Just wanted to follow up - since you found and completed that missed questionnaire, that's good news! That was likely what triggered the adjudication in the first place. When they don't receive responses to their questions, the system automatically puts claims on hold. Now that you've responded, call attention to it by trying to reach an agent who might be able to expedite the review now that they have the information they needed.

I went through something very similar earlier this year - filed in September and everything was processing normally until suddenly it went into adjudication in early October. Turned out ESD had sent me a separation questionnaire that I completely missed because I wasn't checking my eServices inbox regularly enough. Once I found and completed it, my claim was approved within 10 days and I got all my back pay. The key lesson I learned is to check your eServices account every single day, not just when you file your weekly claims. They don't always send email notifications for important documents. Since you already found and completed that questionnaire, you're probably in much better shape now. Keep filing weekly and hang in there!

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I'm going to get documentation from my doctor this week and submit the exemption request. Hopefully Washington ESD will approve it so I can focus on healing instead of pretending to look for jobs I can't do.

I went through a similar situation with Washington ESD last year when I had carpal tunnel surgery. The key is being very specific in your doctor's documentation. My orthopedic surgeon had to write that I was "medically unable to perform repetitive hand motions required for data entry, typing, or manual labor" and gave specific weight restrictions. Generic letters saying you're "unable to work" won't cut it. Also, submit everything through the online portal AND follow up with a phone call (or use that Claimyr service if you can't get through). The whole process took about 3 weeks for me, but it was worth it to not have to fake apply for jobs I couldn't physically do. Keep documenting your job searches until you get official approval though - don't risk your benefits over a technicality.

Quick update on the rules: For 2025, ESD updated their guidelines a bit. After the first 10 weeks of unemployment, you're expected to consider jobs paying at least 80% of your previous wage. After 15 weeks, this drops to 75%. Only after 20+ weeks are you expected to consider positions below 70% of your previous wage. Since you're only at week 6 and the offer is 50% of your previous wage, you're well within your rights to decline. The requirement to pay for your own training strengthens your case further. Keep up with your job search activities (minimum 3 per week) and document everything carefully!

I went through something very similar last year - was making $78K in marketing and got offered a $35K retail management position that required me to complete unpaid training for 2 weeks before starting. I was terrified about declining it, but after consulting with an ESD agent, I learned that the unpaid training requirement alone made it "unsuitable work." Key things that helped my case: - The job required personal financial investment (your $750 certification) - Salary was less than 50% of previous wage - Completely different career field - I had only been unemployed for 7 weeks I reported it honestly on my weekly claim, attached the job offer email, and included a brief explanation. ESD approved my decision within a week with no issues. The agent even told me that employers who require workers to pay upfront costs are often trying to take advantage of desperate job seekers. You made the right call declining this offer. Keep documenting your job search efforts and applying for positions in your field. The fact that you're only 6 weeks in and they offered you something requiring out-of-pocket expenses makes this a pretty clear-cut case of unsuitable work.

Hope you get this sorted out quickly! These kinds of claim issues are so stressful when you're already dealing with being unemployed. Let us know what happens when you call Washington ESD.

I had a similar "ineligible week" issue a few months ago and it was nerve-wracking! In my case, it turned out to be because I had reported being "unable to work" one day due to illness, but I answered the question incorrectly. Even though I was only sick for one day and could work the rest of the week, the way I answered made it look like I was unavailable for the entire week. The key is to be very careful about how you interpret those weekly questions - they're asking about your availability for the ENTIRE week, not just individual days. When I called Washington ESD (took several tries to get through), they explained that if you're unavailable for work for any reason during the week, you need to report it very specifically or it can flag the whole week as ineligible. They were able to correct it once I explained what happened. Definitely call as soon as possible because the longer you wait, the more complicated it can become to resolve.

One more thing - make sure you're clear on when your severance actually ends so you know when to expect full benefits to kick in. Mark it on your calendar so you're not surprised by the timing.

Just wanted to add that when you're reporting your severance payments each week, make sure you're reporting the gross amount (before taxes) not the net amount you actually receive. Washington ESD bases their calculations on the gross severance amount. I made this mistake initially and had to correct it later, which caused some confusion in my claim. The weekly claim form should be pretty clear about this, but it's worth mentioning since tax withholdings can make the amounts look quite different.