not to go off topic but anyone know if we can deduct job search expenses when on unemployment? i spent a ton on gas driving to interviews last year

Just to clarify for everyone in this thread: the unemployment tax withholding system is pretty simple but often misunderstood. ESD only offers a flat 10% federal withholding option - nothing more nuanced. This is often more than people actually owe on their unemployment benefits when all factors are considered in their tax return. Reason: The U.S. tax system has built-in provisions like the standard deduction ($14,600 for single filers in 2024) and lower tax brackets on initial income. So while 10% is withheld on ALL your unemployment benefits, your effective tax rate might actually be lower when filing. This is why many people receive refunds after filing taxes that include unemployment benefits. It's completely normal and part of how our tax system works.

My sister-in-law works for the state (not ESD though) and she mentioned something about a new payment processing system being implemented this week. Maybe that's related? She said several departments were having to adjust to new software rollouts. Probably just growing pains with the new system.

UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know my payment finally came through this morning at 6:30am. Looks like it was just delayed by about 18 hours. Hope everyone else has received theirs too!

One other thing to check: look at your payment history section. If your recent weeks show a status of "pending" or "processing" instead of "paid," that might give you a clue. Sometimes there's a pending issue that doesn't trigger an alert. Also, make sure you've completed all work search requirements - ESD is being much stricter about the 3 job search activities per week in 2025.

" Pending status for three weeks without any alerts is almost always an adjudication issue that'hasn t been properly flagged in the system.'There s likely a question about your eligibility that an ESD adjudicator needs to review, but for some reason,'it s not showing up in your dashboard. This happens quite often with'ESD s system. Unfortunately, the only solution is speaking directly with an agent who can look at the notes on your claim that'aren t visible to you througheServices.

@profile5 They scheduled a phone interview with me about a week after I submitted all my documents. The interview only lasted about 15 minutes - they just verified a few details about when I worked vs when I was paid. Have all your documentation ready when they call!

UPDATE: I finally got through to ESD today! The agent confirmed I was right - they were looking at my payment dates instead of when I actually performed the work. They're going to correct those weeks and release the payments. For anyone with similar issues - definitely keep detailed records of when you actually do the work vs when you get paid, especially if you're a contractor or have irregular payment schedules!

Just to add some additional clarification since there's some confusion here: 1. WorkSource appointments (phone or in-person) count as job search activities 2. You must record the specific name of the WorkSource staff member you spoke with 3. The system classifies these as "In-person WorkSource workshop or appointment" even for phone calls 4. If the specialist assigns you follow-up activities, those can count separately if they take more than an hour and are properly documented 5. Always keep documentation of all WorkSource interactions for at least 6 months in case of a job search review Source: I work with ESD programs and help people navigate the unemployment system.

my specialist never evn called me last month and i still got in trouble for missing the apointment smh