Can I collect Washington ESD unemployment if I have no childcare available?

That's reassuring, thank you! Should I mention the childcare situation when I file my initial claim or just keep track of my efforts to find care?

Include it in your initial filing. Be honest about your situation but emphasize you're actively working to resolve it. The key is showing good faith effort to become available for work.

How long did it take you to find childcare? I'm worried this could drag on for months.

About 6 weeks for me, but I got benefits the whole time. Just be thorough with your documentation and file your weekly claims on time.

I've been trying to call ESD for days! Always get a busy signal or disconnected. I'll definitely look into this, thanks.

Wait, is this a paid service? How much does it cost?

Yes it's a service but honestly after wasting hours trying to get through the regular way, it was worth it for me. Check their site for details.

I agree it's frustrating but I just need to know how to navigate the system as it is right now.

The system isn't perfect but at least they do consider childcare issues. Better than some states.

Oh I hadn't thought of that! Do you know if there's an income limit for those vouchers?

There are income limits but unemployment benefits might still qualify you. Worth calling them to ask.

Good point. What if an employer wants me to start immediately but I need a week to arrange childcare?

Most reasonable employers understand childcare needs. You can negotiate a start date. Just document these conversations.

Yeah, any decent employer will give you at least a few days to arrange childcare when you accept a position.

How many job contacts do I need per week in Washington? I want to make sure I'm meeting the requirements.

It's typically 3 job search activities per week, but check the specific requirements on your claim. Can include applications, networking, job fairs, etc.

Did you have to explain the situation every time you filed your weekly claim?

nah, just the first time. after that it was just the regular questions about job search and stuff

How does it work exactly? Do they just call for you or something?

They handle the calling process and get you connected to an actual ESD agent. Much better than the endless busy signals.

You're right, I'm probably overthinking it. Just nervous about doing everything correctly.

Totally understandable! The system can be confusing but they're generally reasonable about real-life situations.

That's helpful to know it worked out for someone else. Did she have any issues during her weekly certifications?

None at all. She just answered the questions honestly and never had any problems. The job search requirement was actually harder than the childcare part.

I've been focused on daycare centers but you're right, I should look at family providers too. Any suggestions on where to find them?

Try the DSHS childcare website - they have a provider search function. Also check local Facebook groups for parents.

I get the frustration but they do make accommodations for childcare issues. It's not perfect but it's not completely unreasonable either.

Tell that to someone who's been denied benefits because they couldn't find childcare fast enough!

That's a good idea. I have office experience so remote work could be an option. Still need some childcare but maybe not full-time.

Exactly! Even part-time childcare might be easier to find and less expensive while you transition.

That's concerning. How should I handle it if I get a job offer before I find childcare?

Be upfront with the employer about needing time to arrange childcare. Most will work with you. Document the conversation either way.

How do you find families to share with? That sounds like it could work well.

Check local parenting groups on social media or apps like Nextdoor. Some areas have specific nanny share groups.

I think I will try that service. I've been stressed about whether I'm interpreting the rules correctly.

Getting real answers from ESD is definitely worth the peace of mind when you're dealing with something this important.

Good point! I hadn't thought about the tax implications. Thanks for mentioning that.

Thank you everyone for all the advice! This has been incredibly helpful. I feel much more confident about filing my claim now.

Good luck with everything! Hope you find both a job and childcare soon.

Same here - it's great to have a community where people actually help each other navigate these complicated systems.

This is exactly what I needed to hear! Having someone who went through the same situation with multiple kids makes me feel so much better about my chances. I'm definitely going to file tomorrow and start keeping those detailed records you mentioned. Did you find that certain types of job applications worked better while you were dealing with the childcare situation?

This gives me so much hope! I was really worried about being honest about the childcare issue on my initial claim, but it sounds like transparency is actually the better approach. Can I ask - when you were doing your weekly certifications, did you ever have to explain the childcare situation again or was it just noted in your file from the initial claim? I want to make sure I'm prepared for what to expect during the ongoing process.

This is so reassuring to hear from someone who actually went through this with kids! I've been losing sleep over whether to mention the childcare issue upfront or try to handle it quietly. Your approach of being transparent from day one makes total sense. I'm curious - when you were documenting your childcare search efforts, did you just keep a simple log or did ESD want specific forms of proof? I want to make sure I'm tracking everything the right way from the beginning.

Wow, 10 weeks of benefits while dealing with two kids and childcare issues - that's really encouraging! I've been so worried about how this would work with just my 3-year-old. Can I ask what kind of documentation you kept for the childcare search? Like did you save emails from daycares, take notes on phone calls, that sort of thing? I want to make sure I'm being thorough enough with my record keeping. Also, did you find that ESD preferred certain types of childcare solutions over others, or were they pretty flexible as long as you were actively searching?

This is incredibly helpful - thank you for sharing your experience! I'm dealing with the same situation right now and was really nervous about being upfront about the childcare issue. Your success story gives me confidence to file immediately and be transparent from the start. I'm especially glad to hear that the weekly certifications were straightforward once everything was documented initially. Did you find any particular resources or websites helpful for finding childcare options during your search? I'm trying to cast as wide a net as possible.

This is such a relief to read! I'm actually in a very similar boat - lost my job 3 weeks ago and have been paralyzed by fear about filing because of my childcare situation. Your experience with two kids makes me feel like I can handle this with just one. I'm definitely going to follow your approach of being completely upfront from the beginning. One quick question - when you say you applied to flexible/remote positions, did you mention in your applications that you were currently arranging childcare, or did you wait until you got to the interview stage to discuss scheduling needs? I want to make sure I'm not inadvertently limiting my job prospects while also being realistic about my current availability.

This is such valuable insight! I've been putting off filing for almost three weeks now because I was terrified about the childcare situation, but your experience shows it's definitely manageable. The part about keeping detailed records is really helpful - I hadn't thought about documenting family members I reached out to. Quick question: when you were applying for remote/flexible positions, did you find that employers were generally understanding about childcare arrangements, or did you run into any pushback? I'm wondering how to balance being honest about my current situation while still appearing like an attractive candidate. Also, did ESD ever ask to see your childcare search documentation, or was it more about having it available if needed?

Thank you so much for sharing your detailed experience! As someone new to this community and facing a similar situation with my toddler, your story gives me real hope. I'm particularly relieved to hear that being upfront from the beginning actually worked in your favor - I was worried that mentioning childcare issues right away might hurt my claim. Your point about applying to flexible/remote positions is brilliant; I hadn't considered that angle but it makes perfect sense to show you're adapting your job search to work around the childcare barrier rather than letting it stop you completely. I'm going to start my application tomorrow and follow your documentation approach. Did you end up finding both a job and stable childcare by the end of those 10 weeks, or did one come before the other?