Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I'm going to scan all my documents this weekend and keep them until October 2026 to be safe. The ESD website really should make this clearer.

Just wanted to add my experience - I went through this exact same situation last year. I kept all my job search records for the full year after my benefit year ended (even though it felt like overkill) and I'm glad I did. ESD randomly selected me for an audit about 8 months after my benefits had been exhausted, and they requested records from specific weeks during my claim period. Having everything organized and ready to submit made the process much smoother. The audit was resolved quickly in my favor. It's definitely worth the storage space or time to scan everything digitally!

Good luck with your claim! The waiting and uncertainty is tough but sounds like you're on the right track if you're seeing benefit amounts in your account.

Don't worry too much about the timing - 10 days is pretty normal for processing. I applied about 3 weeks ago and went through the same uncertainty. The key things that showed me I was approved were: seeing my weekly benefit amount (not just $0), having a claim balance that showed my total available benefits, and getting a "next filing date" in my account. The determination letter took almost 2 weeks to arrive but I could see I was approved online before that. Just make sure you file your first weekly claim as soon as that filing date appears, even if you haven't gotten the official letter yet!

The $999 maximum is pretty generous compared to other states, but remember it's only temporary. Use the time wisely to really focus on your job search and maybe pick up some new skills if you can.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! This thread has been really informative. I feel much more prepared to file my claim now and know what to expect with the benefit amount.

This whole discussion shows how complicated unemployment can be for school employees. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and knowledge!

I'm a cafeteria worker too and just went through this exact situation last month! I ended up calling Washington ESD using that Claimyr service someone mentioned - it really does work. The agent told me that even with a contract, if your hours can change significantly or if there's any uncertainty about your actual position (like budget cuts, enrollment changes, etc.), you might still qualify. She said the "reasonable assurance" rule isn't as black and white as it seems. Definitely worth applying even if you think you might get denied initially. The worst they can say is no, but you might be surprised! Also keep all your employment paperwork - contract, job description, anything showing how your hours might vary.

One more important point: if you're using WorkSource's job match system or the ESD's eServices portal to document your job search, they have specific fields for recording different positions at the same company. Make sure you're using those correctly - enter the specific job title, department if applicable, and use the notes section to clarify it's a different position than previously applied for. This makes it very clear during any review that you're following the rules correctly.

I've been in a similar situation and can confirm what others have said - definitely count it as a legitimate job search activity! I actually had success doing exactly this with a different company. Got rejected for one position, applied to another similar role a month later, and ended up getting hired. The key things I learned: 1) Make sure you're applying to genuinely different postings (different job IDs, posting dates, etc.), 2) Be super specific in your job search log - include the exact job title, posting date, and job reference number if they provide one, and 3) Don't let one rejection discourage you from a company you really want to work for. Amazon posts new positions constantly, so your timing might just be better this time around. Good luck with the application!