Welcome to the community! I can see you're getting excellent advice here. As someone who's helped many people through their first unemployment claims, I just want to emphasize that you're handling this exactly right by asking questions upfront. The waiting week can definitely be confusing, but the consensus here is correct - since you worked your full 40 hours that week, select 'No' for job search and choose the full-time employment reason. One additional tip: when you start your job searches next week, make sure to document not just where you applied, but also the date, method (online, in-person, etc.), and position title. ESD can be pretty specific about what they want to see if they ever audit your job search activities. Also, attending job fairs, networking events, or even informational interviews can count toward your 3 weekly activities if traditional applications aren't available in your field. You're off to a great start by being proactive about understanding the process!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who recently went through this same situation! I was laid off in February and had the exact same confusion about the waiting week job search requirements. Everyone here has given you perfect advice - definitely select 'No' for job searches since you worked 40 hours that week, and choose the full-time employment reason from the dropdown. One thing that really helped me was setting up a simple folder on my computer to keep all my unemployment-related documents organized - confirmation emails, job application screenshots, WorkSource registration info, etc. It made filing my weekly claims so much smoother once I got into the routine. Also, don't stress too much about the waiting week not paying out - I know it's frustrating when you need the money, but think of it as a practice run to get familiar with the system before your actual benefit weeks start. You're asking all the right questions upfront, which will definitely save you headaches later. The ESD process seems overwhelming at first, but it really does get easier once you file a few claims. Good luck with everything!

I'm dealing with the exact same frustrating situation - my claim has been stuck on "pending resolution" for almost 3 weeks now with zero explanation. Like everyone else here, I've tried calling countless times only to wait on hold for hours before getting disconnected. What's really getting to me is the complete lack of transparency - how are we supposed to fix whatever the issue is if they won't even tell us what it is? I've checked my correspondence, looked for pending items, verified all my information, and there's absolutely nothing indicating what they need from me. The financial stress of waiting indefinitely while bills pile up is honestly taking a toll on my mental health. Based on all the positive feedback in this thread about Claimyr, I think I'm going to give them a try. It's ridiculous that we have to pay a third-party service just to talk to our own state agency, but at this point I desperately need answers. Has anyone tried contacting their local legislator's office like someone mentioned? I'm willing to explore every option because this waiting game is unsustainable.

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now - pending resolution for 2.5 weeks with absolutely no information about what's causing the delay. The most frustrating part is that I can't even get a human being on the phone to explain what they need from me. I've tried calling at different times of day, waited on hold for 4+ hours multiple times, only to get that automated message saying they're too busy to take my call. It's incredibly stressful when you're depending on these benefits to pay rent and buy groceries. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it's clear this is a widespread problem with Washington ESD's system being completely overwhelmed and their communication being terrible. I think I'm going to try that Claimyr service that several people have recommended - at this point paying someone to actually get me connected to a real person seems like the only viable option. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to resort to third-party services just to get basic information about our own claims, but the alternative seems to be waiting indefinitely in the dark.

I'm in almost the exact same situation! Just got laid off from my job at a grocery store and have been thinking about going back to school for my associate degree in business administration. This thread has been SO helpful - I was really worried about messing up my unemployment claim by enrolling in classes. Based on everything I've read here, it sounds like the key is choosing evening or weekend classes and being completely honest with Washington ESD about your school enrollment and availability. The confirmation from someone who actually called and spoke to an agent that evening classes are generally fine is such a relief! I'm definitely planning to look into evening programs at my local community college now. I figure even if I have to balance job searching with schoolwork, at least I'll be working toward something that could help me get a better job in the long run. Has anyone else here specifically done business classes while on unemployment? I'm curious if there are any particular considerations for that type of program.

I'm in a really similar situation - just got laid off from my job at a call center and have been considering going back to school for an associate degree in information technology. This whole thread has been incredibly reassuring! I was so worried about potentially losing my unemployment benefits if I enrolled in classes, but seeing all the experiences people have shared here and especially the direct confirmation from Washington ESD that evening classes are generally okay has given me the confidence to move forward. I'm planning to look into evening IT programs at my local community college since that would keep me available during normal business hours for any job opportunities. The IT field seems like it would have great job prospects once I finish the program, and many of the skills I could probably start applying to jobs even before completing the full degree. Has anyone here specifically done IT or computer-related classes while collecting unemployment? I'm curious if there are any particular considerations for technology programs, especially if they involve lab work or hands-on components that might affect scheduling.

Just want to add that even if your employer has documentation of policy violations, you can still win if you can show the violations weren't willful or if there were extenuating circumstances. Don't give up hope!

I went through a similar misconduct appeal last year and won! The key thing that helped me was focusing on Washington's specific definition of misconduct - it has to be willful and deliberate disregard of employer interests. If you were genuinely trying to do your job but made mistakes or struggled with performance, that's not misconduct. Make sure you have a clear timeline of events, any documentation showing you tried to improve or asked for help, and evidence that policies weren't clearly communicated or consistently enforced. Also, practice telling your story concisely - the hearing officer needs to understand your perspective quickly. You mentioned medical documentation for tardiness - that could be really strong evidence that your actions weren't willful. Good luck with your hearing!

One other thing nobody has mentioned - make sure your husband checks his spam folder regularly. Sometimes ESD sends emails requesting additional information, and if he doesn't respond within their timeframe (usually 5 business days), it can keep his claim stuck in pending status. They're terrible about communicating this clearly.

I feel your pain! I went through this exact nightmare about 6 months ago. One trick that finally worked for me was calling the TeleCert line at 800-477-2500 first thing in the morning, then when prompted, I'd press 0 repeatedly until it transferred me to a live agent. Sometimes they can look up your claim status even though it's technically a different department. Also, if your husband's claim has been pending for 4 weeks, that's definitely grounds for escalation - make sure to mention that timeline specifically when you do get through to someone. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with ESD unfortunately. Hang in there, you'll get through this!