ESD job search requirements after receiving offer letter but before start date
I finally got a job offer after 2 months of searching (retail management)! I have a signed offer letter that I received yesterday, but my start date isn't until March 15th (about 3 weeks away). Do I still need to do my 3 job search activities each week until I actually start working? The offer letter is signed by both me and the employer, and I have an email confirming my start date. I've been claiming unemployment since early January and don't want to mess anything up in these final weeks. Anyone know the official ESD rules on this?
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Zoe Kyriakidou
congrats on the job! pretty sure u still gotta do the job searches until your actually working. i made this mistake last year and almost got hit with an overpayment notice. better safe than sorry!!
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AstroAce
•Thanks! That's what I was worried about. Did you have to pay back benefits when you stopped doing searches after getting your offer?
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Jamal Brown
You need to continue your job search activities until your first day of work. Having an offer letter doesn't exempt you from the job search requirements. However, you might qualify for 'standby' status if you request it through your eServices account. With standby, you can be excused from job search requirements if you have a definite return-to-work date within 4 weeks. You'd need to apply for this status - it's not automatic even with an offer letter.
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AstroAce
•Thank you for the detailed response! I'll check out the standby option right away. Do you know if I need to upload my offer letter somewhere in eServices when applying for standby?
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Mei Zhang
•This is EXACTLY why the ESD system is so frustrating! You get a job and they STILL make you jump through hoops. I had the same situation in 2024 and spent HOURS trying to figure out standby. Then they rejected my standby request anyway! Such a broken system.
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Liam McConnell
The standby option is definitely your best bet here. Go to your eServices account → Click on UI Claims → Look for "Apply for Standby Status" in the menu. You'll need to enter your confirmed start date and explain your situation. While you're waiting for approval, keep doing your job searches just to be safe. If they deny standby (which can happen), you'll need those job searches documented. For your activities, you can still apply to jobs but also count things like updating your resume, attending WorkSource workshops online, or using WorkSourceWA.com to search for jobs.
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AstroAce
•This is really helpful! I'll apply for standby today and keep doing my searches until I hear back or start working. One quick question - if I get approved for standby, will it show somewhere in my eServices account?
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Liam McConnell
•Yes, if approved, you'll see a message in your eServices account under the UI Claims section that says "Standby Status: Approved" with the date range. You'll also receive a notice in your eServices inbox. Make sure to check both places after you apply.
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Amara Oluwaseyi
I went through this exact situation back in January. Applied for standby but never heard back from ESD. Trying to call them was a nightmare - couldn't get through for days. I finally used Claimyr.com to get connected to an ESD agent in about 15 minutes (there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 if you want to see how it works). The agent confirmed my standby status right away and I was able to stop doing job searches for my last 3 weeks. Saved me so much hassle!
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AstroAce
•I'll definitely check that out if I don't hear back about my standby application soon. Did they ask you for any documentation when you called?
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Amara Oluwaseyi
•They just asked for the employer name, start date, and whether I had an offer letter. They didn't actually request that I send it to them, but having all that info ready when I called made the process go smoothly.
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CosmicCaptain
ive heard different answers from diff ppl at ESD. my cousin said she didn't do job searches after gettin her offer and no one said anything, but my friend got in trouble for same thing. maybe depends who reviews your case?? unemployment system is so confusing
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Jamal Brown
•The official policy is clear - you must continue job searches until your first day of work OR until you're granted standby status. Some people might get lucky and not have their claims audited, but it's risky. ESD can request job search verification up to a year later, and if you can't provide it, you could face overpayment penalties.
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Giovanni Rossi
When I got hired last spring, my new employer actually let me start training (paid) right away even though my official start date wasn't for two weeks. Maybe ask if you can do any onboarding or training before your official start date? That way you'd be working and wouldn't need to worry about ESD requirements. Worth asking!
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AstroAce
•That's a great suggestion! I'll reach out to my new employer tomorrow and see if that's a possibility. Would be nice to get started sooner anyway.
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Liam McConnell
An update on standby requirements for 2025: ESD has tightened the criteria recently. Make sure when you apply that you emphasize it's a direct hire (not through a temp agency) and include the exact start date. Most standby requests are being approved when there's a definite start date within 4 weeks, but they're scrutinizing applications more carefully than before.
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AstroAce
•Thanks for the update! I just submitted my standby request and made sure to include all those details. Fingers crossed it gets approved quickly.
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Mei Zhang
Why is everyone saying to apply for standby?? I thought standby was only for temporary layoffs when you're going back to the SAME employer? This person has a NEW job, not going back to their old one.
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Jamal Brown
•You're partially right. Standby was originally designed for temporary layoffs, but ESD has expanded its use. The current policy allows standby for new employment with a definite start date within 4 weeks. It's not widely advertised, but it is in their official documentation. I've helped several clients successfully use standby in this exact situation.
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AstroAce
Update: I applied for standby yesterday and just got approved! It shows in my eServices account now. Thanks everyone for your help - I'll still keep good records just in case, but it's a relief not to worry about job searches when I'm already set to start my new position.
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