Final summary for payment timing: File your weekly claim by Sunday night, expect payment Tuesday-Thursday if there are no issues. Delays usually mean Washington ESD is reviewing something in your claim. Stay consistent with your answers and job search activities to avoid unnecessary delays.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I'm feeling much more confident about the payment timeline now. It sounds like Tuesday-Wednesday is the most common timeframe if I file Sunday night and keep my answers consistent. I'll definitely keep track of my payment patterns over the next few weeks to see if I can establish a reliable schedule for budgeting purposes. Really appreciate this community for breaking down how the Washington ESD payment system actually works!

Bottom line - keep detailed records, be honest about your job search activities, and don't try to game the system. The audits are real and the penalties for not having documentation are severe.

I've been on unemployment for about 3 months and this thread is making me realize I need to step up my documentation game. I've been keeping basic records but nothing as detailed as what you all are describing. Does anyone have a template or specific format they use for tracking their work search activities? I want to make sure I'm capturing all the right information in case I get selected for an audit.

Regarding your weekly claim, here's what you should do: 1. Answer "No" to the question about refusing work 2. In your work search log, do NOT include this interaction as one of your job search activities (it wasn't legitimate) 3. Keep detailed notes about this interaction separate from your claim, just in case you need to explain later 4. Continue your regular job search activities as required by ESD The key thing to understand is that ESD's "suitable work" definition includes legitimacy of the offer. A scam is not a legitimate offer and thus cannot be "suitable work" by definition. If you're particularly concerned, you can always add a note in the comments section of your weekly claim explaining that you encountered what appeared to be fraudulent recruitment activity but are continuing your legitimate job search.

One more thing I forgot to mention - you should check your credit reports right away if you shared any personal information with these scammers. Even confirming your full name, address, or that you're a US citizen could be used for identity theft. You can get free weekly credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com, and it might be worth putting a fraud alert on your credit file as a precaution.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses! Sounds like I need to register for unemployment taxes since I'll be a regular business with employees. Going to get that process started this week and make sure I'm compliant from day one.

Just wanted to add something I learned recently - even if you think you might qualify for an exemption, Washington ESD requires you to apply for that exemption formally. You can't just assume you're exempt and not register. I made this mistake with a nonprofit I helped start, thinking we were automatically exempt, but we still had to file paperwork to get the exemption approved. The application process takes time too, so it's better to start early if you think you might qualify.

I'm in a somewhat similar boat - just accepted a position that starts in 6 weeks but my UI benefits expired last month. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! One thing I'm wondering about that I haven't seen mentioned yet - should we notify ESD immediately when we actually start the job, or just report it on our next weekly claim? I want to make sure I don't accidentally create any overpayment issues by continuing to claim after I've technically started working. Also, has anyone had experience with how ESD handles the transition week when you might work only a few days? Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this thread is a goldmine of practical advice!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you might want to screenshot or save a copy of your job offer email/letter with the start date clearly visible. I had a situation where ESD requested documentation during my claim review, and having that readily available made the process much smoother. Also, if your employer has given you any formal communication about the training requirements or timeline, keep that handy too. Sometimes ESD wants to verify that the delay is employer-initiated rather than something you're choosing to postpone. It sounds like you're being really thoughtful about doing everything correctly, which is exactly the right approach. The whole process can feel overwhelming, but everyone here has given you solid advice about transparency and documentation. You've got this!