Last resort option - if you absolutely cannot find your UI number anywhere, you can visit a WorkSource office in person and they can help you locate it. Bring photo ID and be prepared to verify your personal information.

SUCCESS UPDATE: Found my UI number in an email from Washington ESD titled 'Important Information About Your Weekly Claim Filing'. It was right at the top! Thanks everyone for helping me figure out where to look.

Good luck with whatever you decide! The job market for experienced workers is actually pretty good right now in Washington, especially if you're open to remote work or consulting.

As someone who went through a similar situation at 63, I can tell you that timing is everything. I initially planned to retire voluntarily but ended up waiting when I heard rumors about restructuring at my company. Sure enough, they offered voluntary buyouts first, then did layoffs six months later. Those who took the buyouts weren't eligible for UI, but those of us who got laid off were able to collect benefits while job searching. The key is being genuinely available for work - I had to prove I was actively looking and willing to take suitable employment. It's worth noting that "suitable work" standards do relax somewhat after you've been unemployed for a while, but initially they expect you to seek work similar to your previous position.

Hey there! As someone who was recently on unemployment after being laid off from a tech company, I wanted to share a few additional tips that helped me stay organized with job search activities: 1. **Set up Google Alerts** for job postings in your field - this counts as "researching potential employers" and helps you stay on top of new openings 2. **Attend virtual career meetups** - there are tons on Meetup.com and Eventbrite that are industry-specific and count as networking activities 3. **Take free online courses** related to your field on platforms like Coursera or LinkedIn Learning - these count as skills development activities For the restaurant industry specifically, I'd suggest checking out ServSafe certification courses if you don't already have it, or brushing up on food safety training. Many employers love to see that initiative. One last thing - when you're documenting activities, be as specific as possible. Instead of writing "applied to restaurant job," write "Applied for Server position at Olive Garden on 15th Ave, submitted application through company website, confirmation #XYZ123." The more detail you have, the better if you ever get audited. Good luck with your job search! The restaurant industry is bouncing back strong right now, so hopefully you'll find something soon.

I just wanted to chime in as someone who recently went through the unemployment process after being laid off from my retail job. One thing that really helped me stay organized was setting up a weekly schedule for my job search activities. I'd dedicate Monday mornings to applying for jobs, Tuesday afternoons to updating my resume or LinkedIn profile, and Wednesday evenings to attending virtual networking events or WorkSource workshops. This approach helped me stay consistent with meeting the 3-activity requirement each week, and it also made my job search feel more structured and less overwhelming. Plus, having a routine meant I was less likely to scramble at the last minute when filing my weekly claim. For restaurant work specifically, I'd suggest checking out industry-specific job boards like CulinaryAgents.com or RestaurantJobs.com in addition to the usual sites. Creating profiles on these specialized platforms counts as job search activities too, and they often have positions that aren't posted elsewhere. Also, don't forget that attending food service training refreshers (even online ones) can count as skills development activities. Many community colleges offer short courses on topics like wine service, POS systems, or customer service that could make you a stronger candidate while fulfilling your weekly requirements. Hang in there - the fact that you're being proactive about understanding the requirements shows you're taking this seriously, which will serve you well!

Just to wrap this up with the key points: 1) Reduced hours due to lack of work = likely eligible, 2) Report all earnings honestly on weekly claims, 3) Keep doing job searches, 4) File every week even if you think you won't get paid, 5) Keep good records. The system is designed to help people in exactly your situation, so don't hesitate to use it.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also check if your employer offers any work-sharing programs before filing for partial unemployment. Some companies in Washington participate in SharedWork programs where they can reduce everyone's hours instead of laying people off, and the state supplements your reduced wages. It might be worth asking your manager about this option - it could benefit both you and your coworkers who are also dealing with reduced hours. If that's not available, then definitely go ahead with the partial unemployment claim as everyone else has suggested!

This thread has been absolutely amazing to read through as someone new to this community! @Angelina Farar, your persistence through that 7-week ordeal is truly inspiring - the fact that you had to make 23 calls just to discover an identity verification issue they never told you about shows how broken ESD's communication system really is. But seeing you finally get all 7 weeks of backpay at once must have been such an incredible relief! What really strikes me is how this evolved from a cry for help into the most comprehensive ESD survival guide I've ever seen. The strategies everyone shared here - calling at exactly 8:00am, contacting state reps, proactive document uploads, using Claimyr, documenting everything - these are the real-world solutions that actually work but you'd never find in official ESD guidance. It's both frustrating and incredible that we have to crowdsource basic information about accessing benefits we've already been approved for. The identity verification black hole seems to be affecting so many people based on all the stories here - clearly this is a massive systemic issue ESD needs to fix ASAP. But until they do, this thread is going to be invaluable for anyone stuck in pending limbo. I'm definitely bookmarking this for future reference and to share with others who might need it. Thank you for sharing your complete journey and proving that persistence really does pay off when you know the right approaches. This is exactly what community support should look like when government systems fail us!

This thread is absolutely incredible and has become the most valuable resource for anyone dealing with ESD's broken system! As a complete newcomer to this community, I'm blown away by @Angelina Farar's incredible persistence through that 7-week nightmare - the fact that you were approved but still had to wait almost 2 months for payments because of an identity verification issue they never bothered to tell you about is just stunning incompetence on ESD's part. What really amazes me is how this thread transformed from a desperate plea for help into the most comprehensive ESD survival guide on the internet. The collective wisdom everyone shared here - calling at exactly 8:00am, contacting state representatives, proactive document uploads, using services like Claimyr, documenting every interaction - these are the real-world strategies that actually work but are completely missing from official ESD guidance. It's both infuriating and inspiring that we have to crowdsource solutions just to access benefits we've already been approved for, but this community support is exactly what people need when government institutions fail us. The identity verification black hole seems to be trapping so many people based on all the experiences shared here - clearly this is a massive systemic issue ESD desperately needs to address. Your determination making 23 calls that morning shows what it really takes to break through their bureaucratic wall, and seeing you finally get all 7 weeks of backpay must have been such an enormous relief! This thread should honestly be required reading for anyone dealing with ESD's pending claim nightmare. I'm definitely bookmarking this entire conversation to share with others who might need these battle-tested strategies. Thank you for documenting your complete journey and proving that persistence really does pay off when you know the right approaches. This is exactly what community support looks like when systems fail us!