Good luck with everything! This is a really common issue but it's definitely fixable. Don't let your employer's mistake prevent you from getting the benefits you're entitled to.

I'm a newcomer here but this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a domestic worker too (eldercare companion) and had no idea about the unemployment insurance requirements. My current employer has been treating me as a contractor but after reading all these responses, I'm pretty sure I should be classified as an employee - I work set hours, use their supplies, and they direct how I do my work. Does anyone know if the same rules apply to eldercare workers or is it just for nannies and housekeepers?

When you return to work, you'll simply report your hours and earnings on your weekly claim. If your earnings exceed your weekly benefit amount, you won't receive benefits for that week, and your claim will essentially become inactive (though still open during your benefit year). You don't need to do anything special to 'turn off' the standby status when you return to work - just accurately report your work and earnings each week.

I'm glad you got this sorted out! As someone who's been through the ESD system multiple times, I always recommend new claimants to carefully read through ALL the determination letters and notices they send - I know it's overwhelming at first, but those documents contain really important details about your specific claim status. The standby provision is actually really helpful for temporary layoffs like yours. Just keep documenting everything (screenshots, letters, etc.) and you'll be fine. When your standby period ends in May, the system will automatically prompt you for job search activities again. Welcome to the community and don't hesitate to ask if you have more questions!

I'm dealing with the exact same issue! Filed my claim about a week and a half ago and it's been stuck on "pending - waiting for information" with absolutely no explanation of what they're waiting for. Like everyone else here, I've checked my online notices, email, spam folder, and mailbox religiously - nothing! It's incredibly frustrating that their system can't just tell us whether they're waiting for something from us, our employer, or if it's some internal verification process. I've been filing my weekly claims just to be safe, but the uncertainty is really stressing me out. Reading through all these experiences, it's both reassuring to know I'm not alone and alarming to see how widespread this communication breakdown is. Based on everyone's advice about calling at 8am, I think that's going to be my next move. It shouldn't be this hard to get basic information about our own claims! Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it's really helpful to know what to expect and that most people do eventually get their claims approved once they can actually talk to someone.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Filed my claim about 12 days ago and it's been stuck on "pending - waiting for information" the entire time with absolutely no communication from ESD about what they actually need. Like everyone else here, I've been checking my online account multiple times a day, refreshing my email constantly, checking spam folders, and even double-checking my mailing address in the system - nothing! The complete lack of transparency is honestly the most stressful part. Are they waiting for identity verification? Employer response? Some internal process? Your guess is as good as mine! I've been religiously filing my weekly claims just to cover my bases, but the uncertainty is really getting to me with my car payment due next week. Reading through all these experiences has been both comforting (clearly this is a widespread issue) and frustrating (how is this acceptable in 2025?). Based on everyone's advice about calling right at 8am, I think that's going to be my strategy for tomorrow morning. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through hoops just to get basic information about our own claims, but it sounds like that's the only reliable way to actually get answers. Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories - it's really helpful to know what to expect and that most people eventually do get their claims resolved once they can talk to an actual person!

One last thing - if you run into any issues after filing, don't waste weeks trying to call the regular customer service line. Services like Claimyr exist because the phone system is basically broken for individual callers. Sometimes paying for help is worth it to actually resolve problems quickly instead of being stuck in limbo.

Just wanted to add a quick tip about the work search requirement since you asked about it - you don't have to start immediately but it's smart to begin looking right away anyway. When the work search requirement kicks in (week 3), you'll need to document your job search activities. Keep a log of where you applied, when, and any responses you get. Washington ESD can audit your work search records, so having everything organized from the start will save you headaches later. Also, registering with WorkSourceWA.com counts as one of your required work search activities each week.

The whole process can seem overwhelming at first but once you understand the basic requirements it's not too bad. Most people who worked steady jobs for several months will qualify for something.

One more thing to consider - if you've been working for 8 months continuously at your current job, you're likely in good shape for the wage requirements. Even with previous gaps in employment, Washington ESD only looks at your base period quarters, not whether you had continuous employment. So as long as you earned enough during those specific quarters, the gaps between jobs won't disqualify you. The key is having sufficient wages reported to the state during your base period, which with 8 months of steady work you probably do.