Washington Unemployment
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ESD job search logs - Do I still need to submit paper logs when not required in portal?
So confused about the job search requirements right now! I've been filing my weekly claims as usual, but suddenly the ESD portal stopped asking me to enter my job contacts directly into the system. Instead, it just gave me a form to track my job search activities outside the website. I've been keeping these paper logs by week (doing my 3 activities each week), but I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be submitting them somewhere? The portal doesn't give me any option to upload them. Am I missing something obvious here? Don't want to get hit with an overpayment later because I wasn't submitting these logs properly!
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ESD denied benefits after 26 weeks - appealing with new medical documentation
I exhausted my initial 26 weeks of unemployment benefits back in June (mental health reasons) and tried working at two different jobs afterward but had to quit both because my condition actually got worse. The big difference now is I'm finally seeing a therapist who wrote me an official note explaining my situation, and I've started medication that's helping. I filed an appeal to try getting back pay for the period since June when I couldn't work. My question is - does ESD notify my previous employers when I file this type of appeal? I'm especially concerned about the two places I worked briefly after my initial claim ended. The hearing notice just came today and I'm freaking out a little about what to expect. Has anyone successfully appealed a denial based on new medical documentation? What specifically did you need to prove?
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wait im confused... are you trying to get regular unemployment or is this for disability? because they're different systems. if u cant work for medical reasons u should apply for disability not unemployment. unemployment is for when ur able to work but cant find a job.
You're raising an important point, but there's some nuance here. While unemployment is generally for those able to work but can't find jobs, there are situations where someone initially qualifies for UI, then develops a medical condition that temporarily prevents them from working. In Washington state, if someone becomes temporarily disabled after establishing a UI claim, they may still qualify for UI benefits under certain circumstances, especially if they're expected to recover and return to work. This is different from long-term disability benefits.
Yes, I initially qualified for regular unemployment after losing my job, then my mental health got worse. I'm not permanently disabled - the doctors expect me to recover with proper treatment, which I'm finally getting. That's why I'm going through ESD rather than applying for disability.
btw when is ur hearing date? make sure u prepare like CRAZY for it. i bombed my first hearing cuz i wasnt ready for all their questions. write down EVERYTHING u wanna say before u go in!!!
It's scheduled for August 18th, so I have two weeks to prepare. I'm definitely going to write everything down. Did they ask you really specific questions about your medical condition?
oh yeah they asked super specific stuff. like exactly what symptoms i had on which days, how it affected specific job duties, if i could have done ANY kind of work even part time, why i couldnt just take medication and keep working, all kinds of detailed questions. they were respectful but really thorough.
Do I have to serve another waiting week if I reopen my active ESD claim?
I got laid off back in January and filed for unemployment. After serving my waiting week and collecting benefits for about 6 weeks, I found a temporary job that lasted 2 months. Now that contract ended, and I need to go back on unemployment. My claim is still active according to eServices (it says 'active' with an expiration date in January 2026), but do I have to serve another waiting week when I reopen it? I can't afford to wait another week without pay since my rent is due soon. The ESD website isn't clear about this specific situation.
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I had a similar experience back in 2023 when I was working seasonal jobs. Had to reopen my claim twice and never had to do another waiting week. Just make sure all your info is up to date when you reopen. Good luck!
UPDATE: I reopened my claim yesterday and confirmed with an ESD agent (after way too many attempts calling) that I do NOT need to serve another waiting week! They said I can file my weekly claim this Sunday for this week. Thanks everyone for your help!
Great news! Thanks for coming back to update us. Glad it worked out just as expected.
Hopefully you ACTUALLY get paid on time unlike my experience!!! Fingers crossed for you!!!
Filing new ESD claim after employment gap - will adjudication delays happen again?
I'm about to reach the end of my current unemployment claim that started in July 2023. My situation has changed since then - I found work in September 2023 but the contract ended in February 2024 (they downsized the entire department). My benefit year is ending in about two weeks, and I'll need to file a completely new claim. My first claim last year got stuck in adjudication for almost 5 weeks which was a nightmare financially. I'm worried the same thing will happen with this new claim, especially since I had that period of employment in between. Does anyone know if having worked between claims typically causes delays? Will ESD need to verify everything with my most recent employer again? I'm trying to budget and figure out if I should expect another long gap without income. Any advice from people who've filed a second claim would be really helpful!
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One more thing I forgot to mention - make sure all your job search activities are properly logged during the transition period. ESD sometimes pays extra attention to job search compliance when reviewing new claims. Still need those 3 activities per week!
I've been keeping detailed records of all my job search activities in the WorkSource system. That shouldn't be an issue, but thanks for the reminder!
To answer your question from earlier - my new claim took about 10 days from filing to first payment (including the waiting week). So while there was a gap, it wasn't nearly as bad as my first claim experience. I think having all documentation ready and making sure all information matched exactly what employers would report made the difference. And yes, if your new job paid more, your weekly benefit amount should increase accordingly since ESD uses your highest-earning quarters to calculate benefits. That's one silver lining!
10 days would be manageable for me. I've saved enough to cover about 3 weeks without income, so hopefully that's enough buffer. I appreciate you sharing your timeline!
When to file for ESD unemployment after working partial week? Just got fired Monday
I just got laid off on Monday after working that full day. My supervisor called me into his office at the end of my shift and told me the company was downsizing and I was being let go immediately. I've never filed for unemployment before and I'm confused about when I should apply. Should I wait until next week since I already worked Monday this week? Or should I file right away? Does it matter that I got my final paycheck with Monday's hours included? I'm worried about messing something up and delaying my benefits. Any advice would be really helpful!
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my brother just went thru this last month!! one thing nobody mentioned is that they look at your earnings from the previous 18 months not just ur current job so even if u were only at this job a short time u might still qualify
To summarize what everyone has said: 1. File your initial application immediately - today if possible 2. Report that you worked Monday and the amount earned when filing 3. Understand there's a waiting week (first eligible week) where no benefits are paid, but you must still file a weekly claim 4. Begin your three job search activities right away and document them carefully 5. Report your final pay accurately on your weekly claim For job search documentation, ESD provides a job search log on their website, but you can also create your own as long as it includes: date of activity, type of activity, employer/job contact information, position applied for, and results/follow-up. Keep these records for at least a year.
Thank you so much for this clear summary! I just submitted my initial application and I feel much better knowing I'm doing this correctly. I've already started looking for jobs and I'll make sure to track everything carefully.
Liam Murphy
Thank you all for the responses! This is really helpful. I'll keep my logs organized and make sure I'm documenting everything properly. I might scan them too just to be safe - good suggestion. Feeling much better about this now!
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LilMama23
one more thing make sure ur still doing the right TYPE of activities each week. my buddy got in trouble cuz he was only doing job applications but ESD wants you to mix it up with things like workshops at WorkSource and informational interviews too. the rules say you need 'varied activities' or something like that
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Amara Okafor
Just to confirm what's been said - the current requirement is 3 job search activities per week, and you need to keep your own records but don't submit unless asked. ESD moved away from requiring weekly submission to reduce their administrative burden, but they still expect you to maintain detailed logs. And yes, mixing up your activity types is wise - applications, interviews, WorkSource workshops, networking events, etc. all count.
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Liam Murphy
AuthorThis is really helpful, thank you! I've been doing a mix of activities but I'll make sure to keep it varied. I'm going to organize my logs by week and scan them tonight just to be safe.
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