Can I cancel an unemployment claim with Washington ESD before it processes?

Thanks! Do you know if there's a specific form I need to fill out or can I just tell them over the phone?

Just tell them over the phone. They'll ask for your SSN and confirm the withdrawal. Make sure to get a confirmation number.

Oh no, really? What's the best time to call them?

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that calls Washington ESD for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

That's not how it works. You can't keep an active claim open while working full-time. You have to report all earnings and if you're working full-time you won't qualify for benefits anyway.

oh ok i didnt know that. so its better to just cancel then?

Yeah that's what I'm thinking. I don't want to deal with reporting work hours and all that if I'm working full time.

Oh wow, what kind of mess did it cause?

They thought I was trying to commit fraud by not reporting work properly. Had to provide all kinds of documentation to prove I got a job and wasn't trying to collect benefits illegally.

This is exactly why you need to call and officially withdraw. The system doesn't know you got a job unless you tell them.

Thanks! I'm not sure about a deadline, that's a good question.

There's no specific deadline but you should do it as soon as possible, especially before you receive any payments. Once you get paid benefits it becomes more complicated.

How long did it take to get through to someone?

About 45 minutes of waiting, but I called first thing in the morning around 8 AM. That seemed to be the best time.

45 minutes isnt too bad. i waited 2 hours yesterday and got disconnected

Is that legitimate? Sounds too good to be true.

Yes it's legit. They basically automate the calling process and notify you when they get an agent on the line. I used it twice and it worked perfectly both times.

How much does it cost?

I'd rather not get into pricing here but it was worth it for me considering how much time I was wasting trying to call myself.

Good point! Should I screenshot my online account or is there a better way to save records?

Screenshots are good but also print out or save PDFs of any official notices you received. The withdrawal confirmation is especially important to keep.

No, there are no fees for withdrawing an unemployment claim as long as you haven't received any benefit payments yet.

That's a relief! I wasn't sure if there were administrative costs or something.

Yikes! Did you have any problems filing a new claim so soon after withdrawing?

Not really, but I had to explain the situation during the initial interview. They asked why I withdrew the previous claim and wanted documentation of my employment.

This is why some people try to keep claims open even when working, but like someone said earlier that's not really how it's supposed to work.

I looked but couldn't find specific instructions. Most of the info is about filing claims, not canceling them.

Yeah their website isn't super helpful for this kind of thing. Calling really is your best bet.

That's a good backup plan! Do all WorkSource locations handle unemployment issues?

Most do but you might want to call ahead to make sure. Some are better equipped to help with UI claims than others.

I tried this once and they just told me to call Washington ESD myself. But maybe it depends on the location.

Yeah everyone seems to be saying the same thing - definitely need to officially cancel it.

The unemployment system is pretty unforgiving when it comes to incomplete actions. Better to over-communicate than under-communicate.

Will do! Planning to call first thing Monday morning.

Good luck! Monday mornings are usually the busiest so be prepared for a wait.

Or use Claimyr to skip the wait! Just saying. Sometimes the small fee is worth the time savings.

Good point. Withdrawing doesn't usually affect your ability to file a new claim later, but it's worth asking when you call to withdraw.

I'll definitely ask about that when I call. Thanks for thinking of it!