Just got job offer starting 8/19 - can I still collect ESD benefits until start date?
I'm super relieved to have finally landed a job after searching for almost 4 months! It's a marketing coordinator position with better benefits than my last job. The only thing is my start date isn't until August 19th, which is about 2 weeks away. Does anyone know if I'll still be eligible to claim unemployment for these next two weeks before I start working? I've been reporting my job search activities faithfully every week and don't want to mess anything up now that I'm so close to being employed again. Do I need to report the job offer on my weekly claim? Will ESD cut off my benefits immediately once I report I have a job lined up, even though I won't be getting paid until late August? I really need the money to cover bills until my first paycheck comes through.
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Malik Johnson
Congratulations on the new job! Yes, you can continue to claim benefits until you actually start working. ESD considers you unemployed until you begin working and earning wages, not when you accept an offer. Make sure to report the job offer in your weekly claim where it asks if you've obtained work that hasn't started yet. As long as you continue to meet all eligibility requirements (available for work, actively seeking work, etc.) you should receive benefits until your start date. Just remember that the week you start working, you'll need to report any hours/wages earned for that week, which may reduce or eliminate your benefit depending on how much you earn.
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QuantumLeap
•Thank you so much for the info! That's a huge relief. So to be clear, I should still do my 3 job search activities each week until I actually start the job, right? Even though I've already accepted this position?
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Isabella Santos
congrats on the new gig!! when i got my job last yr they made me wait 3 weeks to start and esd kept paying me right up until my start date. just keep doing ur claims like normal and report that u have a job lined up starting 8/19. its not a big deal at all
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Ravi Sharma
•WRONG INFORMATION! You absolutely CANNOT stop your job search activities just because you have a job lined up. ESD requires you continue performing and documenting 3 job search activities EVERY week until you actually start working!!!! I learned this the hard way and had benefits denied for a week. Don't make the same mistake!!!!
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Freya Larsen
I went through this exact scenario back in January - got hired but had to wait 3 weeks before starting. My experience was that yes, you can keep collecting until your start date. But here's where it gets tricky - I had to go through standby status since I technically wasn't looking for work anymore (already had a job lined up). My employer had to request standby for me. Might want to check if that's still the requirement in 2025.
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Malik Johnson
•This information isn't accurate for standard unemployment claims. Standby status is only for temporary layoffs where you're returning to your previous employer. For someone who has found a new job with a future start date, they still need to continue their job search activities until they actually start working. They don't qualify for standby in this situation.
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Omar Hassan
I can't believe how IMPOSSIBLE it is to get accurate information from ESD directly on this!!! I tried calling them about this exact situation last month and was on hold for 2.5 HOURS before getting disconnected. Then tried again next day - another 1.5 hours wasted. Their website is completely useless on this specific question. The whole system is designed to frustrate people out of collecting what they're legally entitled to receive. Did anyone actually manage to get through to a real person at ESD about this?
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Chloe Taylor
•I had the same problem trying to reach ESD about a similar issue! After wasting days on hold, I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an ESD agent in under 25 minutes. They have this system that holds your place in line and calls you back when an agent is available. Saved me hours of frustration. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 - totally worth it for getting these kinds of specific questions answered directly from ESD.
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ShadowHunter
Here's the official guidance: You remain eligible for benefits until you start working. You must continue to meet all eligibility requirements including being able, available, and actively seeking work (3 job search activities weekly) until your employment begins. On your weekly claim, answer "yes" to the question about obtaining work that hasn't started yet and provide the start date (8/19). When you begin working, report all hours worked that week on your claim, even if you haven't been paid yet. If your earnings for that week exceed your weekly benefit amount, you won't receive benefits for that week, but you should still file the claim for that week to properly close out your claim. Source: I work with WorkSource and help people navigate these transitions regularly.
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QuantumLeap
•Thank you for this detailed explanation! I've been doing my weekly job search activities faithfully and will continue until I start. I was worried they might cut me off immediately when I report the job offer, but sounds like I'll be okay as long as I keep doing everything correctly. This will really help me bridge the gap until that first paycheck comes in!
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Isabella Santos
wait so we r supposed to still do the 3 job search things even if we already got a job??? that seems so pointless, why would i look for more jobs when i already accepted one?? the esd system makes no sense smh
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Freya Larsen
•Yeah it's totally dumb but those are the rules... I actually just did really basic activities like checking linkedin job boards and calling a couple places that I knew weren't hiring just to check off the boxes lol. Not like they check very thoroughly unless you get audited
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Diego Ramirez
My sister had a similar situation but her benefits got cut off immediately when she reported accepting a job, even though it didn't start for almost a month! She had to appeal and it was a huge mess. I think it depends on which ESD agent processes your claim tbh. Some follow the rules exactly, others make up their own interpretations.
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Malik Johnson
•That shouldn't have happened - it sounds like either there was a misunderstanding when she reported the job, or possibly a system error. The official ESD policy is clear that benefits continue until you start working as long as you maintain eligibility. If anyone experiences their benefits being cut off prematurely after reporting a future start date, they should immediately contact ESD for clarification and correction.
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