Looking for work each week is a basic requirement for receiving unemployment benefits.  However, there are situations where seeking work is temporarily waived.  Some of these waivers are in place only during the current Declaration of Civil Emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Current work search waivers:

The following are situations where you do not need to complete work search activities to be eligible for weekly benefits. You still need to complete the work search form as part of filing your weekly claim to provide this information.

1. You are starting a new full-time job in 2 weeks. You are waived from work search related activities for the next 2 weeks.

2. You are starting a new full-time job (in more than 2 weeks). If you are able to provide written proof, then you are waived from work search related activities for the four (4) weeks immediately before your start date. If you are unable to provide written proof, you are still waived from work search related activities for the two (2) weeks immediately before your start date.

3. If you are on temporary leave or layoff from your job and have a definite date to return to work, work search can be waived for up to six (6) weeks. This waiver is available once during your benefit year so you may want to wait until you are within 6 weeks of starting back to work to use it. When the waiver is not in place, you will need to complete a work search activity each week.