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.

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 brother got his contractor license while on unemployment last year and he said it was fine because he was still applying to jobs. but when he started his first project he told esd and they reduced his weekly amount. i think its all about being honest with them

One other important consideration: if you're planning to use the Self-Employment Assistance Program (SEAP) through WorkSource, you need to apply for that specifically. It allows you to work full-time on your business while receiving unemployment, but you must be accepted into the program first. Not everyone qualifies, but it's worth looking into if you're serious about starting your construction business. The program includes training and resources for new business owners as well.

hey i just got thru to esd this morning! try this: call the main number but then press 2 for spanish (even if u dont speak it) then 0 right away. got me to a person in like 15 mins and they spoke english anyway lol

UPDATE: I tried the Spanish line trick and it actually worked!!! Got through to someone after about 20 minutes on hold. They said my adjudication was waiting on employer verification and they sent a follow-up request. Should be resolved within 7-10 days. THANK YOU everyone for all the suggestions!!!

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.