I've been collecting unemployment for about 6 months and went through an audit earlier this year. What helped me was keeping a simple Excel spreadsheet with columns for date, company name, position, how I applied, and any confirmation numbers or emails I received. When they audited me, I was able to provide everything they needed within a few days. The audit letter was pretty straightforward - they just wanted verification for about 8 specific job searches from certain weeks. None of the employers were actually contacted in my case, they just reviewed my documentation. As long as you're genuinely applying to real jobs and can show proof, you should be fine. The job market is tough right now so don't feel bad about the lack of responses - that's unfortunately normal.

I've been on unemployment for about 4 months now and had similar worries about verification. From what I've learned talking to other people and reading online, Washington ESD does have the ability to contact employers but they're pretty overwhelmed with claims right now so it's not happening routinely. The most important thing is that you're genuinely applying to real jobs and keeping some kind of record. I started keeping a simple Google Doc with the date, company name, position title, and how I applied (Indeed, company website, etc.). Even if the employer doesn't remember your specific application when contacted, having your own documentation shows you made a good faith effort. The fact that you're applying to 60+ places over 3 months shows you're taking the job search seriously. Don't stress too much about the lack of responses - the job market is really tough right now and many people are experiencing the same thing.

You're going to be fine. The first time is always scary but thousands of people go through this process every week. Just take it one step at a time and don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

I went through this exact same situation last year when I got laid off from Amazon. Here's my step-by-step process: 1) Go to esd.wa.gov and click "File a Claim" - you can do it 24/7 online. 2) Have your SSN, driver's license, and last 18 months of employment info ready (dates, addresses, reason for separation). 3) Your benefit amount is calculated as roughly 3.85% of your highest quarter earnings, capped at $999/week currently. 4) File your initial claim ASAP - there's a mandatory one-week waiting period before payments start. 5) You MUST file weekly claims every week (starting Sunday) even while your initial claim is being processed. 6) Register with WorkSource Washington within your first week. The whole process took about 3 weeks for my first payment to hit my bank account. Don't stress too much - layoffs are usually approved quickly since it wasn't your fault. The tech industry layoffs are super common right now so Washington ESD is used to processing these claims.

I went through almost exactly this situation about 8 months ago. I was a laid-off marketing manager who took a part-time cashier job while on unemployment. Like you, I was actually losing money after the benefit deduction and it was killing my job search efforts. Here's what worked for me: I kept a detailed log for 3 weeks showing every interview I had to decline or reschedule due to my retail shifts, plus all the networking events and career fairs I missed. I also tracked my job applications - before the part-time job I was applying to 8-10 positions per week, but with the retail schedule I could barely manage 3-4. When I presented this documentation to ESD along with my wage comparison (marketing salary vs retail), they approved my quit as "good cause" under the unsuitable work provision. The key was showing how the part-time job was actively preventing me from returning to suitable employment. One tip: if you do decide to quit, apply for your weekly benefit the same week and include a detailed explanation right away. Don't wait for them to ask questions later. Be proactive with your documentation and reasoning. The process took about 3 weeks to get resolved, but I did continue receiving benefits and eventually found a position in my field. Good luck!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now - laid off from my graphic design job and working part-time at a coffee shop while collecting unemployment. The scheduling conflicts are killing my ability to interview for design positions, and after the benefit deduction I'm actually making about $80 less per week than if I just focused full-time on my job search. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like the key is really documenting everything before making any moves. I've already had to turn down three interviews because of my coffee shop shifts, and my manager refuses to give me any flexibility. For anyone else in this boat - I found it helpful to screenshot the interview requests I had to decline and save the email chains with my manager about schedule changes. Also keeping a spreadsheet of all the design jobs I'm applying to and noting when I couldn't apply because I was too exhausted from being on my feet all day at the coffee shop. The advice about contacting ESD directly before quitting seems crucial. Has anyone had success getting through to them recently without using a third-party service? The hold times have been absolutely brutal when I've tried calling.

anybody else notice that esd's website always says their gonna make a decision in like 2-3 weeks but it ALWAYS takes longer lol

Just wanted to update everyone - I'm now at week 3 and still waiting! My claim status finally changed from "pending" to "under review" yesterday, so maybe that's progress? I tried the Claimyr service that Diego mentioned and actually got through to an ESD agent today. She confirmed that my employer never responded to their request, but said there's now an "adjudication backlog" that could add another 1-2 weeks. At least I know what's happening now instead of just wondering. Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice - I'll keep filing my weekly claims and hopefully this gets resolved soon!

Just remember that getting a nonmon determination doesn't automatically mean bad news. It's just ESD doing their due diligence to verify eligibility. Stay positive and respond appropriately.

I went through a similar nonmon determination situation last year and it was really stressful at first. Mine ended up being about whether I was actively searching for work during a specific week. The key thing is to read the letter very carefully - it should specify exactly what type of determination it is and what they need from you. Don't panic! Most of these get resolved quickly once you provide the requested information. Make sure you respond before the deadline and keep copies of everything you submit. If you need to talk to someone at ESD about it, that Claimyr service people mentioned might be worth trying since the regular phone lines are nearly impossible to get through on.