District of Columbia Unemployment Checklist: Weekly Work Search Rules, Excel Log and Documents to Gather

Who it is for

People claiming unemployment in District of Columbia who need to keep a weekly work search record for DC Department of Employment Services (DOES), and family members helping them stay organized.

Not the right fit if

You claim unemployment in a state other than District of Columbia, or you need help with a denied claim or an appeal: this organizes the weekly work search record and doesn't advise on eligibility.

Why it is different

• Built only from our District of Columbia work search data file, checked November 2026 against 1 official page: DC DOES: Work search requirements.
• 6 items the official pages didn't state are printed as "Not confirmed — check" with the agency's page, never guessed.
• The Excel summary flags any week with fewer than 2 logged activities, recalculating with zero formula errors.

What is inside

• DC weekly work search log (Excel). A log with the columns DC Department of Employment Services (DOES) asks for (Date, Employer or organization, Job title or type of work, Address, website or email, Phone, How you made contact), a weekly summary that counts your activities against District of Columbia's 2 per week and a documents checklist.
• Start here: DC filing and work search steps. The 5 facts DC Department of Employment Services (DOES)'s pages confirm, each with its source and check date, and 6 marked "Not confirmed — check": official list of activities, how to report your work search, where to report, official log form, job bank registration, how the week is counted. The weekly requirement, in the agency's words: At least 2 verifiable work search contacts each week. Activities DC counts: applying for jobs in person, by mail, phone, online or email; attending a job fair; contacting prospective employers; using an employment agency or placement service; taking part in a DOES workforce program or activity. Records: DOES may ask to review your work search record at any time during or after the benefit year. Who may not have to search, per the agency: union members in good standing whose union actively seeks work for them (DOES verifies); furloughed federal employees under DOES's January 31, 2026 waiver policy (not contractors, separated employees or other claimants).
• Documents to gather. A checklist of the papers a claim usually asks for (IDs, employer names and dates, pay records, separation papers), with space for anything District of Columbia's application adds.
• Printable weekly work search log. A paper version of the log with District of Columbia's columns, one week per page, for claimants who prefer to write it down.