To answer your follow-up question - this is likely just a one-time thing for your missed week. Once you're back in the regular weekly claim cycle online, you should be able to enter your job search activities directly in eServices when you file your weekly claim. The paper form is typically only used for exceptional circumstances like the one you experienced. You should see in your eServices account that you need to enter job search details when you file your regular weekly claims online. If you're on standby or have a different job search requirement, that would be reflected there too. Make sure you keep copies of all your job search documentation regardless of how you submit it. ESD can request verification up to a year later during random audits.

I just went through this exact same situation last month! The key thing to understand is that when ESD sends you a paper weekly claim form, it creates a separate workflow outside of their normal eServices system. That's why the upload function shows "no documents required" - the system doesn't recognize that you have paperwork to submit. Here's what worked for me: 1. Fax the completed job search log to 800-301-1796 (main ESD fax line) 2. Include a cover sheet with your claim ID, full name, and last 4 of SSN 3. Write "Paper Weekly Claim - Job Search Log for week ending [date]" at the top 4. Take photos of everything before faxing and keep your confirmation receipt The good news is this should be a one-time thing. Once you're back to filing regular weekly claims online, you'll enter job search activities directly in eServices. I was worried about the same documentation issues, but faxing with proper identification worked fine and I got my benefits processed without problems. Don't stress too much - as long as you completed the actual job search activities, submitting the log is just a formality to match their paperwork requirements.

Just wanted to add that Washington state actually has pretty clear guidelines for seasonal workers - you're definitely eligible as long as you meet the basic requirements. I've been doing seasonal work (summer camp counselor and winter retail) for three years now and file for benefits during my gap periods without any issues. The $18k you earned should easily qualify you for benefits. One tip: when you file online, there's a section where you can explain your work pattern - mention that you do seasonal work but are actively seeking temporary employment during the off-season. This helps establish that you're genuinely available for work and not just waiting around for your next seasonal position. Also, don't stress too much about the phone system - the online filing process is actually pretty straightforward and you can usually get everything done without having to call.

I work seasonal jobs too and can confirm that Washington ESD is actually pretty accommodating for seasonal workers. One thing that really helped me was registering with WorkSource immediately after filing my claim - they have job search resources specifically for seasonal and temporary workers. Also, if you're worried about the wage requirements, you can check your quarterly wage statements online once you create your ESD account to see exactly what wages they have on file. With $18k from two different employers, you should be well above the minimum threshold. The whole process took about 2-3 weeks for my first payment to come through, but it was worth it to have that income bridge during the gap between seasons.

The whole system seems designed to be confusing honestly. Between figuring out benefit amounts, work search requirements, and actually getting through to talk to someone when you have questions, it's like they don't want people to get benefits. At least there are resources now like that Claimyr service to help navigate the phone system.

Bottom line for the original question - your unemployment benefit will probably be somewhere between $300-600 per week based on your wage history. The exact amount depends on your highest earning quarter, but that manufacturing job at $22/hour should qualify you for a decent benefit. File as soon as possible and keep detailed job search records from day one.

I just wanted to follow up and say THANK YOU to everyone who responded! I was really worried when that random $8 showed up, but reading all your experiences has been so reassuring. It sounds like these retroactive adjustment payments are way more common than I realized. I'm going to wait for the explanation letter like several of you suggested, and I feel much better knowing this is just ESD catching up on old wage corrections. This community is amazing - you all saved me from a lot of unnecessary stress and probably hours on hold with ESD's phone system!

I had this exact same thing happen to me about 6 months ago! Got a random $11.50 deposit from ESD and was totally confused since I hadn't filed in over 2 years. Just like everyone else is saying, I eventually got a letter explaining it was a "retroactive benefit adjustment" due to updated wage information. Turned out one of my previous employers had submitted corrected quarterly reports that slightly increased my original benefit calculation. The whole process took about 10 days from when I received the deposit to when the letter arrived. Don't stress about it - the money is legitimately yours and this happens way more often than most people realize!

Just went through this process myself about 6 months ago! One thing that really helped me was creating a checklist before I started. Make sure you have your business structure documents ready (LLC articles, partnership agreement, etc.) because they ask about ownership structure during registration. Also, if you're planning to have employees in multiple locations within Washington, you'll need to register each location separately. The whole process took me about 3 weeks from start to finish, but most of that was waiting for my EIN from the IRS first. Once I had all my documents together, the actual ESD registration was pretty straightforward through the online portal.

I just completed my Washington ESD registration a couple months ago and wanted to share what worked for me. The key thing is to gather everything upfront - your EIN, business license info, and estimated payroll numbers. I actually called the ESD Business Services line early in the morning (around 7:30 AM) and got through pretty quickly - they were super helpful in explaining which forms I needed. One tip: if you're unsure about your NAICS industry code, they have a lookup tool on their website that's really detailed. Also, don't forget that once you register, you'll get assigned a unemployment account number that you'll need for all future filings. The whole process from submission to getting my account number took about 10 business days. Make sure to bookmark the SecureAccess Washington portal because that's where you'll be doing all your quarterly reporting going forward!