Hey Ryan! I'm going through the exact same situation right now - filed for unemployment with standby status about a week ago after my restaurant job ended due to slow season. My manager said they'll likely call me back in 6-8 weeks when things pick up again. From what I've learned lurking in this community and talking to others, the timeline seems really inconsistent. Some people get approved in 8-10 days, others wait 3+ weeks. The key things I've gathered are: 1) keep filing your weekly claims no matter what, 2) continue doing the 3 job search activities until standby is officially approved, and 3) your employer needs to respond quickly to ESD's verification requests. I've been checking my eServices account obsessively every day hoping to see an update! The waiting and not knowing is definitely stressful when bills are due. Hang in there - sounds like most people do eventually get approved if their employer cooperates with the verification process.

I went through this exact same process about 6 months ago when my retail job ended due to store restructuring. My standby approval took exactly 12 days from the date I submitted my application. The key thing that helped speed up my process was staying in contact with my former manager to make sure they responded to ESD's verification request immediately when it came through. One tip I wish someone had told me: ESD sends the employer verification request via mail AND email, but some employers miss the email. I had my manager check their spam folder and that's where they found it! Once they responded within 24 hours, my standby status was approved just 2 days later. Also, definitely keep doing those weekly job searches until you see "STANDBY APPROVED" actually show up in your account. The system won't backtrack and excuse you from search requirements for weeks where you didn't complete them, even if your standby gets approved later. Learned that the hard way from a friend who had to deal with an overpayment issue. Hang in there - the waiting is the worst part but most furniture/warehouse jobs do follow through with recalls if they say they will!

Final reminder - if your employment situation changes or you find new work, make sure to update both Washington ESD and DCS immediately. The garnishment arrangements may need to be adjusted based on your new income level.

Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble making ends meet with the reduced benefits after child support garnishment, you might want to look into local food banks and community assistance programs. Many areas have resources specifically for people dealing with unemployment and family support obligations. Also, some utility companies have hardship programs that can help keep your lights on while you're getting back on your feet. Don't be afraid to ask for help - that's what these programs are there for.

Bottom line: take the contract work! Report everything accurately, keep filing your weekly claims, and don't overthink it. The partial unemployment system exists exactly for situations like this.

I went through this exact situation last year! Took a 10-week contract while on unemployment and it worked out great. Just remember that Washington ESD calculates your partial benefits automatically once you report your earnings - you don't need to do the math yourself. The hardest part is just remembering to file every single week even when you're busy with contract work. Also, keep a simple spreadsheet of your weekly hours and earnings - makes the reporting so much easier. The contract income actually helped me stretch my unemployment benefits longer since I wasn't using them up as quickly. Win-win situation!

Sorry you're going through this. Closing a business is hard enough without having to worry about financial support afterward. Hope you find some assistance through other programs even if unemployment doesn't work out.

I'm in a very similar situation - had to close my consulting business last year when my main client contract ended. Like others have mentioned, I ended up using Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD and confirm I wasn't eligible since I was taking distributions rather than W2 wages. What really helped me was connecting with my local WorkSource office - they have business transition workshops and helped me understand what retraining programs were available. Also check with your local SCORE chapter if you're considering starting something new. The transition is rough but there are more resources out there than you might think. Definitely get that official determination from ESD first though so you know exactly where you stand.

I just wanted to update everyone. I finally managed to reach someone at ESD after trying for 3 days straight. They confirmed that for our company's Shared Work plan, I should continue filing through my existing Shared Work claim even during the full shutdown week. I won't need to file a new claim or serve another waiting week! Apparently different Shared Work agreements have different terms, which explains why there's so much conflicting information out there. Such a relief to know I won't miss that week of pay. Thanks everyone for your help!

This is such a perfect example of why the ESD system is so confusing! I'm dealing with something similar at my retail job - we're on Shared Work but they're talking about closing completely for inventory week. Reading through all these responses, it's clear that every company's Shared Work agreement can be different, which explains why people are getting conflicting information. Really glad you got through to ESD directly and got it confirmed for your specific situation. For anyone else reading this, it sounds like the key takeaway is that you MUST verify with ESD directly for your company's specific Shared Work terms rather than assuming it works the same for everyone. Thanks for sharing your outcome - this thread is going to help so many people!