Has your daughter tried visiting a WorkSource office in person? Sometimes they can help with ESD issues or at least provide direct contacts. Not all WorkSource staff can access ESD systems, but some can and it might save a lot of phone frustration.

I've been dealing with ESD phone issues for months and finally found success with a combination approach. First, I use an auto-redial app on my phone to continuously call the 833-572-8400 number starting at 7:59am (calls the second it hits 8:00am). Second, I have multiple phones calling different numbers simultaneously - the main line, the technical support line Oliver mentioned, and sometimes the Spanish line trick. The key is persistence and having backup plans. I also keep a detailed log of every attempt with timestamps, which helped when I finally got through and the agent could see how long I'd been trying. They were actually more willing to escalate my issue because of the documentation. One more tip: if you get disconnected while on hold, immediately call back and explain to the first person you reach that you were disconnected from an active call. Sometimes they can transfer you directly without going through the full queue again. Don't give up - the system is broken but people do eventually get through!

Just to add one more detail - when you report your training hours, you'll report them for the week they're worked, not when you get paid for them. So if your training is this week but you don't get your first paycheck until next week, you still report the hours and earnings for this week's claim.

Great question! I went through something similar when I started my current job. Just want to emphasize what others have said - definitely report ALL paid training hours as work. ESD doesn't care if you're filing paperwork, watching training videos, or doing hands-on work - if you're getting paid, it's reportable income and hours. I learned this the hard way when I forgot to report some orientation hours and had to deal with their overpayment process later. Better to be completely transparent from the start!

This whole thread has been really informative. I'm in a similar situation with freelance work plus some W-2 income, so I'm going to look into filing too. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and knowledge!

I've been following this discussion and wanted to add that Washington State also has some vocational rehabilitation services that might be worth looking into while you're navigating the unemployment system. If your consulting business has been struggling due to economic changes in your industry, WorkSource offices sometimes have retraining programs or career transition assistance that could help you pivot or enhance your skills. These services are separate from UI benefits but could complement whatever assistance you're able to get. It might be worth scheduling an appointment with a WorkSource counselor to discuss your options - they can often provide a more comprehensive view of available resources beyond just unemployment insurance.

So glad it worked out quickly for you! It's amazing how such a small detail can hold up the entire process.

That's such great news! Thanks for coming back to update everyone - it really helps when people share their results. It's frustrating that something so simple can cause weeks of delays, but at least now others will know exactly what to do. The fact that it only took one day after uploading the back side really shows that was the missing piece. Glad you can finally get your benefits sorted out!

I went through something similar when I was on unemployment last year. The retail manager who called me was really aggressive about it too, saying I "had to" take their offer or face consequences. I ended up calling Washington ESD directly (took forever to get through) and they confirmed that a $13/hour part-time job is definitely not suitable work for someone who was making $24/hour full-time. The wage difference alone - that's almost a 50% pay cut - gives you clear grounds to refuse. Don't let them intimidate you. Your benefits are there to give you time to find appropriate work that matches your skills and experience level.

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now! Got a call from a fast food place offering $12/hour when I was making $26/hour as a project coordinator. They used the same threatening language about reporting me to Washington ESD if I didn't accept. It's really stressful when you're already worried about money and someone tries to scare you like that. Reading everyone's responses here is so reassuring - I had no idea there were actual protections in place for situations like this. The suitable work standards make total sense when you think about it. Why would the state want skilled workers to take jobs that don't utilize their experience and pay poverty wages? That would just create more problems in the long run. Thanks for asking this question - you've helped more people than just yourself!