The following tips for filing an unemployment claim while you are on standby were taken from Employment Securities web site at https://esd.wa.gov/unemployment/temporary-layoffs

Temporary layoffs, standby and furloughs

 COVID-19 (coronavirus) update: Emergency rules have been adopted for workers and employers affected by COVID-19. If you are temporarily laid off due to COVID-19, please take a look at this page for the most recent information. 

Temporary layoff

In the event of a temporary layoff when the employer plans to rehire a laid off employee (or group of employees), we may approve a request to place the worker or group of workers on standby. Standby waives the job search requirements while workers are collecting unemployment benefits during the approved standby period.

To qualify for standby, the worker must:

• Have been a full-time employee; and
• Be returning to full-time work; and
• Have a probable return-to-work date. Workers cannot exceed a total of eight weeks of standby on a claim.

To request standby:

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Under emergency rules, requests for standby can be made for up to 12 weeks by either worker or employer. For additional information, see the COVID-19 page.

• Workers who have a probable return-to-work date with a current employer within four weeks (28 days)  12 weeks (see note above) can request standby approval for up to four weeks. Workers starting a new job with a new employer may also request standby within two weeks of an expected start date.  In eServices, click on your current UI claim and look under I want to.

• Employers can request standby for employees with a probable return-to-work date within eight weeks (56 days) 12 weeks (see note above) of the date of the request. Employers should request standby using the "Request for Separation Information" form we send when a worker has applied for unemployment benefits.

Our decision:

Workers and employers will receive a standby decision in the mail.

• If approved, it starts with the date we receive the request.
• If denied, the requester can appeal our decision.

Filing for Unemployment while on standby.pdf