How is unemployment right now in Washington - is it getting better?

Thanks for the info! Did you have any issues with the job search requirements for partial claims?

Yeah you still have to do the job search activities even for partial. I do 3 per week which is the minimum. WorkSourceWA website counts for tracking them.

Good point about filing sooner. I wasn't sure if my situation qualified but probably worth checking.

Definitely file if your hours got cut significantly. That's exactly what partial unemployment is for. Don't wait and lose out on benefits you're entitled to.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that calls Washington ESD for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration.

Never heard of that but honestly at this point I'm willing to try anything. The phone situation is ridiculous.

Wait is that legit? Sounds too good to be true...

What kind of requirements should I be aware of? I know there's job search stuff but anything else?

Make sure you're available for work, able to work, and actively seeking. For partial claims you need to report ALL earnings from any work. Keep records of everything - pay stubs, job search activities, etc.

Also don't forget about the waiting week if you haven't filed before. That trips up a lot of people.

Adjudication can take forever unfortunately. Did you get any notice about what issue they're reviewing?

nope, just says 'adjudication in progress' on my account. tried calling but you know how that goes

This is exactly when you need to talk to an actual person. I used Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD when my claim was stuck in adjudication. They can often explain what's holding things up or resolve it on the spot.

That makes sense. I'm in the Seattle area so hopefully more options for finding additional work.

Yeah you should have decent prospects there. Just be prepared for the competition and maybe consider expanding your search radius or looking at different types of positions.

Did you check if there are any issues showing on your account? Sometimes there are problems that aren't obvious.

I've checked everything and it all looks normal. Just says 'processing' but no timeline or explanation.

I had a similar delay and it turned out to be a verification issue they needed to resolve. Took calling to figure out what was going on.

That's encouraging about more jobs being available. The wage situation is rough everywhere though.

Yeah it's frustrating. More work available but the pay doesn't go as far as it used to. At least unemployment can help supplement when hours are cut.

Good for you for being thorough with the documentation. That's really important.

Yeah I learned that lesson from reading forums like this. People get in trouble for not keeping proper records.

What kind of documentation do you keep for job searches? I want to make sure I do it right.

That's really helpful, thanks! I didn't know about the workshops counting.

Yeah the workshops are actually pretty useful and they count toward your requirement. Win-win.

This is so true. My neighbor found a job in two weeks while I've been looking for three months in the same field.

exactly, it's really unpredictable right now. that's why having unemployment benefits as a safety net is so important

That's interesting about the temp work. I hadn't considered that option.

Yeah temp work can be a good way to supplement income while you look for something permanent. Just make sure to report the earnings properly on your weekly claims.

Standby status can be tricky. You're still attached to your employer but collecting benefits. Make sure you're following all the requirements and staying in touch with your employer about return dates.

Yeah I check in with them weekly. Just getting tired of the uncertainty.

I was on standby for 3 months before my employer finally called me back. It's frustrating but at least you're getting benefits while you wait.

There is a better way! I mentioned Claimyr earlier - they handle the calling for you. I was skeptical at first but it actually worked. Got connected to an agent in 15 minutes instead of hours of frustration.

Okay I'm definitely going to check that out. 8 hours on hold is insane.

Wait how does that work exactly? Do they just call for you?

Good to know about the documentation. I should gather that stuff before I file.

Yeah it saves time if you have it all ready. The application times out if you take too long to find documents.

Thanks for the encouragement. It does seem like persistence is key with this whole system.

exactly. the system isn't perfect but the benefits are there for people who need them. just have to navigate the bureaucracy

This is good advice. I almost gave up on my claim but I'm glad I stuck with it. Finally got approved after 5 weeks.

I'm in retail so hopefully that means more opportunities for picking up additional hours somewhere.

Yeah retail should have options, especially with the holiday season coming up. Might be temporary but could help with the income gap.

Ha, 'complicated' seems like the perfect word for it. Thanks for all the perspectives everyone - really helpful to hear real experiences.

No problem! That's what these forums are for. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.