If you're still having trouble reaching someone at Washington ESD about how your benefits might affect your school enrollment, you might want to check out claimyr.com. I used their service to actually get through to a real person at Washington ESD when I couldn't get through on my own. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really helped me get the answers I needed about my specific situation.

I went through this exact situation two years ago when I was laid off from my job at Boeing and had to navigate both Washington ESD benefits and FAFSA applications. Here's what I learned: Yes, your unemployment benefits absolutely count as income on the FAFSA, but don't let that discourage you from applying for aid. The key things to remember are: 1) Get your 1099-G form from Washington ESD as soon as it's available (usually in January), 2) File your taxes early so you can use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool on your FAFSA, and 3) Be completely honest about all income sources. I ended up qualifying for both federal and state aid even with my UI benefits reported. Also, once you start school, make sure to update Washington ESD about your class schedule - they have specific rules about students collecting benefits. The financial aid office at your school will be your best resource for navigating any complications. Don't give up on your education goals because of this temporary income situation!

UPDATE: Found the reopen option under Manage Claims! It was hidden in a submenu. Submitted the request and now it shows as 'pending review.' Hopefully this works without needing to call anyone. Thanks everyone for the help!

Congrats on finding the reopen option! Just a heads up - while your request is pending review, start gathering all your documentation (termination papers, any work you did between claims, etc.) in case they ask for additional verification. Also, once it's approved, you can usually start filing your weekly claims right away even if the first payment takes a bit longer to process. The key is not to let any weeks go unfiled once you're active again. Good luck!

One more thing - remember that job search activities don't just mean applying for jobs. You can also count: 1. Attending WorkSource workshops (virtual or in-person) 2. Meeting with a career counselor 3. Posting your resume on job boards 4. Creating profiles on employer websites 5. Attending job fairs Makes it easier to get your 3 activities each week if you expand beyond just applications.

Just wanted to add that if you're in manufacturing like me, there are industry-specific job search resources that count as activities too. The Manufacturing Industrial Council of Seattle has virtual networking events and job placement workshops that ESD accepts. Also, if your union has any job placement services or retraining programs, those activities count as well. I used these when my standby ended and it really helped diversify my weekly job search activities beyond just online applications.

One additional note based on your situation: Since you mentioned the LLC might call you back in a few months, you might qualify for "standby" status when you reopen your claim. Standby means you can receive benefits without having to do the usual job search activities because you're expected to return to your employer. For standby, you generally need: 1. A definite return-to-work date (within 8 weeks, though there are exceptions) 2. Written verification from your employer 3. A history of working for this employer (which you now have) Standby status is much easier than regular unemployment since you don't have to do and document the 3 job searches per week. Worth asking about when you speak with ESD.

I went through something similar about a year ago! For backdating, definitely be persistent - I had to call multiple times and got different answers from different agents. The key thing that helped me was having a clear, consistent explanation for why I missed filing each week. "I was confused about the appeal process and thought I couldn't file" is actually a pretty common and understandable reason, so don't stress too much about that. One tip for getting through on the phone: Try calling exactly at 8:00 AM when they open, but also try again around 4:30 PM. I found late in the day sometimes had shorter wait times because most people give up by then. For the temp job situation - definitely get documentation about the layoff being due to lack of work. And if they do mention a possible callback, get that in writing too even if it's not definite. ESD appreciates any documentation that shows the separation wasn't your fault. Good luck! The whole system is frustrating but you can get through it with persistence.

Just stay organized with your job search and document everything. The weekly claims and job search logs become routine after a few weeks.

Thanks for sharing all this detailed info everyone! As someone who just got laid off myself, this thread has been incredibly helpful. The 26-week maximum is clear now, and I really appreciate all the practical advice about job search requirements and planning ahead. It sounds like the key is to be proactive from day one rather than waiting until benefits are running low. I'm definitely going to start my job search aggressively and make sure I stay on top of all the weekly filing requirements. Good luck to everyone else who's going through this right now!