Denied benefits for skipping job search first week - didn't know it was required!

Unfortunately thats how the system works now. They got stricter in 2024. No grace period anymore - you gotta do 3 job search activities EVERY week, even the first one. I made the same mistake and lost a week of benefits too. You can try appealing but honestly its probably not worth the hassle for one week. Just make sure you do your 3 activities every week going forward.

This is a very common misunderstanding. The job search requirement applies from the very first week you claim benefits - there's no grace period. Per ESD regulations, you must complete and document at least three approved job search activities each week you claim benefits. You have two options: 1. File an appeal if you believe there was a good reason you couldn't conduct job searches (like being told by an ESD rep you didn't need to) 2. Accept the denial for that week and continue filing with proper job search activities for future weeks The good news is this won't affect future weeks as long as you meet the requirements going forward. Each week is evaluated independently.

i didnt look for work my 1st week either cuz i thought id get called back to my old job. same thing happened - denied! its BS cuz nobody tells u this stuff until AFTER they deny u!!!! 😡

If you really need to talk to someone at ESD about this or have other questions, I wasted three days trying to get through on the phone before I found Claimyr. They got me connected to an ESD agent in under 30 minutes. Worth checking out their demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 and their website at claimyr.com if you're stuck in the phone queue hell like I was. The agent I spoke with was actually super helpful and explained all the job search requirements to me.

I'd like to clarify a couple points about job search requirements that might help others avoid this issue: 1. The requirement for 3 job search activities applies from your very first week claiming benefits (some people confuse this with the waiting week, which is different) 2. If you're on standby status (approved to return to your employer within 8 weeks), you're exempt from job search requirements, but you must apply for and be approved for standby status first 3. If you have a definite return-to-work date with your employer within 8 weeks, you should apply for standby status when you first file your claim 4. Union members with dispatch halls have different requirements For your specific situation, I recommend continuing to file weekly claims with proper job search documentation going forward. The denial only affects that one week.

lol welcome to the wonderful world of unemployment where they look for ANY reason to deny you benefits. This exact thing happened to me in November. Wait till they start auditing your job search logs - make sure you keep detailed records!

To answer your question about applying for different positions at the same company - yes, those can count as separate activities as long as they're genuinely different positions requiring separate applications. Regarding job search logs, make sure you record: - Date of the activity - Company name and contact information - Position applied for - Method of application (online, in-person, etc.) - Any follow-up actions - Name of contact person if applicable Keep copies of confirmation emails for online applications as additional documentation. ESD randomly audits job search activities, and having detailed records makes this process much smoother.

Btw job searches can also include going to WorkSource workshops and those count as activities too! Thats what I do when Im running low on jobs to apply for that week. They have resume help and interview practice stuff. Just make sure you get documentation that you attended.

Hey Nia, I went through the exact same thing when I first filed! It's such a common mistake because the system really isn't clear about this upfront. I also thought there would be some kind of grace period for the first week while you're getting oriented with everything. I ended up just accepting the denial for that one week and focused on making sure I did everything correctly going forward. It was frustrating to lose that money, but trying to appeal seemed like it would take more time and energy than it was worth for just one week's benefits. The silver lining is that once you get into the routine of doing your 3 job search activities each week, it becomes pretty automatic. I set aside time every Sunday to plan out my job search activities for the upcoming week so I don't forget. Don't let this one denial discourage you - just make sure you're documenting everything properly from here on out and you should be fine!

I'm sorry this happened to you! I made the exact same mistake when I first filed - it's so misleading because most other benefit programs do have some kind of adjustment period. What really helped me was setting up a simple spreadsheet to track my job search activities each week. I include columns for date, company, position, application method, and any follow-up. It makes the weekly reporting much easier and gives you solid documentation if they ever audit you. Also, don't forget that networking events and informational interviews can count as job search activities too - sometimes those are actually more valuable than just submitting online applications. You'll get the hang of it!

This is such a frustrating experience and unfortunately way too common! I went through the exact same thing when I first filed - got denied for my first week because I had no idea job searches were required immediately. The system really should make this clearer during the initial filing process. One thing that helped me was creating a weekly checklist to make sure I never miss the requirements again. I also learned that you can use a mix of different activities - online applications, visiting employers in person, attending job fairs, even reaching out to professional contacts on LinkedIn can count. The key is documenting everything with dates, company names, and what you did. Don't beat yourself up over this - focus your energy on getting into a good routine for the upcoming weeks. And definitely keep detailed records because as others mentioned, they do audit these logs sometimes. You've got this!

I feel your pain! I made the exact same mistake when I first filed back in October. Got laid off from my retail job and had no clue about the job search requirements for that first week. It's honestly ridiculous that they don't make this crystal clear during the application process - you're already dealing with the stress of losing your job and then they hit you with these gotcha rules. What really helped me was setting up alerts on my phone to remind me to do my job search activities throughout the week instead of scrambling at the last minute. I also discovered that things like updating your resume, attending virtual job workshops, and even researching companies can count as activities in some cases. The WorkSource website has a pretty good list of what qualifies. Don't waste time on the appeal - just focus on nailing the requirements going forward. Each week is independent so this won't hurt your future claims as long as you stay on top of it. The system is annoying but once you get into a rhythm it becomes second nature. Hang in there!

I'm so sorry this happened to you - what a frustrating way to learn about the system! I'm actually going through the application process right now after being laid off from my customer service job, and your post is a huge wake-up call. I had no idea the job search requirements kicked in immediately from week one. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful. I'm definitely going to start documenting my job search activities right away and set up that spreadsheet someone mentioned. It sounds like the key is being super organized and detailed about everything. Thank you for sharing your experience - even though it sucks that you lost that week of benefits, you're probably saving a lot of other people from making the same mistake. The fact that this is such a common issue really shows how poorly the system communicates these requirements upfront.