Can I claim UI after accepting job offer that doesn't start for months?

This is definitely a tricky situation. You need to report that you have accepted work when they ask if you've turned down any job offers. You should answer "yes" to having accepted work, but since you aren't actually working yet, you can still qualify for benefits until your start date. Make sure to report your official start date when they ask for it. You're still technically unemployed until you actually start working and getting paid.

I went thru similar last yr!!! ESD is SOOOO confusing on this. You answer YES to accepting work but NO to working since u havent started. They'll ask for ur start date. You still gotta do the 3 job search activities every week tho even tho u got a job lined up!!! Its stupid but thats how it works or they'll deny ur claim!!

i think u should call esd directly about this. the website is confusing. i waited 2 hours to talk to someone last month and they hung up on me lol. but maybe u will have better luck?

Unemployment specialist here. Your situation is actually quite common. Here's what you need to know: 1. You must report that you have accepted a job offer when filing your claim. 2. You need to provide your future start date. 3. You remain eligible for benefits until you actually start working. 4. You ARE still required to complete your 3 job search activities each week, even with a job lined up. (Yes, this policy is frustrating but it's strictly enforced) 5. Once you begin working (even training), you must report any hours and earnings. The key thing ESD looks at is whether you're currently earning wages, not whether you've accepted future employment. As long as you accurately report your situation, you should be able to receive benefits until your actual start date.

My daughter just went through this exact situation last month! She got a job at Boeing but her start date was 6 weeks out. ESD told her she could keep claiming until her actual start date as long as she reported the job acceptance and future start date. But the job search requirements were still in effect which was annoying because what's the point? But whatever I guess those are the rules.

I think what everyone is missing here is that the original poster said their 'previous unemployment claim ran out a few months ago' and they're 'eligible to reapply today.' This sounds like they're filing a new claim, not continuing an existing one. That might change some of the answers here because starting a new claim has different questions than weekly claims on an existing claim. I remember the application asking about future employment differently than the weekly claims do.

Since you're filing a new claim, the process is slightly different. On the initial application: 1. When asked about employment status, select "unemployed" 2. There will be a question about whether you have a definite return to work date - answer "yes" and provide your future start date 3. You'll need to explain your situation in the comments/additional information section 4. After approval, you'll still need to complete job search requirements until you start working For a new claim, ESD will also verify your quarters of employment and earnings from the previous 18 months to determine eligibility and benefit amount. Make sure you have accurate information about your previous employers ready.

Just wanted to add from my recent experience - when you file that new claim, ESD might flag it for review since you're reporting future employment right off the bat. Don't panic if this happens! It just means they need to manually verify your situation. I had to wait about 2 weeks for them to process my claim when I was in a similar spot, but once they did, I got all my back benefits. Keep all your documentation from the job offer (email confirmations, start date info, etc.) in case they ask for proof. The wait was frustrating but everything worked out in the end.

I was in almost the exact same situation about 8 months ago! Had a gap between jobs and needed to file a new claim while having a future start date. A few things that helped me: 1) When filling out the initial application, I was super detailed in the comments section about my situation - mentioned the job offer, exact start date, and that I needed benefits during the gap period. 2) I also included that the delay was due to required pre-employment training/onboarding. 3) ESD did put my claim in review (like Giovanni mentioned) but it only took about 10 days for me. During that time, I kept doing my job search activities just in case. The key is being completely transparent from the start - don't try to hide the job offer thinking it might hurt your claim. They actually appreciate the honesty and it prevents issues later. Good luck with your new job!

I'm currently dealing with something similar! Just wanted to add that when you're doing your weekly claims after getting approved, make sure to answer the question about "refusing work" correctly. Since you've already accepted a job, you'd answer "no" to refusing work, but "yes" to accepting work if they ask about job offers. The wording can be confusing but it's important to be consistent with what you reported on your initial application. Also, I found it helpful to keep a simple log of my job search activities even though I had a job lined up - just basic stuff like checking job boards or updating my LinkedIn. ESD sometimes audits these activities and having documentation saved me when they requested proof. The whole system feels backwards when you already have employment lined up, but following their rules exactly is what gets you through without issues.

I just wanted to chime in with some encouragement - you're asking all the right questions and being really thoughtful about doing this correctly! I went through a similar situation about a year ago (accepted a teaching position in March that didn't start until August). The advice everyone's given here is spot on, especially about being completely transparent on your initial application. One small thing I'd add: when you're explaining your situation in the comments section, mention specifically that this is a "deferred start date" situation rather than just saying you have a job offer. ESD seems to have specific procedures for handling deferred start dates, and using that terminology might help your claim get routed to the right people for review. Also, don't stress too much about the job search requirements - I just did simple things like browsing Indeed for a few minutes each day and counted that as one of my activities. The important thing is that you're being honest about your circumstances. Congratulations on landing the new job, and I hope your claim gets processed smoothly!

I'm in a somewhat similar boat - just accepted a position that starts in 6 weeks but my UI benefits expired last month. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! One thing I'm wondering about that I haven't seen mentioned yet - should we notify ESD immediately when we actually start the job, or just report it on our next weekly claim? I want to make sure I don't accidentally create any overpayment issues by continuing to claim after I've technically started working. Also, has anyone had experience with how ESD handles the transition week when you might work only a few days? Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this thread is a goldmine of practical advice!