Congratulations on landing the job! I went through this same situation about 6 months ago and wanted to share what worked for me. I continued filing my weekly claims right up until my start date, being completely honest about accepting the job offer when prompted. One thing I learned is that it's really important to keep detailed records during this transition period. I screenshotted every weekly claim submission and kept copies of all my correspondence with ESD. This ended up being super helpful when they had a follow-up question a few weeks later about my employment timeline. Also, don't be surprised if your claim gets temporarily flagged for review - this happened to me even though I reported everything correctly. It resolved within a week once they verified my information, but having all my documentation ready made the process much smoother. The system really is set up to handle this exact scenario, even though it can feel confusing when you're going through it for the first time. Just be honest, keep good records, and you should be fine. Good luck with the new position!

Congratulations on the new job! I just went through this exact situation a couple months ago. You definitely want to keep filing your weekly claims until your actual start date - don't stop just because you accepted the offer. When you file your weekly claims, there will be a question asking if you've accepted work that hasn't started yet. Answer yes to that and provide your start date. This is totally normal and the system is designed to handle this situation. You'll continue receiving benefits during that gap period since you're not actually earning any income yet. One tip I wish I'd known - when you do start working and file your final claim for that partial week, make sure you report your exact hours and gross earnings. Don't estimate or round up, use the actual numbers from your pay stub or timesheet. The whole process was way less complicated than I thought it would be. ESD handles job transitions like this all the time. Just be honest and accurate with your reporting and you should have no issues. Enjoy the new job when you start!

Remember that filing a weekly claim is basically certifying under penalty of perjury that all your answers are true. Take it seriously and be accurate with everything you report.

One more helpful tip - set a weekly reminder on your phone or calendar to file your claim! I use Sunday at 7 AM so I never forget. Missing even one week can really complicate things, and it's so easy to lose track of time when you're dealing with unemployment stress. The consistency helps make it feel less overwhelming too.

I'm currently going through the WorkSource process myself and wanted to add a perspective from someone who's in the middle of it right now. I had my initial appointment two weeks ago and just completed my first follow-up session yesterday. A few things that have been helpful in my experience: **Before the appointment:** I created a simple one-page summary of my work history, skills, and what I was looking for. The counselor really appreciated having something concrete to reference during our conversation. **During the appointment:** Don't be afraid to ask detailed questions about their employer network. My counselor pulled up a list of companies they work with regularly and we identified about 8-10 that might be good fits for my background. **After the appointment:** They set me up with job alerts through their system, but I also got the counselor's direct email to follow up on specific opportunities. This has been way more valuable than I expected. The one thing I wish I'd known going in is that they can sometimes arrange informational interviews with employers, not just formal job interviews. This has been great for getting back into the networking mindset after being out of practice. Your husband's 15+ years of experience in construction management is exactly the kind of background they love to work with - experienced professionals who just need help connecting with the right opportunities. I think he'll be pleasantly surprised by how useful this can be!

I went through a similar WorkSource appointment about 6 months ago when I was laid off from my facilities management position. Here's what really helped me make the most of it: **Preparation is everything:** I brought multiple copies of my resume, a list of recent job applications, and most importantly, I prepared specific questions about their industry connections. Since your husband has 15+ years in construction management, he should ask about their partnerships with local general contractors, commercial developers, and any government projects in the pipeline. **The quality varies by location and counselor:** I got lucky with someone who had been there for over a decade and knew the local market really well. She actually made some calls during our meeting and I had two interviews scheduled before I left. But I've heard from others who got more of a "check the box" experience. **Don't just focus on traditional job postings:** Ask about their employer services team - many companies work directly with WorkSource for candidate screening before jobs even get posted publicly. In construction, this is especially common for project-based hiring. **Follow-up is key:** Get your counselor's direct contact info if possible. Mine helped me prepare for interviews and even provided reference letters highlighting my WorkSource participation. The appointment ended up being about 90 minutes and honestly was one of the most productive parts of my entire job search. With his experience level, your husband should definitely approach this as a networking opportunity rather than just a requirement. Good luck!

I'm going through a furlough situation right now too and this thread has been so helpful! My company just announced a 5-week furlough starting in two weeks, and I was panicking about how to handle the financial gap. Reading all these success stories about collecting unemployment benefits during furlough in Washington is such a relief. I'm definitely going to file online as soon as the furlough officially starts, and I'll make sure to keep all the documentation from my employer. It's also good to know about services like Claimyr in case I run into any issues with the phone system. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it makes this whole situation feel much more manageable knowing others have navigated it successfully!

I've been through a similar furlough situation myself and want to echo what everyone else has said - you absolutely can collect unemployment benefits during a furlough in Washington state! The process was surprisingly straightforward when I filed last year. One thing I'd add is to make sure you save a copy of any written notice your employer gives you about the furlough dates and circumstances. Washington ESD may ask for this documentation during the application process or later for verification. Also, don't stress too much about getting every detail perfect on your initial application - you can always provide additional information later if needed. The most important thing is to get your claim started as soon as the furlough begins so you don't miss out on any potential benefits. Best of luck with everything!

If your claim is stuck in pending status for more than 3 weeks, you can also try contacting your state representative. I know it sounds extreme, but they can sometimes help push things along with ESD. I had to do this last year when my claim was stuck in adjudication for 2 months with no movement. Had a response within days after my rep's office reached out.

Just wanted to share another option - if you have a local WorkSource office near you, they sometimes have direct lines to ESD that can be more reliable than calling the main number. I went to my local WorkSource when I was having similar issues and they were able to get me connected within an hour. Worth checking if you have one nearby and they're doing in-person appointments. Also, for the ReliaCard replacement, US Bank can expedite it for a fee if you really need the funds quickly - I think it was like $15 but got my card in 2-3 days instead of the usual week.