My sister closed her claim and applied again 6 months later and they made her explain why she stopped filing the first time even tho she had a job... make sure u save your paystubs just in case!!

Congratulations on landing the job! Just to echo what others have said - you're doing the right thing by asking. The key points are: 1) File your final claim for any week you were fully unemployed, 2) Don't file for weeks where you're working full-time, and 3) Keep documentation of your start date and early paystubs. I went through this same process last fall and it was much simpler than I expected. The system really is designed for people to just stop filing when they find work. Good luck with the new position!

Bottom line: no waiting week in Washington, but still expect normal processing delays. File your weekly claims religiously and be patient. The system works but it's not fast.

Just to add my experience - I filed my Washington ESD claim last month and can confirm there's definitely no waiting week anymore. Got my first payment about 10 days after filing, which was just the normal processing time. Make sure you have all your employment info ready when you file and don't forget to register with WorkSource right away - that seemed to help speed things up for me. The key is staying on top of your weekly certifications even while waiting for initial approval.

If you mistakenly answered the school attendance question incorrectly, call ESD immediately to correct this. It's better to voluntarily correct the record than have them discover it later. As for your next steps: 1. File your appeal now - you only have 30 days from the denial notice 2. Simultaneously apply for the Training Benefits Program using form ESD 13-056 3. Continue filing weekly claims, answering all questions accurately 4. Gather documentation of your class schedule and a statement from your school confirming evening-only attendance 5. Prepare a written statement explaining how your class schedule does not interfere with your availability for full-time construction work The approval process for Training Benefits can take 2-4 weeks, but if approved, payments can be backdated to when you applied, assuming you've filed all your weekly claims.

I went through something similar when I was taking welding certification classes at night while collecting benefits. Here's what worked for me: I called ESD (took forever to get through) and explained that my classes were specifically to IMPROVE my construction skills, not change careers. They told me I could either appeal based on availability OR apply for training benefits. I chose the training route because it was less risky - once approved, you don't have to job search as long as you maintain good grades. The whole process took about 3 weeks but I got all my back pay. Pro tip: if your community college program is on their approved training list, the CAT application goes much faster. Check the ESD website for the list before you apply!

Bottom line - read all your correspondence from Washington ESD carefully, follow the rules exactly, be honest about everything, and don't be afraid to ask for help if you're confused about something.

The main disqualifications in Washington state are: 1) Being fired for misconduct (like theft, repeated policy violations, or excessive unexcused absences), 2) Quitting without good cause connected to work, 3) Not being able and available for work (due to health issues, school, childcare problems, etc.), 4) Refusing suitable work without good cause, 5) Not actively searching for jobs (you need 3 job contacts per week), 6) Not reporting income correctly, and 7) Fraud or providing false information. Each situation is evaluated individually, so even if you think you might be disqualified, it's worth applying and letting Washington ESD make the determination. If you do get disqualified, you have 30 days to appeal the decision.

thanks everyone for all the tips! i feel way more confident about keeping proper records now. going to start a detailed spreadsheet this week

I've been tracking my job search activities for about 8 months now and one thing I learned the hard way is to also document any follow-up activities. Like if you apply somewhere and then call a week later to check on your application status - that phone call counts as a separate work search activity! I wish I had known this earlier because I was doing tons of follow-ups but not counting them. Also, if you attend any virtual job fairs or webinars about job searching/career development, those count too. The key is just being really detailed about everything you do that's related to finding work.