I'm in a similar situation - laid off from my retail job but also do part-time work as a substitute teacher. From what I've learned through this process, the key is being completely transparent with ESD about everything. When you file your weekly claims, always report the volunteer firefighter hours and the $40 stipend. I use the online system and there's a section where you can add notes - I always write something like "volunteer firefighter stipend" so it's crystal clear what the income is from. One thing that helped me was calling my local WorkSource office (not ESD directly, but they can often answer questions). They confirmed that as long as I'm actively job searching and available for full-time work, my substitute teaching doesn't hurt my claim. Also, keep records of your volunteer schedule and any communication with the fire department about your flexibility. If ESD ever questions your availability, you'll want to show them that you can adjust your volunteer hours around job interviews or if you get hired. Good luck with both the job search and the volunteer work - it's great that you're giving back to your community during this time!

I'm actually in a very similar boat! Just got my layoff notice from the warehouse where I work, and I've been volunteering with our local search and rescue team for the past two years. We get a small stipend too - about $25 per call, which isn't much but it does add up. From what I've researched so far, the most important thing is being completely upfront about everything when you file your weekly claims. I've been documenting all my SAR activities and keeping track of the flexibility I have with scheduling. Our coordinator is really understanding about people having job interviews or work commitments. One thing I'm curious about - have you thought about how the volunteer firefighter experience might actually help with your job search? I know a lot of employers really value that kind of community service background, especially the reliability and teamwork aspects. Might be worth highlighting on applications even if it's not paid work. Also, I've heard that some people actually use their volunteer work as networking opportunities for job leads. Fire departments work with lots of local businesses and contractors - you never know who might know about job openings in manufacturing! Keep us posted on how it goes with ESD. Your situation is helping me think through my own approach when I file in a few weeks.

Thank you so much everyone for all the help and advice! I'll give it until next Friday, and if nothing's changed by then I'll try calling, using Claimyr if needed, and reaching out to my state rep if all else fails. I'll update here when something happens in case it helps someone else in the future.

I've been through this exact nightmare! Won my OAH appeal in December and it took ESD almost 3 weeks to update my account status and release the funds. The worst part is there's literally no way to track the progress - you just have to wait and hope they eventually process it. A few things that helped me: I called every few days starting at exactly 8am when they opened (better chance of getting through), and I also filed a complaint with the state auditor's office about the delays. Not sure if that actually helped, but I felt like I was doing something. Also make sure you screenshot your current account status showing "disqualified" so you have documentation of the delay in case you need it for your landlord or creditors. When the money finally comes through, it should be the full amount plus any interest they owe you for the delay. Hang in there - you've already won the hardest part! The money will come, it's just ESD's broken system that makes everything take forever.

Update: I called ESD this morning at exactly 8:00am and miraculously got through after only a 45 minute wait! The agent confirmed they received my appeal decision and said my payment is being processed now. Should hit my account within 5-7 business days. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!

That's amazing news about your appeal reversal! I went through something similar with my former employer claiming job abandonment when I was actually terminated for "restructuring." Won my appeal in January and it took exactly 12 business days to see the money in my account. One thing I learned - make sure to screenshot your account showing the judge's decision and your eligibility status. I had a weird glitch where my account briefly showed "disqualified" again for like 2 days before the payment processed, and having those screenshots helped when I called ESD in a panic. Also, while you're waiting, double-check that your direct deposit info is current in eServices. A friend of mine had her payment delayed because her bank account info was outdated and the payment bounced back to ESD. Hope you see that money soon - $6,680 will definitely help with the landlord situation!

Quick update based on recent information: ESD is currently working through a backlog of claims from December and January. Many claims from December 8-15 should be processed within the next two weeks according to their latest internal timeline. Keep filing those weekly claims and make sure to check your correspondence inbox in eServices daily.

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now. Filed my claim in mid-December and still stuck in adjudication with zero explanation. What's really frustrating is that I have all my documentation ready - termination letter clearly shows layoff due to company restructuring, W-2s, everything. But the system just sits there doing nothing while bills pile up. Has anyone had luck with contacting their state representatives? I'm at the point where I'm considering reaching out to my local legislators office to see if they can put pressure on ESD to actually process these claims. This can't be legal to just leave people hanging for months without any communication or timeline. Also keeping detailed records of every attempt to contact them in case I need to file a complaint later. This whole situation is beyond unacceptable.

Just went through this exact same situation a few months ago! The confusion is totally understandable because DoorDash feels like you're working for them, but legally you're an independent contractor. When I called Washington ESD (took forever to get through), they confirmed that ALL gig work - DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, etc. - gets reported as self-employment income, not wages. The key thing is to report your gross earnings for the week you actually received the payment, not when you did the work. So if you worked last Sunday but DoorDash paid you on Tuesday, that income goes on the claim for the week you got paid. Keep detailed records of everything - dates, amounts, which week each payment belongs to. It'll save you headaches if they ever audit your claim. Good luck with everything!

I went through this exact same confusion when I started doing gig work while on unemployment! The Washington ESD website really could be clearer about this. What helped me was understanding that when you work for DoorDash, you're technically self-employed - they send you a 1099 at the end of the year, not a W-2. So on your weekly claim, look for the section that asks about self-employment earnings and report your gross amount there (before any deductions for gas, etc.). Don't put DoorDash in the employer section at all. I learned this the hard way after initially reporting it wrong and having to call to get it corrected. Also, just a heads up - they'll typically reduce your weekly benefit amount by whatever you earned minus a small allowance (I think it's like $5), so factor that into your planning. But honestly, even with the reduction, the extra income really helps while you're job searching.