benefits while receiving Washington ESD unemployment and it made a huge difference.

Just wanted to add that you can apply for SNAP online through the Washington Connection portal, which is much easier than going to a DSHS office in person. The online application walks you through everything step by step and you can upload your Washington ESD documents directly. I found it way less intimidating than I expected, and you can save your progress if you need to gather more paperwork.

I just wanted to add another perspective from someone who travels frequently for family reasons while on unemployment. The advice here about continuing to file and marking unavailable days is spot-on, but I'd also suggest calling ESD before your trip if possible to document your plans. I know their phone lines are terrible, but when I called before my last out-of-state trip, the representative made a note in my file about my planned travel dates. This actually helped later when they had questions during a routine review - they could see I'd been proactive about reporting my unavailability. Also, for the job search requirements, remember that if you're marked unavailable for the entire benefit week, you don't need to complete job search activities for that week since you won't be receiving benefits anyway. But if you're only unavailable for part of the week (like your travel days), you still need to meet the job search requirements for the days you were available. Arizona is beautiful this time of year - enjoy your visit with your sister!

I'm in a similar situation planning a trip to visit family next month! This thread has been incredibly helpful. Just wanted to add that I called the ESD customer service line yesterday (took 2 hours of redialing) and the representative confirmed everything folks have said here - continue filing weekly claims but mark yourself unavailable for the specific dates you're traveling. She also mentioned that if you're going to be gone for more than 2 consecutive weeks, they recommend calling ahead to put a note in your file, but for shorter trips like yours (9 days), just being accurate on your weekly claims is sufficient. One more tip she gave me: if your trip spans partial weeks (like leaving on a Wednesday and returning the following Thursday), be extra careful to only mark yourself unavailable for the actual travel days, not the full weeks. You can still claim benefits for the days before you leave and after you return within those weeks. Hope your Arizona trip goes smoothly!

Bottom line - once Washington ESD deposits your weekly unemployment payment, it's your money to spend on whatever you need. No restrictions, no monitoring, no receipts required. Just make sure you're still meeting your job search requirements and reporting any income you earn.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this same worry when I first started receiving benefits. I actually called Washington ESD directly (took forever to get through) and the agent laughed when I asked about spending restrictions. She said "honey, it's your money once we send it - we don't care if you buy groceries or get a haircut." Really put my mind at ease. The only thing they track is whether you're eligible to receive the benefits in the first place and that you're doing your job searches. Once that money hits your account, spend it on whatever you need to get by!

So glad you got this resolved! This is a perfect example of why this community is so valuable - everyone jumped in with practical advice and you were able to fix the situation quickly. I've bookmarked this thread because the tips about documenting calls, checking spam folders, and setting multiple calendar reminders are gold. The system definitely has its quirks, but it's reassuring to see that WorkSource staff do understand when technical issues happen on their end. Hope your rescheduled appointment goes smoothly!

This is such a relief to read through! I'm currently dealing with my first WorkSource appointment next week and was already stressed about potentially missing something. Your experience really highlights how important it is to be proactive - I'm definitely going to follow @Mia Roberts' advice about setting multiple calendar reminders and checking my account well in advance. It's also reassuring to know that when genuine technical issues happen, the staff are understanding if you can document your efforts. Thanks for sharing your experience and the resolution - this thread is going to be my reference guide for navigating WorkSource requirements!