For anyone following this thread who's curious about job search activities beyond the videos - ESD accepts a wide range of activities including informational interviews, networking events, and creating profiles on job boards. I found it helpful to mix up my activities each week. Also, for the phone claim system: if you have any special situations like working part-time or being on standby, the phone system will ask additional questions. Just answer honestly and carefully. If you make a mistake, there's usually an option to go back and correct it before submitting.

Just wanted to add my experience with both of these! For the videos, I've been using them regularly and they're honestly a lifesaver when you can't get to WorkSource in person. The key thing is to make sure you're logged into your WorkSourceWA account BEFORE you start watching - I made the mistake of watching a whole video without being logged in and it didn't count at all. One tip: if you're having trouble finding the videos, try searching for "virtual workshops" in the WorkSourceWA system - sometimes they're listed under that category instead of just "videos." For the phone system, I've used it several times when my laptop was acting up. The 800-318-6022 number works great, but here's something nobody mentioned - if you have direct deposit set up, the system will ask if you want to confirm your banking info. Just be ready for that question so you don't get thrown off. The whole process usually takes about 5-7 minutes if you have all your info ready. Good luck with your claim!

Thank you! I'll update here if I run into any other questions after the workshop.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this process about 6 months ago after being laid off from my warehouse job. The job search requirements definitely seem overwhelming at first, but you'll get the hang of it quickly! A few additional tips that helped me: - Set up job alerts on Indeed, LinkedIn, and company websites - when you respond to these alerts, make sure to note the source in your log - Don't forget that updating your resume or LinkedIn profile can count as a job search activity (but don't overuse this one) - If you have any professional certifications or licenses that need renewal, working on those can sometimes count too The WorkSource workshops are honestly a game-changer. I did their "Interviewing Skills" workshop and it helped me land my current position. They also have one-on-one career counseling sessions that count toward your weekly requirements. One thing I learned the hard way - always save confirmation emails and take screenshots of online applications. I had one company's website crash right after I submitted an application and almost lost that documentation. Now I screenshot everything immediately after hitting submit. You're being smart by asking these questions upfront. Better to be over-prepared than scrambling later!

Just wanted to add - if your part-time job ever increases to full-time hours or you start earning more than your weekly benefit amount plus the disregard, that's when you would stop filing weekly claims. But keep documentation in case the job ends and you need to reopen your claim.

Congratulations on the new job! You're asking all the right questions. Based on what everyone's shared here, it sounds like you have a solid understanding now - report the work for the weeks you actually work (not when hired or paid), use gross wages, keep filing your weekly claims, and maintain your job search activities since it's part-time. With 25 hours/week you should definitely still qualify for partial benefits. The Washington ESD system seems pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it. Best of luck with the new position!

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! We logged in last night and were able to file the weekly certification for the missed week and the current week. The system did allow retroactive filing, which was a relief! The doctor provided really detailed documentation about his construction accident injuries and recovery timeline, so hopefully that helps with the approval process. Now we just wait and keep doing the weekly certifications. I'll update here when we get an approval decision in case it helps someone else.

Just wanted to add something important that I learned the hard way - if your partner is getting treatment through workers' compensation for this construction accident, make sure to clarify with both programs about coordination of benefits. PFML and workers' comp can sometimes overlap, and you don't want any issues with duplicate payments that might need to be repaid later. Also, for the weekly certifications, keep copies of everything you submit. The PFML system sometimes has glitches where submitted certifications don't show up properly in your claim history. Having your own records can save you headaches if there are any disputes about whether you filed on time. Hope his recovery goes smoothly!

update: finally got through to someone at esd today!!! they said theres a delay with PFML 1099Gs this year affecting tons of people. they're still sending them out in batches. the rep said we should all have them by feb 25 latest. just fyi for anyone else waiting!!

I'm going through the exact same thing! I received PFML benefits for 4 weeks last summer and still haven't gotten my 1099G form. I tried logging into the paidleave.wa.gov portal like others mentioned but it's showing nothing in my tax documents section. It's so frustrating because I want to file my taxes but don't want to mess anything up with the IRS. Has anyone had luck calling the PFML customer service line directly instead of regular ESD? I'm wondering if they have a separate number that might have shorter wait times.