Stay strong and keep filing those weekly claims! The back pay will come eventually and hopefully your decision arrives soon. It's a broken system but don't let them wear you down.

I'm going through a similar situation right now - filed my appeal in September and had my hearing in October, still waiting for the decision. It's incredibly stressful when you're counting on that income to pay rent and utilities. One thing that's helped me stay sane is setting a specific day each week to check for updates rather than obsessively checking every day. Also seconding what others said about continuing to file weekly claims - I almost made that mistake too until someone on here warned me. Hang in there, it sounds like you have a strong case with the documentation you mentioned.

Just to follow up on this thread - there's actually a benefit to this change that isn't immediately obvious. The separate job search log allows you to enter activities throughout the week as you complete them, rather than having to remember all details when you file your weekly claim. It also lets you copy previous job search entries if you're applying to multiple positions at the same company, which saves time. The new system also allows for more detailed documentation, which can be helpful if you ever have to prove your job search activities during an audit or appeal. You can upload screenshots or confirmation emails directly to each job search entry.

I'm so glad I found this thread! I was panicking when I couldn't find the job search section during my weekly claim filing yesterday. I thought maybe my browser was glitching or something. It's frustrating that they made such a big change without making it super obvious WHERE the new section is located. For anyone else looking for it - when you log into eServices, it's under the "Unemployment Services" menu, then "Job Search Log." It took me forever to find it! I wish they had put up a banner or something during the transition period to let people know about the change.

Based on everyone's responses here, it sounds like their communication is inconsistent. Your safest bet is to be proactive rather than waiting. One thing you can do immediately is upload a message through your PFML portal asking them to confirm if your documentation is complete. Sometimes that triggers them to review your file sooner. Also, if you're worried about the specific medical certification form, you could upload both versions just to be safe. It won't hurt your claim to have extra documentation. Just make sure to label them clearly when uploading.

I went through this exact same stress with my PFML claim a few months ago! Here's what I learned: ESD is SUPPOSED to notify you about missing docs, but it's not always reliable. Sometimes the notifications get buried in your portal, sometimes they go to spam, and sometimes (unfortunately) they just don't send them at all. My advice: Don't wait passively. Log into your PFML portal every single day and check both your messages AND your claim status page. Look for any "pending" items or requests for additional information. If you see anything that says "under review" for more than 10 business days, that's when I'd start getting worried. Also, since you mentioned having multiple versions of the medical form - when in doubt, upload the most recent/comprehensive one. I made the mistake of uploading an incomplete form and had to restart my whole claim process. Better to over-document than under-document with ESD. You've got this! The waiting is the worst part, but most claims do get approved eventually if you stay on top of it.

Wait I'm confused about one thing. If your husband is in a union, does he automatically get the job search requirements waived? My brother is a union ironworker and I thought he still had to do the job search stuff when he claimed last year? Or maybe he wasn't doing something right?

Just wanted to add from my experience - even though standby status doesn't eliminate the waiting week, it does make the whole process smoother once benefits start. I was on standby through my electrical union last winter and while I still had to serve the waiting week, I didn't have any of the usual hassles about proving I was looking for work. The key thing is making sure your union has submitted all the proper paperwork to ESD beforehand. Also, definitely keep filing those weekly claims even for partial work weeks - I made the mistake of skipping one thinking it wouldn't matter and it delayed my benefits by two weeks while they sorted it out.

Also remember that even if you get denied initially, you can appeal the decision. A lot of people give up after the first denial but the appeals process exists for a reason.

Just to add another perspective - if you're working multiple part-time jobs and one of them cuts your hours or lets you go, you can still file for partial unemployment benefits even if you're still working the other job(s). Washington ESD will calculate your benefits based on the reduced income. A lot of people don't realize this and think you have to be completely unemployed to file a claim.