I think everyone is missing something important here. If your bar SOLD rather than just closed, you might qualify for different treatment. When I got laid off because my company was acquired, I had to provide additional documentation about the sale. Did your employer provide any documentation or separation letter explaining the sale? You should upload that if you have it. Also, make sure you're marking your reason for separation correctly - it should be "Business Closed or Sold" NOT "Laid Off Due to Lack of Work" - they're different categories in ESD's system and it affects how they process your claim.

You can't edit your initial claim reason yourself, but you can upload a statement clarifying the correct reason through your ESD account. Go to your dashboard, click on "Upload a Document" and select "Provide Additional Information." Explain that you mistakenly selected "Laid Off" when the correct reason is "Business Sold." Include any documentation you have from your employer about the sale/closure. This might actually help speed up your adjudication since you're proactively addressing what they're likely trying to verify.

If anyone is having trouble reaching ESD for questions about this or other claim issues, I had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com). After trying for days to get through on my own, they got me connected to an ESD agent in about 20 minutes. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 When I finished my last claim after getting hired, I had a question about reporting a signing bonus and needed to talk to someone. Claimyr was definitely worth it to get a clear answer directly from ESD.

Just to clarify an important point that people sometimes get confused about: You need to report any hours worked AND earnings for the WEEK OF WORK, not when you get paid. So if you work Monday-Friday but don't get your first paycheck for two weeks, you still need to report those hours and estimated earnings on your claim for the week you actually performed the work. Also, if you have any pending issues on your claim, make sure to continue checking your ESD account for a few weeks after you stop claiming, as they might still need information from you to resolve those issues.

My sister had this problem and she just brought her kid to interviews anyway. Some employers were actually impressed by her dedication lol. But I get that's not always possible depending on your kid's age and temperament.

I work for a non-profit that helps with employment barriers, and childcare is definitely one of the biggest issues we see. Here's what I recommend: 1. Apply for Working Connections Child Care through DSHS immediately 2. Contact your local Early Learning Coalition for emergency assistance 3. Ask about the Childcare Aware referral network for temporary options 4. Check if you qualify for Head Start/Early Head Start (if your child is the right age) 5. Document all childcare barriers in your ESD weekly claims - be specific about how it's affecting your job search 6. Attend WorkSource workshops that offer childcare (as someone mentioned) 7. Some churches and community organizations offer free childcare for job seekers - call 211 to find these Most importantly, make sure you're documenting all your efforts to find childcare solutions in your ESD weekly claim notes. This protects you if they question your availability for work.

Can I ask what your claim was stuck on for those 6 weeks? Mine's been in adjudication for almost 5 weeks now and I'm losing my mind. Did you do anything special to get it moving?

Mine was stuck in adjudication too! They were verifying my reason for separation since my employer contested it initially. I called about 20 times over those 6 weeks but only got through twice. Second time I spoke with someone who actually escalated it properly and it was resolved within 3 days after that. Persistence was key in my case. Good luck with yours!

When I got my new job last month I kept filing until I got my first paycheck. Made sure to report all my hours worked even though I wasn't paid yet. I think my last benefit payment was reduced because of the hours, but I still got something since I wasn't full time right away. Just be super honest about the hours - they crosscheck with employers eventually.

For context on adjudication timing: ESD currently has a significant backlog of claims requiring adjudication. The standard timeframe is 4-6 weeks, but can extend to 8-10 weeks during periods of high volume. The adjudicator reviews issues that could affect your eligibility, such as job separation circumstances, availability for work, or potential earnings discrepancies. Regarding your new employment: Continue filing weekly claims until you are working full-time hours (35+ per week). Report all hours worked in the week they are worked, regardless of when payment is received. Your benefits will be reduced according to your reported hours using a specific formula. Once you're working full-time, you can simply stop filing weekly claims - no need to formally close your claim. If you need to verify exactly what issue is being adjudicated, you'll need to speak with an ESD representative. Written correspondence about adjudication issues should appear in your eServices account under Notices/Letters.