When I was on unemployment last year, I always wrote down my job searches in a notebook before entering them anywhere. Saved me a couple times when the website crashed or I had to use the phone. Just a tip!

To answer your question about deadlines - there's no hard deadline for entering job searches after filing by phone, but you should do it as soon as possible. If you're selected for a job search review (which can happen randomly), you'll typically be given a deadline to provide documentation. Pro tip: ESD recommends that you maintain your job search records for at least 60 days after the week you're claiming. So even if you enter them online, keep your own backup records with all the details (company name, contact info, position, application date, etc).

I don't mean to go off-topic, but I'm in a similar situation with my husband's PCS orders to South Korea. Did you also have trouble with the "actively seeking work" requirements? How are you handling job searches from overseas? I'm worried about that part of my claim.

One more thing to remember in your appeal: be sure to include the relevant parts of the UCMJ and Joint Travel Regulations that pertain to command-sponsored dependents. These federal regulations supersede state-level interpretations about your availability for work. Also, if you're having trouble getting through on the phone to discuss your appeal, try calling right when they open at 8:00 AM Pacific time - that's when wait times are shortest.

wait i'm confused arent standby and restart claim the same thing??? i thought standby was just what they call it when you go back on unemployment temporarily

Just wanted to add - make sure you restart your claim this week! You only have until Saturday to backdate it to when you were laid off on Wednesday. If you miss that window, you'll lose this week's benefits.

Anybody else notice adjudication takes WAY longer now than it did during COVID times? Back in 2021 I got through adjudication in like 10 days. Now they're taking months for some people. It's like they went back to not caring once the pandemic spotlight was off them.

Update: I took everyone's advice and kept filing my weekly claims. I also sent an additional message with a clear explanation letter about the retirement withdrawal being one-time and emergency-based. Still waiting but at least I feel like I've done everything possible. Thanks for all the support and information - this community has been super helpful while I navigate this stress.

I work in HR and see this constantly with our former employees. The problem is often that employers report wages to ESD quarterly, and sometimes there are discrepancies in how those reports get processed. The most common issues are with multi-state employers, name discrepancies on paystubs vs. SSA records, or employers who changed payroll systems mid-year. My advice: Call ESD again and specifically ask for a "wage investigation" to be added to your adjudication. This flags your case in a specific way that ensures all your documentation gets properly reviewed. And make sure ALL your paystubs are clearly labeled with which employer they're from if you worked multiple jobs.

my sister works for esd and she says there so backlogged right now!! they have tons of adjudicators out sick too. keep filing your weekly claims even tho they say disqualified cuz youll get back pay when its fixed. hang in there!!

when i was on unemployment they never checked my job search logs even once lol

To follow up on my earlier comment about standby status - if your start date is September 30, 2025, and you apply for standby now, you should be within the 12-week window. Make sure you upload your job offer letter with the specific start date clearly shown when you apply for standby. While waiting for standby approval, continue doing your job search activities just to be safe. Regarding the week you missed, you might be able to file an appeal for that specific week if it gets denied, explaining your misunderstanding of the requirements.

Based on your responses, it sounds like your claim might be temporarily in review because of the reported earnings. When you report earnings, especially if it's the first time or an irregular amount, it can sometimes trigger an automatic review. The system often puts a temporary hold on the ability to file while it assesses if your employment situation has changed. If the button doesn't reappear within 48 hours, I would definitely recommend contacting ESD directly. Make sure to have documentation of your one-day assignment (dates, hours, pay) ready when you speak with them. They might need to verify the information before allowing you to continue with weekly claims.

Just to give you some hope - my claim button came back after 3 days when this happened. Sometimes their system just glitches out. Try logging in from a different browser or clearing your cache too. ESD's website is notoriously temperamental.

One more important tip: when you file your claim, make sure to select "laid off" rather than "quit" on the initial application. Then in the explanation section, explain that you were constructively discharged due to substantial reduction in pay and worsening working conditions. This prevents your claim from being automatically flagged for denial, which often happens with claims marked as "quit." Be honest in your explanation, but framing it as a constructive discharge rather than a quit can help your case be viewed more favorably from the start.

Good luck getting through to ESD if they have questions!!! I spent 3 weeks calling EVERY DAY and couldnt get through. Their phone system is the absolute worst!!

This whole system is RIDICULOUS. They make everything so complicated on purpose to deny people benefits! Why can't they just make a simple checklist of what counts for job search? I had my claim denied because apparently I had "insufficient job search activities" even though I was applying to jobs EVERYDAY. Now I'm in appeals hell trying to get it fixed. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING!

Thank you everyone for all the helpful responses! I've gone ahead and logged it as a WorkSource activity with "WorkSourceWA.com" as the location. I'll also be attending their orientation workshop tomorrow which will count as my second activity. For my third activity, I've applied for a job I found on Indeed. Hopefully my claim goes through without any issues!

Has anyone else noticed that ESD seems to be flagging literally EVERYTHING for review lately? My coworker got flagged for "inconsistent work search activities" because he applied for jobs in two different industries. Like, hello? People need work wherever they can find it!

Update: I changed my direct deposit info yesterday and it went through fine! The system showed a confirmation message right away, and I took a screenshot like someone suggested. Also called ESD using that Claimyr service someone mentioned above and the agent confirmed the change was processed and my next payment should go to the new account without any delays. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for the advice!