ESD unemployment reporting while traveling out of town - what's required?

u still have 2 report ur job search activities even if ur traveling. when u file ur weekly claim theres a question that asks if u were able and available 4 work each day. technically if ur out of town u shud answer 'no' for those days cuz u cant accept a job locally those days. but honestly lots of ppl just say yes if theyre still doing job search stuff online

You need to be completely honest on your weekly claim. When it asks if you were able and available for work each day, the correct answer is "no" for the days you're out of town. ESD considers you unavailable if you can't physically show up to a job interview or start work in your job search area that day. You won't lose all your benefits, but you won't be paid for those specific days. Make sure you continue doing and documenting your three job search activities each week while gone. When you return, you'll be eligible for full benefits again assuming you meet all other requirements.

BE CAREFUL!! I did the same thing last year - went to help my mom for 10 days and marked "no" for those days on my claim. Then I got hit with an adjudication that lasted FOREVER and they wouldn't pay me for weeks!!! Something about "not being in labor market area" and they kept asking for all these documents to prove I was coming back. It was a NIGHTMARE getting it resolved!!

Hey, I had a similar situation last spring and found a helpful solution. I was getting nowhere trying to call ESD directly with dozens of failed attempts. Then I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) which helped me get through to an ESD agent in under 2 hours. They have a helpful video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 The agent I spoke with explained that for short trips under 3 weeks, you can request a formal travel authorization that maintains your benefits while away if you continue your job search activities. You need to submit this BEFORE you leave. This was way better than losing benefits or dealing with adjudication later.

its called Temporary Absence from your Labor Market Area and yes u need to request it BEFORE u leave!!!! my cousin did this when she had 2 go to florida for her dad's funeral last year. she said she got approved in like 2 days.

Just to add some clarity - the specific ESD policy is called a "Temporary Absence from Labor Market Area" authorization. If approved, you can continue receiving full benefits while traveling if: 1. The absence is temporary (generally less than 3 weeks) 2. You continue performing your required job search activities 3. You can return to your labor market quickly if a job opportunity arises 4. You have a justifiable reason for travel (family emergency, etc.) Make sure to document everything. If you can't get through to ESD by phone, you can also send a secure message through your eServices account explaining your situation and requesting this authorization.

I used Claimyr last month when my claim got stuck, and it actually worked to get me through to a person at ESD. Before that I was calling for weeks with no luck. The agent told me that for travel, they're mostly concerned about whether you're essentially relocating vs temporarily away. For your sister's surgery, that's clearly temporary. Just make sure you can explain why you would still be able to accept suitable work in your normal area if offered (like "I can return within X days if needed").

That's great news Maya! So glad you were able to get the approval in time. For anyone else reading this thread - the key takeaway is to ALWAYS request the Temporary Absence authorization BEFORE you leave if possible. Don't just mark yourself as unavailable and hope for the best, because like Connor experienced, it can trigger an adjudication nightmare. The fact that ESD has this specific process shows they understand people have legitimate reasons to travel temporarily while still actively job searching.

This thread is a perfect example of why it's so important to connect with others who've been through similar situations! Maya, I'm really glad you got the approval sorted out before your trip. For anyone else reading this, I'd also suggest documenting everything - save emails, take screenshots of your authorization, and keep records of your job search activities while traveling. I learned the hard way that having documentation can save you months of headaches if any questions come up later. The ESD system can be confusing, but threads like this really help clarify the process. Safe travels to help your sister!

This whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently on unemployment and hadn't even thought about what would happen if I needed to travel for family reasons. The fact that there's a specific "Temporary Absence from Labor Market Area" authorization process is something I wish was more widely known. Maya, I'm so glad you were able to get approval in time for your sister's surgery - that must have been such a relief after reading about Connor's nightmare experience with adjudication. It really shows how important it is to follow the proper procedures rather than just marking yourself unavailable and hoping for the best. I'm definitely saving this thread as a reference. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - both the success stories and the cautionary tales really paint a complete picture of how to handle travel while on benefits.