I'm a former ESD appeals examiner and want to add some insider info that might help. When filing your appeal, be very specific in your written statement that your husband is a "union member with exclusive hiring hall privileges" and cite WAC 192-220-045, which covers the job search exemption for union members. Also, include documentation showing he's current on union dues and registered with the dispatch system. The more documentation you provide upfront, the faster your appeal will be processed. Most union-related appeals like this are pretty straightforward wins if you have the right paperwork. One more tip: if the first ESD agent you speak with doesn't seem familiar with union dispatch status, politely ask to speak with a supervisor. Some newer agents aren't as familiar with the union exemptions.

Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble getting through to ESD by phone, you can also try using the secure messaging system in your online account. I've had better luck getting responses that way, especially for status changes like requesting StandBy/union dispatch status. It usually takes 3-5 business days to get a response, but at least you don't have to sit on hold forever. When you message them, be sure to include your husband's social security number, claim confirmation number, and specifically mention that he needs "StandBy status for union member with exclusive hiring hall dispatch system" and reference his Local 41 membership. Attach any union documentation you have right in that first message. Also, while waiting for resolution, make sure he's checking in with the hall daily if possible - not just weekly. The more documentation of his availability through the proper union channels, the stronger your appeal case will be.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Forgot to file yesterday because I was dealing with a work crisis that ran into the weekend. Reading through all these responses has been such a relief - I had no idea Washington ESD gave you until Saturday to file. I was picturing having to explain to my landlord why rent would be late this month! Definitely going to set up those phone reminders everyone's talking about. Sometimes it takes a little panic to make you realize how much these weekly filings have become part of your routine. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is amazing for getting real answers instead of trying to decode government websites!

I just wanted to jump in and share my experience since I see so many people going through the same stress I did a few months ago. I missed filing on Sunday twice during my claim period - once because of a family emergency and another time because I was just completely overwhelmed with job interviews and lost track of what day it was. Both times I was convinced I'd screwed everything up, but Washington ESD really is as forgiving as everyone here is saying. Filed on Wednesday the first time and Thursday the second time, and both payments came through normally just a day or two later than usual. The thing that really helped me was realizing that ESD processes thousands of claims every week - they're not sitting there monitoring whether you filed on Sunday versus Tuesday. As long as you're consistent about filing within that Saturday deadline, you're golden. Setting up multiple reminders is definitely the way to go though - I learned that lesson the hard way!

Just wanted to share my recent experience with this exact situation! I was on Training Benefits for a dental assistant program and started working 15 hours/week at a retail job. The key is being super transparent with ESD from day one. When I started working, I called them directly to let them know and they actually appreciated the heads up. They walked me through exactly how to report my earnings and even helped me calculate what my weekly benefits would look like. One tip: keep a simple spreadsheet tracking your weekly hours and gross pay - it makes filling out the weekly claims so much easier and helps you plan ahead to make sure you don't accidentally earn too much in any given week. The combination of Training Benefits plus part-time income actually worked out great financially and I was able to complete my program without any issues!

I'm in a similar boat - just got approved for Training Benefits for a cybersecurity program and was offered a part-time remote job. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! One thing I wanted to add is that if you're doing an online/hybrid program like mine, make sure ESD knows your exact class schedule including any virtual components. I had to submit my detailed course schedule as part of my approval process, and I think having that documentation upfront will help if there are any questions later about work conflicts. Also, for anyone else reading this - the ESD website has a benefit calculator tool, but as others mentioned, it doesn't always work perfectly. I've found it helpful to do the math manually using the formula Connor shared (subtract $5, multiply remainder by 0.75, subtract from weekly benefit amount) and then double-check with the online tool if it's working. Planning to start my part-time work next week and feeling much more confident after reading everyone's experiences here!

I'm new to this community but wanted to add my perspective after successfully navigating this process! I worked as a "freelance" data analyst for a consulting firm for 11 months, but they required me to work their standard business hours, use their proprietary analysis software, attend mandatory client presentations, and even complete their internal training modules. Despite getting 1099s, the working relationship was clearly more like employment. When my contract ended, I filed for unemployment benefits and Washington ESD took about 6 weeks to review my case. They ultimately ruled I was misclassified and approved my claim! The key was documenting their control over my work methods - I submitted emails showing required hours, training completion certificates, and meeting schedules that proved I wasn't operating as a true independent contractor. Don't let the 1099 classification discourage you from filing if your client controlled when, where, and how you worked. Washington ESD really does look at the substance of the working relationship rather than just the paperwork. The financial relief during job searching made the wait completely worth it!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience as someone who just went through this process! I was working as a "freelance" video editor for a media company for about 8 months, but they controlled nearly every aspect of my work - required me to be in their office during specific hours, use their Adobe Premiere licenses and file servers, attend weekly creative reviews, and even had me sign timesheets. When they ended my contract last month, I was really unsure about filing for unemployment since I'd only ever gotten 1099s from them. But after reading Washington's worker classification guidelines and seeing all these success stories, I decided to apply anyway. It took Washington ESD about 8 weeks to make their determination, but they ruled that I was misclassified as a contractor when I should have been an employee! The documentation that really helped was showing their control over my schedule (emails requiring office hours), their equipment requirements, and evidence of the mandatory meetings and reviews. I ended up getting approved for benefits plus backpay for the entire review period. My advice to anyone in a similar situation is definitely file - the 1099s don't tell the whole story if your working relationship looked and felt like employment. Washington ESD really does investigate thoroughly and fairly!

Just want to add that if anyone else is in this situation, don't let anxiety stop you from making the call! I was terrified to report my late income change last year, but the DSHS worker I spoke with said they appreciate when people self-report rather than trying to hide it. They deal with these situations all the time and are generally understanding. The key is being honest about the timeline and showing that you're trying to do the right thing. Also, keep detailed notes of your call - date, time, worker's name, and what was discussed. This can be really helpful if there are any issues later.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! I was so stressed about it, but it really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I waited about 3 weeks to report my unemployment benefits to DSHS and when I finally called, the caseworker was actually understanding. She explained that they see this all the time because people don't always realize UI counts as income that needs to be reported. They recalculated my EBT benefits going forward and I did have a small overpayment (around $180), but they let me pay it back gradually by reducing my monthly benefits by like $30 until it was paid off. The most important thing is that you're reporting it now rather than continuing to wait. Don't beat yourself up about it - just make the call and get it sorted out!