Thanks everyone for all this advice! I feel way more confident about managing my work search requirements now. Going to start a spreadsheet today and be more systematic about everything.

I just wanted to share what's been working for me - I created a simple template in Google Docs that I fill out each time I do a work search activity. It has fields for date, company name, position title, method of contact, and a notes section. Then I just copy and paste the info when I file my weekly claim. Having a consistent format makes it so much easier to stay organized and I never forget important details. Plus Google Docs saves everything automatically so I don't have to worry about losing my records.

UPDATE: I had my appeal hearing yesterday and I want to thank everyone for the advice. The judge was WAY more understanding than the original adjudicator. I presented emails showing the increased workload, text messages to family about my deteriorating mental state, and had my former coworker testify about the conditions. The judge seemed particularly interested in the fact that I had gone to my manager's boss with concerns that were ignored. She said they'll mail the decision in 2-3 weeks, but honestly I feel hopeful for the first time since this started. Even if I don't win, at least someone finally listened to my side of the story without making me feel worthless for prioritizing my health.

That's such great news Omar! The fact that the judge was actually listening and asking thoughtful questions is a really positive sign. You did exactly what you needed to do - presented concrete evidence, had witness testimony, and showed you tried to resolve things internally first. The difference between adjudicators and hearing judges is like night and day. The judges actually understand that people don't just quit good jobs for fun, especially parents with bills to pay. Your case sounds strong based on everything you presented. Keeping my fingers crossed for you! And honestly, even just having someone in authority validate that your situation was legitimate must have felt incredible after that awful initial phone interview. You should be proud of yourself for fighting this.

Last resort option - you can actually file your weekly claim over the phone if you absolutely can't get into the website. The automated phone system for weekly claims is separate from the regular customer service line. The number should be on your paperwork from when you first filed your claim.

UPDATE: I tried the incognito browser suggestion and it worked! I was able to log in immediately. Thanks everyone for all the help. Turns out it was some kind of browser cache issue after all.

Thanks for posting this question! I've been wondering about the same thing with a potential settlement from a workplace accident (not workers comp related). Good to know these types of settlements generally don't affect unemployment benefits.

I went through something similar last year with a personal injury settlement from a slip and fall. Washington ESD didn't reduce my benefits at all since it wasn't work-related income. The key is being upfront about it when you file your weekly claim. I reported it under "other income" with a brief explanation that it was a personal injury settlement unrelated to employment. They reviewed it for about 10 days and then confirmed it wouldn't affect my benefits. Just make sure you keep all your settlement paperwork in case they ask for documentation later. The transparency really helps avoid any issues down the road.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm bookmarking this for future reference. One thing I'd add for anyone still struggling - if you're using Safari on Mac, try switching to Chrome or Firefox. Safari has some weird compatibility issues with the ESD site that cause similar login loops. Also, make sure your browser is updated to the latest version. I spent hours troubleshooting only to find out my Chrome was like 6 months out of date and that was causing the redirects to fail. The whole SAW integration is honestly a mess, but at least there are workarounds!

Just wanted to add another potential fix that worked for me when I had the same issue last year - if you're still getting stuck in loops even after following all the great advice here, try logging into SAW from an incognito/private browser window. Sometimes cached session data from previous login attempts can interfere with the authentication process. Also, I noticed that if you have multiple Washington state services linked to your SAW account (like licensing, voting registration, etc.), it can sometimes cause conflicts. In my case, I had to temporarily remove my business license service from SAW, add the unemployment insurance service, complete the setup, and then re-add the business license later. It's a pain but it worked when nothing else did!