To answer your follow-up question about WorkSource - most locations offer both walk-in services and scheduled appointments. For your first visit, I'd recommend calling ahead or checking their website to schedule an appointment so you can get a full orientation to their services. They can be really busy sometimes. As for job search logs - once your UI benefits end, you're no longer required to maintain the official job search log for ESD. However, it's still a good practice to continue tracking your applications and contacts since it helps with your job search organization and you'll have that information ready if you need to file for benefits again in the future.

The thing about exhausting benefits that nobody mentions is how abruptly everything ends. I've gone through this twice now, and even though you're doing everything right - filing claims, looking for work, following all their rules - it just suddenly stops. It's frustrating because I feel like ESD could at least provide some kind of transition guidance rather than just cutting people off. One thing that actually helped me was connecting with my local community action agency. They sometimes have emergency assistance programs for people who've exhausted unemployment benefits, including help with utilities, rent, etc. Might be worth looking into while you're still job searching.

Watch out for the

This is a good point. In 2025, ESD is being especially strict about the able and available requirement. They want to see that you're not turning down potential full-time work in favor of keeping partial unemployment benefits combined with part-time 1099 work. They've been conducting more eligibility reviews this year focusing on this exact issue.

this whole system is BROKEN!!!! i had to wait 3 WEEKS for them to process my able and available docs and meanwhile they paused all my payments. had to borrow money for rent and almost got evicted. ESD doesn't care about real ppl with real problems they just hide behind their broken website and never pick up phones!!!

Let me share my experience that might help you. When I had this issue, I discovered there are actually THREE important things to know: 1. Document processing takes 7-10 business days typically 2. You need to use the EXACT document category "Able and Available Verification" in the dropdown 3. Your statement needs specific language about being "ready, willing, and able to accept suitable work immediately" What finally worked for me was calling and having them note in my file that I had submitted documentation. The system still showed I needed to submit documents for almost two weeks, but my payments continued without interruption. This is a very common issue with the 2025 version of the ESD system.

Beware ESD will probably put your claim in adjudication and make you WAIT FOREVER!!!! The system is literally designed to make you give up. They did this to me when I had worked in 2 states too. If your claim goes to adjudication and you can't get through to anyone, I ended up using that Claimyr service someone else mentioned and it actually worked - got me through to a real person in like 20 minutes when I'd been trying for WEEKS on my own. Just don't expect ESD to handle anything smoothly when multiple states are involved!!

Ugh, I was afraid of that. ESD was pretty hard to deal with even when I was just working in WA. Sounds like I should budget for at least a month of no income while they sort everything out. Thanks for the warning, and good to hear another recommendation for that service if I get stuck.

Be warned that I tried that Claimyr thing and while I did get through to ESD, the rep told me there was nothing they could do to speed up adjudication. Complete waste of money and got my hopes up for nothing. Still waiting after 7 weeks.

did u hav 2 do anything special after contacting the govs office? or they just magically fixed it overnight?

my cousin works for esd (not in claims tho) and she says they have MASSIVE backlog still from all the system updates they did in January. like thousands of claims just sitting in queues. its not just you!!

Update on my earlier advice: After you contact your state representatives, make sure you sign a privacy release form they'll send you. They can't intervene with ESD on your behalf without this authorization. Also, when you speak with the Governor's office again, ask specifically for a "direct escalation to adjudication supervisor review" - this specific language sometimes triggers a different process than a standard escalation. Lastly, continue filing your weekly claims without fail. When your adjudication is eventually resolved (and it will be), you'll only be paid for weeks you properly certified.

This wouldn't be considered misconduct or \

Thank you so much for all your help. I'll update here after my meeting tomorrow to let everyone know what happened. Fingers crossed it's nothing serious and I can keep this job.

Has anyone used the "creating or updating profiles on employment websites" option? How do you document that properly? Just a screenshot?

I think u should consider tempoary work also. Lots of warehouses n retail hiring for holiday season right now. That way you make extra $ AND dont have to worry bout turning down jobs or the requirements.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST US!!! I've been saying this for YEARS!!! They DELIBERATELY make it impossible to reach them and they DELIBERATELY use these old "issues" to deny benefits so they don't have to pay out!!! It's all about protecting their precious trust fund and making claimants suffer. I bet they have performance metrics for adjusters based on how many claims they DENY rather than approve!!

UPDATE: Called my state representative's office today and they're collecting similar stories about ESD system problems to present at the next workforce committee meeting. If you've experienced similar issues with old claims affecting new ones, send your story to your rep! Maybe if enough of us complain, they'll finally update their systems.

For those who need to plan ahead, here are all the 2025 federal holidays that will affect ESD payment processing: - New Year's Day (January 1) - Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 20) - Presidents Day (February 17) - Memorial Day (May 26) - Juneteenth (June 19) - Independence Day (July 4) - Labor Day (September 1) - Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day (October 13) - Veterans Day (November 11) - Thanksgiving (November 27) - Christmas (December 25) For each of these, expect a one-day delay in your payment.

so does this mean were still getting paid? just a day late? i already filed my claim yesterday