I've been following this thread and wanted to add one more resource that really helped me during my unemployment stint last year - your local WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) office often hosts job fairs and career workshops that are open to everyone, not just WIC participants. I found out about several restaurant openings through their community bulletin board, and attending their "soft skills for hospitality workers" workshop counted as professional development. Also, don't forget that researching minimum wage laws and tip reporting requirements for different cities/counties counts as job search preparation! I spent time learning about how tip pooling works at different types of establishments, and when I got audited, ESD accepted this as legitimate research since it showed I was preparing to work in various restaurant formats. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier - if you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions, researching restaurants that specialize in accommodating those needs (and would value your personal experience) counts as employer research. For example, if you're gluten-free, reaching out to restaurants that specifically cater to gluten-free diners shows targeted job searching. The unemployment process can feel overwhelming at first, but you're asking all the right questions and clearly taking it seriously. With your 3 years of restaurant experience, you're going to be a very attractive candidate once you start applying. Hang in there!

Another tip that saved me during my unemployment period - keep track of your mileage if you're driving to any job search activities like interviews, job fairs, or networking events. While the mileage itself doesn't count as a separate activity, having detailed records shows ESD that you're genuinely putting in effort and spending resources on your job search. Also, I found it really helpful to set up job alerts on multiple platforms (Indeed, Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter, etc.) and save the confirmation emails. Each platform where you set up alerts counts as one job search activity, and the alerts help you stay on top of new postings without having to manually search every day. One more thing for restaurant workers specifically - if you're bilingual, make sure to research restaurants that serve cuisine from cultures where you speak the language. Even if you don't apply immediately, documenting your research into these establishments (their hiring needs, menu style, target clientele) counts as employer research and could lead to opportunities where your language skills are a major asset. The unemployment system can seem intimidating at first, but once you get into a rhythm of documenting everything properly, it becomes much more manageable. You've got this!

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone using Claimyr and found out my hold was because they needed to verify my job search activities. Even though I was doing everything correctly, they wanted additional documentation. Should be resolved in a few days now that I know what they need!

I went through something similar last year - my claim was on hold for almost 3 weeks with no explanation. Turns out it was triggered by a routine quality review where they randomly select claims to verify information. The frustrating part is they don't always send notifications right away, so you're left wondering what's wrong. My advice is to keep calling until you get someone who can look up your specific case and tell you exactly what documentation or information they need. Don't give up - these holds usually have simple solutions once you can actually talk to the right person.

I just wanted to chime in as someone who's been through this exact same panic! When I first saw "not adversely affected" on my Washington ESD claim status, I immediately assumed it was bad news because of how it's worded. Like others have mentioned, the term "adversely" just sounds so negative and official. I actually lost sleep over it for a couple nights before I found a forum post similar to this one that explained it's actually good news. It's really disappointing that Washington ESD doesn't provide clear, plain-English explanations for these status messages. We're already dealing with the stress of unemployment, and then they use confusing bureaucratic language that makes us worry unnecessarily. Thank you to everyone in this thread for sharing your experiences - it's so helpful to know that others have gone through the same confusion and that their payments came through fine. For anyone else reading this who's seeing the same status, don't panic like I did - it really does mean they reviewed something and decided it won't hurt your claim!

I'm experiencing the exact same thing right now! Just filed my weekly claim yesterday and saw "not adversely affected" pop up on my status page. Reading through all these responses has been such a huge relief - I was convinced it meant they found some problem with my claim. The wording really is terrible - why not just say "reviewed and approved" or something that actually sounds positive? I've been unemployed for two months now and every little status change sends me into a panic. It's so helpful to see that everyone else had the same reaction and that their payments went through normally. Hopefully mine will process in the next few days like others have mentioned. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this community is so much more helpful than trying to navigate Washington ESD's confusing website!

Emma, I can totally relate to that initial panic! I went through the same thing when I first started on unemployment last year. After reading through all the excellent advice everyone has shared, I wanted to add one more practical tip that really helped me - set up email alerts on job search websites like Indeed and LinkedIn for positions in your field. When you get those daily or weekly job alert emails, even just reviewing them and clicking through to read job descriptions counts as job search activity (you can document it as "researching employment opportunities" or "reviewing job market trends"). It's a great way to stay on top of new postings and can help fill in one of your weekly activities on slower weeks. Also, don't forget that if you have any professional licenses or certifications that need renewal, working on those counts as job search activity too since it maintains your qualifications for employment. Same goes for taking any online courses related to your field - even free ones on YouTube or LinkedIn Learning. You're getting such solid advice from everyone here, and I can tell you're going to handle this process really well. The first month is always the hardest because everything feels new and overwhelming, but once you establish your routine it becomes much more manageable!

Emma, you've gotten amazing advice here! I'm also new to unemployment (started about 6 weeks ago) and had the exact same panic at the beginning. One thing that really helped me was creating a "job search toolkit" on my computer desktop with folders for: - Screenshots of applications submitted - Email confirmations - Notes from networking conversations - Links to job fairs/workshops I attended Having everything in one place makes filing the weekly claims so much easier. Also, I discovered that many community colleges offer free career workshops that count as job search activities - things like "Interview Skills" or "Resume Building" seminars. These are great for weeks when job postings are slim and they actually help improve your chances! The WorkSource centers are also fantastic resources. The staff there can review your resume, help with job search strategies, and even provide letters confirming you attended their services (which is helpful documentation if ESD ever audits you). Don't be afraid to use all the resources available - you're entitled to them and they genuinely want to help you succeed. You're asking all the right questions and clearly taking this seriously, so you're going to do great!

I'm so sorry you're going through this incredibly difficult situation. Three months in adjudication while facing eviction and car repossession is absolutely heartbreaking, and you shouldn't have to fight this hard for benefits you're legally entitled to. Reading through all the amazing advice everyone has shared here, it's clear you now have a comprehensive battle plan that gives you the best shot at success. The combination of early morning ESD calls (7:45 AM sharp!), simultaneous legislative outreach, ombudsman filing, and emergency assistance through 211 seems like your strongest approach based on everyone's real experiences. What really stands out to me is how many people have emphasized doing ALL of these approaches at the same time rather than trying one and waiting. Time is clearly critical in your situation, and casting a wide net makes total sense. I'd also suggest keeping a detailed log of every contact you make tomorrow - who you spoke with, when, what they said, any reference numbers. This documentation trail will be super valuable as you follow up with different offices and could be crucial if you need to escalate further. The fact that multiple people here have had success breaking through similar situations with legislative help gives me real hope for you. Your persistence through 47 phone calls shows incredible strength - don't give up now when you have such a solid action plan. Please update us on what happens! Your experience could be a lifeline for the next person facing this nightmare. We're all pulling for you - you've got this! 💪

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this nightmare - being stuck in adjudication for 3 months while facing eviction is absolutely unacceptable. Reading through all these responses, you've gotten some incredible advice and I'm really hopeful one of these approaches will break through for you. One thing I wanted to add that might help: when you contact your legislators tomorrow, try to reach out to BOTH your state representative AND your state senator. Sometimes one office is more responsive or has better connections with ESD than the other. Also, many legislative offices have specific staff members who handle unemployment issues regularly - when you call, ask to speak with whoever handles "unemployment" or "ESD constituent services." The early morning calling strategy is spot-on too. I had success getting through to ESD around 7:50 AM when most people haven't started calling yet. If that doesn't work, also try right after 5 PM when the call volume sometimes drops as people assume they're closed. You've shown incredible persistence through this whole ordeal, and now you have a real action plan thanks to everyone's shared experiences. The combination of legislative pressure + ombudsman filing + emergency assistance seems like your best bet for getting movement on your claim. Please keep us posted on what works - your experience could really help others who find themselves in this same awful situation. We're all rooting for you! 🤞