For what it's worth, I had a situation where I needed to speak with someone at Washington ESD about documentation they requested, and I couldn't get through on the phone for weeks. Finally used a service called Claimyr that got me connected to an actual person at ESD right away. You can check them out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Made dealing with the whole process so much easier when I could actually talk to someone who could answer my questions.

Thanks everyone for all the detailed responses! This has been incredibly helpful in understanding how the audit process actually works. It sounds like as long as I keep being honest with my reporting and maintain good documentation of my job search activities, I should be fine. The consensus seems to be that audits are targeted rather than random, which makes me feel much less paranoid about the whole thing. I'm going to keep doing what I've been doing and try not to stress about it unnecessarily.

Bottom line: 3 job search activities per week, keep detailed records, make sure your activities are relevant to your field and experience level. Don't overthink it but don't slack off either. Washington ESD is pretty reasonable if you're making a genuine effort.

Just wanted to add that if you're in a specialized field with limited openings, Washington ESD does understand that finding 3 relevant positions to apply for each week can be challenging. In those cases, you can mix in other activities like reaching out to recruiters, attending industry meetups, or doing informational interviews as others mentioned. I work in a niche tech area and my caseworker was understanding when I explained my situation and showed that I was being proactive in other ways. The key is documenting everything and being able to show you're making a genuine effort to find work in your field.

Just want to add that Washington state also has a waiting week requirement - you won't receive benefits for your first week of unemployment even if you're eligible. This is something to factor into your financial planning. Also, if you do part-time or temporary work while collecting benefits, you need to report ALL earnings, even if it's just a few hours. They'll reduce your weekly benefit amount based on what you earn, but you can still receive partial benefits as long as you earn less than 1.5 times your weekly benefit amount.

One thing I'd add about Washington's eligibility requirements is that timing matters a lot for your base period calculation. Since you worked March through November 2024, your base period when you file now (in 2025) would likely be Q2 2023 through Q1 2024 - which might not include much or any of your recent retail job earnings. This is called a "lag quarter" situation and it's really common for newer workers. The good news is that Washington allows you to request an alternate base period that includes more recent quarters if the standard one doesn't give you enough wages to qualify. When you file your claim, make sure to ask about this option if your initial monetary determination comes back as insufficient. It could make the difference between qualifying or not!

One more important detail: When you reopen your claim, make sure to report your Oregon wages correctly. You'll need to provide: - Employer name and address (Oregon address) - Your start date (2 weeks ago) - Last day worked (this coming Friday) - Reason for separation (temporary layoff with return date) - Gross earnings for the weeks you worked Be precise with these details. If the system asks whether you worked out of state, answer yes. This helps them properly categorize your claim. The system should then prompt you about the return-to-work date. Enter 3/31/2025 exactly as confirmed by your employer. Standby status should be automatic for layoffs under 8 weeks with a definite return date, but I've seen the system get confused with out-of-state employers. If you run into any issues, that's when you'll definitely need to speak with an agent.

Just went through something similar a few months back! I live in WA but had a short stint working in Oregon before getting temporarily laid off. Here's what worked for me: Since you were previously receiving WA unemployment benefits and only worked in Oregon for 2 weeks, you should definitely reopen your Washington claim rather than filing a new one in Oregon. You haven't built up enough wage credits in Oregon to qualify there anyway. The standby status is perfect for your situation - 2 weeks is well under the 8-week limit, and having that definite 3/31 return date is key. When you reopen your claim online, make sure to: 1. Report your Oregon wages accurately (have your paystubs ready) 2. List the temporary layoff reason 3. Enter your exact return-to-work date 4. When filing weekly claims, select "on standby" instead of doing job searches One heads up - the system might flag your claim for review since you worked out of state, which could delay your first payment by a week or two while they verify everything. But as long as you have that email confirmation from your supervisor about the layoff and return date, you should be fine. Good luck getting through to ESD if you need to call - it's still a nightmare but worth it for peace of mind on cross-state situations like this!

Last thing I'll add - if you end up needing to appeal or have complex issues, consider getting help from a legal aid organization. Many offer free assistance for unemployment cases involving disabilities.

I'm going through something very similar right now with anxiety and PTSD. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about the modified job search requirements or that therapy appointments counted as valid unavailability reasons. It's reassuring to know that Washington ESD does have accommodations for mental health conditions, even though the process seems overwhelming. I'm planning to get documentation from my psychiatrist and contact WorkSource based on the advice here. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - it makes me feel less alone in dealing with this.