Can you cancel unemployment claim after filing - Washington ESD process?
I filed for unemployment benefits with Washington ESD about a week ago but now I'm having second thoughts. My former employer contacted me about potentially coming back to work and I'm wondering if I can cancel my unemployment claim before it gets processed? I haven't received any payments yet and my claim is still showing as pending in my SecureAccess Washington account. Does anyone know if Washington ESD allows you to withdraw or cancel a claim once it's been submitted? I don't want to mess up my employment situation or have issues later if things don't work out with my old job.
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Seraphina Delan
Yes, you can typically withdraw an unemployment claim with Washington ESD if you haven't received any payments yet. You'll need to contact them directly to request the withdrawal. Keep in mind that if your job situation doesn't work out, you might need to file a new claim later.
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Niko Ramsey
•Thanks! Do you know if I need to fill out any specific forms or can I just call them?
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Seraphina Delan
•Usually you can call their customer service line, but be prepared for long wait times. Some people have had luck with the online messaging system through their SecureAccess Washington portal too.
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Jabari-Jo
I tried to cancel mine last year and it was such a hassle trying to get through to someone at Washington ESD. Spent hours on hold multiple times.
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Kristin Frank
•Same here! The phone system is terrible. I kept getting disconnected after waiting 45+ minutes.
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Micah Trail
•Have you tried using Claimyr? It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents faster. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. I used it when I needed to resolve an issue with my claim status and actually got connected to someone within 20 minutes.
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Jabari-Jo
•Never heard of that before. Is it legitimate? I'm always skeptical of third-party services for government stuff.
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Nia Watson
Be careful about withdrawing your claim if you're not 100% sure about the job situation. If your employer doesn't follow through and you have to refile, there might be a gap in coverage and you'll have to go through the whole process again.
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Niko Ramsey
•That's a good point. The job offer isn't guaranteed yet, they just said they're considering bringing people back. Maybe I should wait a bit longer before canceling.
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Nia Watson
•Exactly. Washington ESD processes can take time anyway, so you have some breathing room to make the decision. Don't rush into withdrawing it.
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Alberto Souchard
I don't think you can actually "cancel" a claim once it's submitted. You can stop filing weekly claims which will essentially make it inactive, but the claim itself stays in the system.
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Seraphina Delan
•That's not entirely accurate. Washington ESD does allow claim withdrawals in certain circumstances, especially if no payments have been made yet. But you're right that simply not filing weekly claims is another option.
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Alberto Souchard
•Oh okay, I must have been thinking of a different situation. Thanks for the correction!
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Katherine Shultz
Why would you want to cancel it? Even if you go back to work, having an open claim doesn't hurt anything if you're not filing weekly certifications.
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Niko Ramsey
•I'm worried it might affect my employment record or cause issues with my employer if they find out I filed for unemployment.
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Katherine Shultz
•Employers can't see if you filed for unemployment unless they're specifically notified about a claim against their account. And even then, filing is your legal right.
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Micah Trail
If you're determined to withdraw the claim, the fastest way I've found to reach Washington ESD is through that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. They specialize in getting you connected to actual agents instead of dealing with the automated system. Much better than spending all day trying to call on your own.
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Marcus Marsh
•How much does something like that cost though? I'm already unemployed so I don't have much extra money to spend.
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Micah Trail
•It's worth checking out their site for current pricing. When you're dealing with potential employment issues, sometimes it's worth the investment to get things resolved quickly and properly.
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Hailey O'Leary
I was in a similar situation a few months ago. Filed a claim then got called back to work within two weeks. I just stopped filing my weekly claims and never had any issues. The claim eventually became inactive on its own.
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Niko Ramsey
•Did you ever formally notify Washington ESD that you were returning to work?
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Hailey O'Leary
•No, I didn't think I needed to since I never received any payments. But in hindsight, it probably would have been better to call and let them know.
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Kristin Frank
Whatever you decide, make sure you document everything. Keep records of when you filed, any communications with your employer, and if you do contact Washington ESD to withdraw the claim.
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Niko Ramsey
•Good advice. I'll start keeping track of all the dates and conversations.
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Cedric Chung
The Washington ESD website has some information about claim withdrawals in their FAQ section. Might be worth checking there first before trying to call.
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Niko Ramsey
•I looked but couldn't find anything specific about withdrawing claims. Maybe I missed it?
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Cedric Chung
•It might be under their general claim information or policy section. The website isn't always the easiest to navigate.
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Talia Klein
Just my two cents - if there's any uncertainty about the job, keep the claim active. You can always explain the situation to Washington ESD later if needed. It's harder to restart a claim than to pause one.
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Niko Ramsey
•That makes sense. I think I'm leaning toward keeping it open for now and just not filing weekly claims until I know for sure about the job.
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Maxwell St. Laurent
Does anyone know if withdrawing a claim affects your ability to file again in the future? Like, does it show up on your record somehow?
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Seraphina Delan
•Withdrawing a claim shouldn't affect future eligibility as long as you meet the normal requirements when you file again. It's not considered fraud or anything negative.
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Maxwell St. Laurent
•That's reassuring. I was worried it might look bad somehow.
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PaulineW
I used Claimyr last month when I was having issues with my adjudication process. Really helped me get through to someone who could actually explain what was happening with my claim. Definitely recommend it if you need to talk to Washington ESD about anything important.
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Niko Ramsey
•How quickly were you able to get connected? I'm getting nervous about how long this might take to resolve.
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PaulineW
•It was way faster than calling directly. I think I got through in about 15-20 minutes instead of the usual hours of waiting.
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Annabel Kimball
Make sure whatever you decide, you're not violating any requirements. If you're actively looking for work and available, you might as well keep collecting benefits until the job situation is confirmed.
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Niko Ramsey
•The thing is, I'm not really actively looking for other work since my old employer might take me back. Does that affect my eligibility?
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Annabel Kimball
•If you're not actively seeking work, that could be an issue for continuing benefits. You might want to discuss this specific situation with Washington ESD directly.
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Chris Elmeda
this is why the unemployment system is so confusing!!! too many rules and exceptions. just pick up the phone and call them directly imo
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Jabari-Jo
•Easier said than done when their phone lines are constantly busy and you get disconnected half the time.
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Jean Claude
I think the safest approach is to call Washington ESD and explain your exact situation. They can tell you the best course of action based on your specific circumstances rather than guessing.
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Niko Ramsey
•You're right. I need to stop overthinking this and just contact them directly. Thanks everyone for all the advice!
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Charity Cohan
Keep us updated on what happens! I'm curious to know what Washington ESD tells you about the withdrawal process.
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Niko Ramsey
•Will do! Hopefully I can get through to someone this week and get this sorted out.
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Jamal Wilson
I went through a similar situation last year. One thing to keep in mind is that Washington ESD might ask you to repay any benefits you've received if you withdraw the claim after payments have started. Since you mentioned you haven't received any payments yet, you should be in the clear. I'd recommend getting something in writing from your employer about the potential return to work before making any decisions - that way you have documentation either way.
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