I went through this exact same frustration last year and want to share what finally worked for me. You're right that there are no walk-in ESD offices anymore, but I found a few things that actually helped: **What worked best for me:** 1. **Legislative help** - I contacted my state rep's office and they have staff specifically trained to handle ESD cases. They were able to get my adjudication moving within days after I'd been stuck for 7 weeks. 2. **ESD Executive Services** - There's a separate number for escalated cases: (360) 902-9500. Ask to speak with someone in Executive Services if your claim has been in adjudication over 4 weeks. 3. **WorkSource limitation workaround** - While WorkSource can't fix claims directly, some locations have "navigator" staff who know the ESD system better and can help you craft more effective eServices messages or identify what documentation might be missing from your file. **For the Tacoma area specifically:** The WorkSource at 2121 S State St has been more helpful than others I've tried. Ask for a "benefits navigator" if available. Don't give up - 5 weeks in adjudication is definitely grounds for escalation. The system is designed poorly, but there are people within it who can help if you reach the right ones. Document every interaction and keep pushing through multiple channels simultaneously.

I went through a similar 6-week adjudication nightmare last fall and want to share what finally broke it loose. Since you're in Tacoma, here's what I'd recommend trying simultaneously: **Most effective approach:** Contact Rep. Mari Leavey's office at (360) 786-7896. Her constituent services staff (ask for Sarah) handle ESD cases regularly and have direct lines into the system that bypass normal channels. They got my case moving in 3 business days after weeks of getting nowhere. **Secondary backup:** Call the ESD Ombuds line at (360) 902-9000 and file a formal complaint about the delay. They track these and can sometimes expedite cases that have been stuck unreasonably long. **Local resource:** The Tacoma WorkSource at 2121 S State St has a benefits specialist named Mike who actually knows the ESD system well (unlike most WorkSource staff). He can't fix your claim directly but can help you identify what specific documentation or clarification might be missing that's holding up your adjudication. **Important:** Keep filing your weekly claims even while stuck in adjudication! I almost missed out on 6 weeks of back pay because I stopped filing thinking my claim was "paused." The system is absolutely broken, but these specific contacts have helped multiple people I know get unstuck. Don't give up - 5 weeks is definitely long enough to escalate through multiple channels. Good luck!

Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here. Going through unemployment is stressful enough without having to worry about basic necessities like food. It's good to know there are options and that the systems can work together to help people get back on their feet.

Just wanted to share my recent experience - I applied for SNAP while on Washington ESD unemployment about 3 months ago and it's been a huge help. My weekly UI benefit is $380 and I was approved for $194/month in SNAP benefits as a single person household. The application process was straightforward once I had all my documents ready (unemployment determination letter, bank statements, lease agreement). The phone interview was actually pretty quick - maybe 15 minutes. One tip: make sure to keep copies of everything you submit because they might ask for the same documents again later if anything changes with your case. Don't let pride get in the way of getting help you're entitled to!

I'm new to this whole unemployment + gig work situation and this thread has been super helpful! I just started doing Instacart deliveries while on partial UI benefits and was totally confused about the reporting. Based on what everyone is saying, it sounds like I should be tracking my mileage, keeping gas receipts, and calculating my net earnings each week rather than just reporting what Instacart pays me before their fees. Quick question - for mileage, do I track from my house to the store and back, or just the delivery portion? And do I need to use a special app or is writing it down enough for ESD's purposes? Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's way more helpful than the vague info on the ESD website!

This is such a confusing topic and honestly ESD's guidance could be way clearer! I've been doing Uber Eats while on partial UI for about 3 months now and went through this exact same confusion. After reading through everyone's responses and doing my own research, here's what I've learned: You should report NET income for self-employment/gig work, BUT make sure you're only deducting legitimate business expenses that are directly related to earning that income. For Uber, this includes: - Uber's commission/fees (already deducted from what they pay you) - Gas for work miles only - Mileage deduction (I use the IRS standard rate) - Car maintenance proportional to work usage - Phone bill percentage if you use it for work What I do is track everything in a simple spreadsheet each week - gross earnings, total miles driven for work, gas purchased, any maintenance, etc. Then I calculate my net weekly profit and that's what I report to ESD. The key is being consistent and keeping detailed records. I take photos of all my gas receipts and use an app to track mileage automatically. Better safe than sorry if they ever want to review your calculations! One thing to note - don't deduct personal expenses or things like regular car insurance since you'd have those costs anyway. Only deduct the ADDITIONAL costs directly related to doing the gig work.

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now - been in adjudication for 6 weeks and my savings are completely gone. Reading through everyone's responses here has been incredibly reassuring! It sounds like the consensus is crystal clear: you can absolutely do DoorDash while waiting, just be 100% honest when reporting your earnings on weekly claims. I love all the practical tips people shared about keeping records - the screenshot idea for daily earnings summaries is genius. What's really encouraging is hearing from so many people who eventually got approved AND received partial back payments for the weeks they did gig work. I was terrified that any kind of work might somehow red flag my case, but it sounds like the adjudication process and gig work are completely separate issues. I'm planning to start DoorDash this week too - we've got to survive somehow while ESD takes their sweet time! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is amazing for providing real advice when you can't get through to ESD on the phone.

I'm currently in week 4 of adjudication and this entire thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you to everyone who shared their experiences! It's such a relief to see so many people confirm that doing gig work won't interfere with the adjudication process. I was really hesitant to start any work because I kept thinking it might somehow complicate my case, but reading all these detailed accounts has given me the confidence to move forward. The consistent advice about reporting gross earnings honestly and keeping detailed records makes total sense. I'm planning to start with DoorDash this weekend and will definitely use that screenshot tip for tracking daily earnings. It's also encouraging to hear about the partial back payments - knowing that you can still receive some benefits for those weeks where you did gig work takes a lot of pressure off. The financial stress of waiting weeks and weeks with no income is brutal, but at least now I know there's a way to get by without jeopardizing my claim. Thanks again to this community for providing such valuable real-world advice when getting through to ESD seems impossible!

honestly the whole ESD system is a mess right now. my friend had her worksource meeting and they never even checked if she was doing her job searches. then 2 months later she got audited and almost lost benefits cause she wasnt keeping good records!!! so unfair

I just went through this same process last month as a first-time claimant! I was also terrified about messing something up. Here's what helped me prepare: For the virtual meeting itself - they sent me a Zoom link about 24 hours beforehand via email. The meeting was pretty straightforward, mostly educational about WorkSource services and job search requirements. They didn't collect any documents during the session. Since you're filing by phone like I was, here's what I did for my job search logs: - Started using a simple notebook to track everything (date, company, position, how I applied, result) - Took photos of each page with my phone as backup - Asked a friend to help me type them up digitally once a week The most important thing I learned: keep doing your 3 job search activities every week and document EVERYTHING. The random audits are real - my neighbor got selected 6 weeks into her claim and had to submit all her logs within 5 days. One tip that saved me stress: I called ESD ahead of my WorkSource meeting to confirm exactly what I needed to bring (which was nothing) and what to expect. It took forever to get through, but it was worth the peace of mind. You've got this! The construction industry is tough right now but there are resources to help. Don't let the bureaucracy intimidate you.