I'm in Washington state too and dealt with this exact situation about 6 months ago. The advice everyone's giving here is spot on - you absolutely must keep filing your weekly claims even while working the temp job. I made the mistake of skipping one week early on because I thought "well I'm working full time this week so why bother filing" and it created a gap that took 3 phone calls to fix. The Washington ESD rep told me that as long as you file consistently and report all your work honestly, your claim stays in "active" status even during $0 payment weeks. When my temp contract ended after 8 weeks, I just went back to filing normally and started receiving payments again with zero issues. The key is treating those work weeks like any other week - file on time, report everything accurately, and don't overthink it.

I just want to echo what everyone else has said and add that I went through this exact situation twice - once with a 6-week temp job and again with a 3-month contract position. Both times I kept filing my weekly claims religiously, reported every hour and dollar earned, and had zero problems transitioning back to regular unemployment payments when the work ended. The Washington ESD system actually handles this really well once you understand that working doesn't end your claim - it just temporarily reduces your benefits to $0 while keeping everything active in the background. The biggest mistake you can make is overthinking it or trying to "game" the system by not reporting work or skipping filings. Just be completely transparent about your temporary work situation and file every single week like clockwork. Your future self will thank you when you seamlessly resume benefits instead of having to navigate the nightmare of reapplying from scratch.

I've been using both the phone system and WorkSource videos for months now, and one thing I learned the hard way is to always double-check your work search log before calling. The phone system asks pretty specific questions about your job search activities, and if you're not prepared with dates and details, you'll end up having to hang up and call back. For the videos, here's a pro tip: if you're doing them on mobile, the WorkSourceWA site works better in landscape mode. I used to get frustrated with videos freezing or quizzes not submitting properly until I figured this out. Also, some of the newer videos have closed captions available if you click the CC button - super helpful if you're in a noisy environment or have hearing difficulties. One more thing about the phone system - if you worked ANY hours during the week you're filing for (even like 2 hours), make sure you have your exact earnings amount ready. The system is very particular about this and won't let you estimate or round numbers. Have your pay stub or timesheet in front of you when you call. Hope this helps! The learning curve is steep but once you get the hang of both systems, they're actually pretty convenient.

This thread has been a lifesaver! I'm in a similar situation with unreliable internet and was stressing about both the video requirements and phone filing. One thing I wanted to add - if you're like me and tend to procrastinate on the weekly claims, don't wait until Sunday night to use the phone system. I made that mistake once and the system seemed much slower, probably because everyone else had the same last-minute idea. Filing mid-week when you can has been much smoother for me. Also, for anyone worried about the WorkSource videos being "boring" (as someone mentioned earlier) - I actually found some of the interview prep ones genuinely helpful. The "Behavioral Interview Techniques" video gave me strategies I hadn't heard before, and I ended up using them in a real interview last week. So even if they feel like busy work, some actually have practical value beyond just meeting the job search requirements. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this is the kind of real-world advice you can't find in the official documentation!

This is such a common confusion! I went through the same thing when I took leave for my father's care last year. The key thing to remember is that FMLA and PFML are two separate programs that can work together: - FMLA = Federal job protection (unpaid) - PFML = Washington state income replacement (paid) Since you didn't receive any income during your leave, there's nothing to tax. But I'd recommend bookmarking the ESD PFML page for future reference - it's really generous coverage (up to 90% of your wages) and you pay into it through small payroll deductions anyway, so you might as well use it if you ever need leave again. Also, don't feel bad about not knowing - a lot of employers don't proactively inform employees about PFML benefits. It's relatively new (started in 2020) so many HR departments are still learning about it themselves.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who actually used both FMLA and PFML together last year for my own medical leave. The process was pretty straightforward once I figured it out: 1. Applied for FMLA through my employer's HR (job protection) 2. Applied for PFML through ESD's website (income replacement) 3. Both ran concurrently for 10 weeks The PFML benefits were definitely taxable - I got a 1099-G from ESD and had to report it as income. But since you didn't receive any PFML payments, you're all set tax-wise! One tip for anyone reading this: Even if your employer offers short-term disability, you should still check if PFML might be better. Washington's PFML often provides higher benefits than private disability insurance, and you've been paying into it anyway through your paycheck deductions.

This is really helpful advice, especially about tracking earnings mid-week to optimize total income! I hadn't thought about strategically stopping gig work if I'm getting close to that earnings threshold. Quick question - when you say "gross earnings," are you including tips that customers add through the app, or just the base delivery fees? I know tips are part of what the apps report to the IRS, but I want to make sure I'm reporting the right numbers to ESD. Also, do you use any specific spreadsheet template or just create your own columns? I'm pretty organized but want to make sure I'm tracking everything ESD might ask for if my claim gets reviewed. Thanks for sharing your experience - it's reassuring to hear from someone who's been successfully managing this for months!

I've been doing DoorDash while on unemployment for about 3 months now and wanted to share a few additional tips that have helped me stay compliant: 1. **Weekly claiming timing matters** - I always file my weekly claim on the same day each week and make sure to report earnings for the correct work week, not the pay week. The apps sometimes pay you the following week for work you did, so don't get confused by that. 2. **Track your mileage too** - Even though you're reporting gross earnings to ESD, you'll want mileage records for tax purposes. I use the Stride app to automatically track miles while doing deliveries. Come tax time, you can deduct business mileage which helps offset the self-employment taxes you'll owe on gig earnings. 3. **Be prepared for quarterly tax payments** - Since gig work is 1099 income, you'll likely need to make estimated quarterly tax payments to avoid penalties. Something to factor into your financial planning while job hunting. 4. **Keep your availability flexible** - I only work gig jobs during off-peak job search hours (early mornings, evenings, weekends). This way I'm always available for interviews during business hours and it shows ESD you're prioritizing your job search. The earning limit can be frustrating when you hit it mid-week, but honestly the flexibility to earn some extra cash while job hunting has been a lifesaver. Just stay organized with your tracking and you should be fine!

One more important point that hasn't been mentioned: When you report freelance/self-employment income, you should report it for the week you PERFORM the work, not when you get paid (which is different from W-2 work where you report when paid). Also, regarding job search requirements: Yes, you must continue performing and documenting 3 job search activities each week, even during weeks you do freelance work, UNLESS you've been approved for standby status or commissioner-approved training. Freelance work by itself doesn't exempt you from job search requirements. And a final tip: If your freelance work becomes regular and ongoing, you might want to look into partial unemployment benefits. You can potentially receive partial benefits for a longer period rather than using up full weeks of benefits during periods of no work.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who did exactly this! I had a 3-week freelance project while collecting unemployment and it went smoothly. The key things that worked for me: 1) I kept filing weekly claims without interruption, 2) reported my gross freelance income for the exact weeks I worked (not when I got paid), 3) continued doing my 3 job searches each week even during work weeks, and 4) kept every email, invoice, and payment record. After the project ended, my regular benefits resumed automatically. Don't overthink it - just be thorough with reporting and documentation!