Good luck with your job search! The documentation requirements might seem overwhelming at first but once you get into a routine it becomes second nature. And remember, Claimyr is there if you need to clarify anything with ESD directly.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that career counseling sessions with WorkSource or other approved providers count as work search activities too. I've been doing monthly sessions with a career counselor and it's helped me refine my job search strategy while meeting the requirement. Also, don't forget that updating your LinkedIn profile or other professional networking profiles can count - just make sure to document the date and what changes you made. The key is really diversifying your activities so you're not just applying to jobs but also building your professional network and skills.

This is exactly what I needed to see right now! I'm currently on week 5 of adjudication and have been spiraling with anxiety about it. Reading through this whole thread, especially Hugo's happy ending, gives me so much relief. I've been in the same boat - checking the portal multiple times a day, stressing about rent, the whole nightmare. I'm going to check my weekly benefit amount right now to see if it's changed from pending. It's wild how the ESD system works in such mysterious ways, but at least there are patterns we can look for. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and tips - this community is a lifesaver when you're going through this alone!

I'm in week 7 of adjudication and this thread is giving me life right now! Hugo, congratulations on getting your payments processed - that must be such a huge relief after 6 weeks of waiting. I've been in the exact same cycle of obsessively checking the portal and panicking every time nothing changes. Reading about the signs to look for (weekly benefit amount changing, adjudication status disappearing) is super helpful because honestly ESD doesn't give us much guidance on what any of this means. I just checked my portal after reading this and my weekly benefit amount is still showing as pending, but at least now I know that's one of the key things to watch for. The stress of not knowing whether you'll be able to pay rent is absolutely crushing, so seeing successful outcomes like yours gives me hope that this nightmare will eventually end. Thanks for taking the time to update us - it means more than you know to those of us still stuck in limbo!

Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here! As someone who's been through the ESD system twice (once in 2022 and again last year), I wanted to add that keeping detailed records is absolutely crucial - not just for job searches but for any interactions with potential employers about salary negotiations. One thing I learned the hard way: if you do decide to negotiate on salary before declining, make sure to document those conversations too. ESD may ask about any efforts you made to make the position "suitable" before turning it down. In my case, I was able to show that I tried to negotiate the employer up from their initial offer but they weren't willing to budge, which supported my decision to decline. Also, for anyone reading this thread later - the WorkSource offices can be really helpful for reviewing your job search documentation and giving guidance on what constitutes "suitable work" in your specific field. They're often easier to reach than the main ESD line and the counselors there understand the local job market really well. @Mateo Rodriguez - glad you got clarity from ESD directly! That documentation you kept will serve you well if any questions come up later in your claim period.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm also dealing with unemployment for the first time and had no idea that interviews counted toward job search requirements even when you don't get the job. That's such a relief because I've had several interviews over the past two weeks but haven't landed anything yet. The suitable work discussion is eye-opening too. I've been so worried about potentially losing benefits that I was considering taking any offer that came my way, but it sounds like there's more nuance to it than I realized. The budget breakdown approach that @Kelsey Chin mentioned seems like a really smart way to document why a lower wage wouldn't work financially. One question for the group - has anyone had experience with how ESD handles part-time job offers while you're collecting benefits? I might get offered some contract work that's only 15-20 hours per week, and I'm not sure if accepting that would affect my ability to continue receiving partial benefits while I search for full-time work.

This is unfortunately super common with large retailers. I went through something similar with Target a few years back - they automatically contested my claim even though I had written documentation of the store closure. The adjudication process is frustrating but Washington ESD does a pretty thorough job reviewing the evidence. Since you have your WARN notice and severance paperwork, you're in a strong position. Just make sure to submit everything through your SecureAccess account ASAP and keep filing your weekly claims even during the adjudication. The back pay adds up if you win. Hang in there - it's a waiting game but the odds are in your favor with that level of documentation.

I went through this exact same thing with Walmart about 8 months ago when they closed our neighborhood market in Tacoma. They contested my claim even though the entire store was shutting down - like how is that not obviously a layoff?? The adjudication took about 6 weeks but I eventually won and got all my back pay. The key thing that helped me was keeping detailed records of everything - I had my manager's email about the store closure, the official notice they posted, and my severance check stub. Walmart's lawyers are basically playing a numbers game hoping people will give up or make mistakes in their paperwork. Don't let them intimidate you - with your WARN notice and severance documentation, you've got a really solid case. Just stay persistent and keep filing those weekly claims!

Congratulations on winning your appeal! That must be such a huge relief after 6 months of stress. From what I've seen with Washington ESD, the back pay usually processes within 7-10 business days once the appeal decision is finalized. They should automatically calculate everything from your original disqualification date and pay it out as a lump sum. Just make sure to keep filing your weekly claims going forward and double-check that your direct deposit info is current in your account. Fingers crossed you see that payment hit soon - being behind on rent while waiting for bureaucracy to work is the worst!

Hey Chloe, huge congratulations on winning your appeal! 6 months is way too long to wait but I'm so glad justice prevailed. I went through something similar last year and the back pay took about 12 business days to hit my account after the decision letter was issued. Washington ESD automatically processed all the retroactive weeks in one payment - it was actually larger than I expected because they included the federal supplements too. One thing I'd recommend is setting up text alerts in your online account if you haven't already, that way you'll get notified as soon as any payments are processed. The wait is almost over!