Should I skip filing weekly claim when working full-time but not job searching? Will ESD flag my account?
I'm currently in a weird situation with my employment and need advice about my UI claim. I work full-time but our workload has been really unpredictable lately. I've already used my standby status earlier this year, so that's not an option anymore. My question is: If I work a full week (40 hours) but don't have time to do the required job searches, should I just skip filing my weekly claim for that week? I know my earnings would exceed any UI payment anyway, but I'm worried that if I file and report zero job searches, it might flag my account or cause problems for future weeks when I actually need benefits. I'm looking at no work for the next two weeks, so I'll definitely be doing my job searches and filing claims then. I just don't want to mess anything up with my claim by handling this current full-work week incorrectly. Has anyone dealt with this kind of on-again-off-again work situation? What's the best approach?
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Ethan Clark
I skip filing if I know I don't qualify for that week. Easier than dealing with the headache of reporting everything when you won't get paid anyway. Just make sure you reopen your claim when you need to start claiming again if it's been more than 4 weeks since your last weekly claim.
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Aisha Hussain
•Thanks for the info! So if I skip less than 4 weeks, I can just resume filing without reopening the claim? That's good to know.
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StarStrider
Actually, ESD website says you should file every week even if you work full time. You report your hours and earnings, and they calculate if you get anything. Not filing can sometimes create issues when you try to start again. Been there, had to call in to fix it - NOT FUN!!
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Aisha Hussain
•Oh really? That's the opposite of what I was thinking. Did you have any trouble when you reported zero job searches during weeks you worked full-time?
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Yuki Sato
Let me clarify this for you. The official ESD guidance is that you should file every week you want to receive benefits. For weeks where you work full-time (40+ hours) or earn more than your weekly benefit amount plus $5, you won't receive benefits regardless. There are two approaches: 1. If you work full-time, you can skip filing for that week. Your claim remains active for 4 weeks of non-filing. If you need to file again within that period, you just resume filing. After 4 weeks, you'll need to reopen your claim. 2. You can also choose to file every week and report your work and earnings. If you do this, you must still report job search activities unless you're exempt. Working full-time does NOT automatically exempt you from job search requirements. The safest approach is skipping weeks where you know you're ineligible due to full-time work, then resuming when your hours decrease. This avoids potential job search requirement issues.
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Carmen Ruiz
•wait so if i file a week where i work 40 hours i still have to do the 3 job searches?? that makes no sense
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Yuki Sato
•Yes, that's correct. If you file a weekly claim, you must meet all eligibility requirements including job searches, even if you won't receive benefits due to excessive earnings. That's why many people choose to skip filing for weeks they work full-time.
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Andre Lefebvre
I was in a similar situation last year with inconsistent construction work. Trust me, it's MUCH easier to just skip filing for weeks you work full-time. I tried filing every week and had my account flagged for job search requirements during a week I worked 50 hours but didn't do job searches. Took FOREVER to get it resolved. Have you tried reaching ESD directly to ask? I know their phone lines are impossible, but I finally got through using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Agent confirmed for me that skipping weeks of full employment is perfectly fine and actually preferred in situations like yours. Just remember to start filing again immediately when your hours drop.
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Aisha Hussain
•Thank you for sharing your experience! That's exactly what I was worried about - getting flagged for job search requirements during weeks I'm working full-time. I'll check out that service if I need to contact ESD, but based on what you and others have said, I think skipping the full-work weeks makes the most sense.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
My sister works seaonsal and this happens to her all the time, she just doesnt claim for the weeks shes working full time then starts again when hours drop and it works fine for her
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Jamal Anderson
In my experience working with many UI claimants, here's what you need to know: 1. If you don't need benefits for a particular week, don't file a claim for that week. Your claim stays open for 4 weeks without filing. 2. When you work full-time or earn too much to receive benefits, skipping that week's claim is completely acceptable and will not negatively impact your claim. 3. If you DO file for a week, you must complete all eligibility requirements, including job searches, even if you know your earnings will disqualify you from receiving benefits that week. 4. The only exception would be if you have a formal work-attached status approved by ESD (like standby, which you've already used). Skipping weeks of full employment is standard practice and won't harm your claim status as long as you resume filing as soon as your hours decrease.
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Aisha Hussain
•This is incredibly helpful, thank you! I'll skip filing for the full-time week and then resume when my hours drop for those two weeks I mentioned. Really appreciate the clear explanation!
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Carmen Ruiz
i got a nasty letter once cause i didnt do job searches on a week i worked like 45 hours but still filed!! ESD is so stupid sometimes like why would i look for jobs when im already working that week?? definitely skip filing those weeks
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Mei Wong
This whole unemployment system is RIDICULOUS!! They expect us to job search even when we're working? Make it make sense!!! I went through something similar last month and just decided to skip filing for the week I worked a lot. Didn't have any problems when I started claiming again the following week. The whole system needs an overhaul if you ask me.
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Ethan Clark
•It's actually pretty logical if you think about it. If you're requesting unemployment benefits for a week (by filing a claim), you need to meet ALL requirements. If you know you won't get benefits because you worked too much, just don't file for that week. Simple.
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