FINAL UPDATE: I used Claimyr to get through to ESD this morning and explained the situation. The agent said since I reported my work hours correctly (including the holiday), the system just needed manual verification. She fixed it right on the call! Payment is being processed now. Thanks everyone for the help!

Great to hear it all worked out! This is a perfect example of why it's worth reaching out to ESD when you're unsure about something on your claim. I've learned that their system can be pretty sensitive to any inconsistencies, even minor ones. Thanks for sharing your experience - it'll definitely help others who run into similar situations with holiday reporting!

Great thread here! Just wanted to add one more tip from my experience - when you're doing your weekly claims and reporting vacation pay, make sure to save screenshots or print copies of your submissions. I had a situation where Washington ESD claimed I didn't report some vacation pay correctly, and having those records saved me from having to pay back benefits. The online system can be glitchy sometimes, so documentation is your friend!

I just went through this exact same situation a few months ago! Had about 60 hours of vacation pay coming after getting laid off. The key thing is to file your claim immediately - don't wait for the vacation pay to run out. I made the mistake of waiting a week thinking I should, and it just delayed everything unnecessarily. When you do your weekly claims, just be completely honest about the vacation pay amounts and dates you receive them. Washington ESD's system will automatically calculate how it affects your benefits. The vacation pay didn't cause any adjudication issues for me, and once it was done, my regular unemployment payments started right up. Also, keep really detailed records of everything - dates, amounts, pay stubs from the vacation payout. You'll thank yourself later if any questions come up!

I went through a similar situation last fall where my adjudication date kept changing - it's nerve-wracking but usually a positive sign that they're actively reviewing your case. Since you mentioned you have documentation proving the layoff (emails about budget cuts and termination letter), you're in a much better position than many people. One thing that helped me was creating a timeline of events leading up to my separation with dates and keeping all my documents organized in one folder. That way if they do call for an interview, you can quickly reference everything. The fact that your employer is contesting it means they'll likely want to speak with both parties, but with solid documentation on your side, you should be okay. Stay strong - the waiting is the hardest part!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now - my adjudication date just changed from 1/22 to 2/3 and I've been waiting since mid-December. It's so stressful not knowing what's happening! From what I've been reading in this group and other forums, the date changes do seem to indicate someone is actively working on your file, even if it doesn't feel like progress. I've also been told by a friend who works in government that January is typically their busiest month for adjudications because of all the holiday layoffs and separations that happened in December. Since you have solid documentation proving you were laid off, I think you're in a good position. I'm trying to stay positive and remind myself that "no news" doesn't necessarily mean "bad news" - they're just overwhelmed. Hang in there, we'll get through this!

Final thought - this is exactly why we have unemployment insurance. To protect workers when employers don't follow the rules. You paid into this system through your work, you deserve the benefits.

This is unfortunately a common issue with smaller employers who either don't understand their obligations or try to cut corners. The good news is that Washington ESD has seen this before and has processes in place to handle it. You'll need to gather all your employment documentation - pay stubs, W-2s, bank deposits showing your paychecks, any employment contracts or offer letters. Even text messages or emails from your boss can help establish the employment relationship. The investigation process typically takes 4-6 weeks, but your benefits will be backdated to your original filing date once approved. Keep filing your weekly claims during the investigation period and don't let them make you feel like this is your fault - your employer had a legal obligation to pay unemployment taxes and their failure to do so doesn't disqualify you from benefits you've earned.

As someone who just went through this process successfully, I can share what worked for me. I'm also in tech and was doing mostly LinkedIn applications. Here's what I documented: For LinkedIn apps: "LinkedIn Application - [Company Name] - [Position Title]" and for contact info I used the company's main careers page URL or just "LinkedIn Jobs Portal" For networking: I used work emails or LinkedIn profile URLs, never personal contact info The key thing that gave me confidence was calling ESD directly (used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above - totally worth it to skip the phone queue). The agent confirmed that they're looking for evidence of legitimate job search activity, not trying to catch people on minor documentation issues. I also kept a personal spreadsheet with full details (exact URLs, application tracking numbers, follow-up notes) but only transferred the essential info to the official ESD log. This gave me backup documentation without cluttering the official form. Been doing this for 3 months now with weekly claims approved consistently. The fact that you're being thoughtful about documentation and actually doing more than the minimum required activities shows you're approaching this the right way. Don't let the anxiety get to you - sounds like you're doing everything correctly!

I'm a case worker at a local WorkSource office and can confirm what others have shared here. ESD's main concern during job search log reviews is verifying that claimants are making genuine, consistent efforts to find work in their field. For LinkedIn applications, your approach of noting "LinkedIn - [Company Name]" with the position title is perfectly adequate. We don't expect exact URLs - those links often expire anyway. For contact information, the company's main website or careers page URL works fine, or even just "LinkedIn Jobs Portal" as one commenter mentioned. Regarding networking activities, using professional contact info (work email, LinkedIn profile) while protecting personal information is exactly what we recommend. ESD understands the importance of maintaining professional relationships. One thing I always tell clients: the fact that you're doing more than the minimum 3 activities per week shows you're taking your job search seriously. That's exactly the kind of effort ESD wants to see. Your instinct to document your strongest activities is spot-on. Keep doing what you're doing - you're clearly approaching this responsibly and thoughtfully. The anxiety is understandable but unnecessary in your case.