Just wanted to update everyone - I had to deal with this exact issue back in January. After finally getting through to ESD, they told me the employer had submitted my application rejection email as "proof" I refused work! Apparently when I replied to their initial offer saying their salary was too low (it was $15K below market rate), they reported that as me refusing suitable work. ESD sided with me in the end because the salary was significantly below my previous earnings. Make sure you explain your full work history and previous salary to ESD when you talk to them.

After you speak with ESD, consider requesting records from the employer as well. You have the right to know what communication they're claiming constituted a job offer. Send a formal email to their HR department requesting copies of all communication between you and their company, specifically any job offers they claim to have extended. Having documentation from both sides will strengthen your case if this goes to an appeal hearing.

Just want to add that identity verification delays can also trigger job search requirement issues, so make sure to keep filing your weekly claims even while this is pending. Don't let other problems pile up.

I've been dealing with Washington ESD phone issues for months now trying to resolve a simple address change that got my account locked. The automated system is completely broken - it either hangs up immediately or puts you in an endless loop. I finally broke down and used one of those callback services someone mentioned here and got through in under an hour. Cost me a small fee but honestly worth every penny compared to the weeks I wasted trying to call myself. The agent was super helpful and fixed my issue in minutes. Sometimes you just have to accept that the state's phone system is fundamentally broken and find workarounds.

For anyone still struggling with this, remember that persistence does eventually pay off. Whether you use a service or keep trying yourself, don't give up. Your claim will get resolved eventually, even if the process is frustrating.

I've been following this thread and dealing with the same issue. After reading all the suggestions here, I decided to try a combination approach - I called right at 8am sharp while also setting up that Claimyr service as a backup. The early morning call didn't work (busy signal again), but having the service running gave me peace of mind that something was actually working on my behalf. Sometimes you just need to accept that the traditional methods aren't sufficient anymore and adapt to what actually works in the current system.

thats awesome! ya ESD is super picky about how u answer those standby questions. my coworker got her payments delayed for like 3 weeks cuz she messed up the same thing

This is such valuable information for anyone dealing with standby claims! I'm currently in a similar situation where my restaurant is temporarily closing for renovations and I'm waiting for my standby approval to come through. Reading about the weekly claim pitfalls is really helpful - I'll make sure to answer NO to job search activities once I'm approved. It's ridiculous that ESD doesn't make this clearer on their website. You'd think they'd have a specific standby section explaining exactly how to fill out the weekly claims. Thanks for sharing your experience and glad you got it sorted out in time for rent!

Overall the card system works well. My only complaint is sometimes the customer service wait times are long, but that's probably true for most banks.

Just wanted to add that you can also set up account alerts through the ReliaCard website to get notified when payments are deposited or when your balance gets low. Really helpful for keeping track of your benefits without having to constantly check the app.