anyone else think its stupid they dont check ur job searches every week but then can randomly audit u??? feels like a trap to catch people and make them pay everything back. the whole system is designed to trip people up i swear

When I was on unemployment last year I got audited after like 6 weeks. They gave me 7 days to upload all my job search logs. I was lucky because I had kept good records but my friend didn't and he had to pay back like $4200 in benefits! So definitely keep track of everything even if it seems like they don't care about it week to week.

my cousin works at esd and says this happens ALL THE TIME. the base year thing confuses everyone. she says they get angry calls from employers like 'why am i getting charged when i didnt fire them???' all day long lol

Just to clarify for everyone in this thread: The UI tax charging system is based on an insurance model. Employers pay premiums (UI taxes) that go into a pool which funds benefits. When an employee becomes unemployed, the system looks back at who benefited from their labor during the base period (as evidenced by who paid their wages) rather than who caused the unemployment. In Washington, benefits are charged proportionally to all base year employers based on how much they paid you. So if 80% of your base year wages came from Employer A and 20% from Employer B, then Employer A would be charged for 80% of your benefits. Employers understand this is part of doing business, even if they sometimes get frustrated by it.

Did anyone else notice they changed the payment schedule recently? I used to always get paid on Tuesdays like clockwork if I filed on Sunday, but starting last month it's been Wednesday every time. I called and the agent said they adjusted their processing schedule in April 2025. Just FYI for anyone confused by timing changes!

One thing to watch out for - make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even after you see the first payment. I made the mistake of thinking I was all set after getting approved, missed a week of filing, and then had to restart my entire claim! The weekly claims are due every Sunday, though you technically have until 4pm on Saturday of the following week before they count it as "late." Set a calendar reminder so you don't forget!

Just an update on what others have shared - yes, ESD might put your claim in adjudication for a voluntary quit, but with the clear increase in pay and reduction in commute, you should qualify under their "good cause" provisions. The adjudication process can take anywhere from 1-6 weeks based on their current workload, but they've been processing faster lately. If you do get put in adjudication, continue filing your weekly claims as normal during the waiting period. If approved (which seems likely in your case), you'll receive all back payments for those weeks. Also keep documenting your job search activities for your primary occupation while this is happening.

To summarize for you and anyone else in a similar situation: 1. You can quit a part-time job for another part-time job with better pay/conditions while on UI 2. You should expect possible adjudication (review) of your claim 3. Having documentation ready will speed up the process (offer letters, pay rates, addresses) 4. Continue filing weekly claims and conducting job searches during any review period 5. The good cause provisions specifically include "accepting a bona fide job offer with significantly better wages" and "significantly reduced commute time" Your situation checks all the boxes for a successful outcome. Good luck with the new position!

Just to clarify some confusion in this thread: The Workers' Benefits Credit does use a different payment processing system than regular unemployment, but both CAN send email notifications if you've opted in. However, the WBC system has been having some notification issues lately. The best way to check is directly in your eServices account under the 'Payments' tab. You should see a payment with 'processing' or 'issued' status before it hits your bank account. If it says 'issued' but hasn't arrived in 3 business days, that's when you should contact ESD.

FINALLY got my deposit this morning!!! Took exactly 5 business days from decision to deposit. Check your accounts today if you were approved on the 2nd!