Can you lose unemployment benefits Washington ESD - what triggers benefit loss?

There are specific reasons Washington ESD will disqualify you from benefits. The main ones are: not actively searching for work, refusing suitable work offers, quitting without good cause, being fired for misconduct, not reporting income, or not being able and available for work. As long as you're following the job search requirements and filing your weekly claims honestly, you should be fine.

The job search requirement is the big one most people mess up. You need to do 3 job search activities per week and keep detailed records. Washington ESD can audit you at any time and if you can't prove your job search activities, they'll disqualify you and make you pay back benefits.

I lost my benefits last year because I couldn't get through to Washington ESD to report a part-time job I started. They said I was fraudulently collecting benefits even though I was trying to report it! Had to appeal and everything. If you need to reach them quickly, I used claimyr.com - it's a service that calls Washington ESD for you and gets you connected to an agent. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Don't forget about the work availability requirement. If you're not able and available for work due to illness, vacation, or other reasons, you need to report that on your weekly claim. Lying about availability is a quick way to get disqualified.

WASHINGTON ESD WILL DISQUALIFY YOU FOR BREATHING WRONG. Sorry for caps but I'm so frustrated with this system. They find reasons to deny people left and right. I got a letter saying I was overpaid $2800 because I didn't report some freelance work correctly, even though I tried to report it!

My cousin lost benefits because she went back to school full-time without telling Washington ESD. Apparently you can't be in school and collect UI unless it's approved job training.

Income reporting is huge. Even if you make $50 from a side gig, you MUST report it. They cross-reference with tax records and will catch unreported income eventually.

Just wanted to add that moving out of state without notifying Washington ESD can also cause issues. You might still be eligible but you need to follow their interstate claim procedures.

Here's the complete list of reasons Washington ESD will stop your benefits: 1) Inadequate job search, 2) Refusing suitable work, 3) Quitting without good cause, 4) Fired for misconduct, 5) Not able/available for work, 6) Unreported income, 7) Fraud/misrepresentation, 8) Not responding to requests for information, 9) Failing to attend required appointments, 10) Going to school without approval.

Another thing - if Washington ESD sends you any letters or requests for information, respond immediately. I know someone who lost benefits because they missed a deadline to provide wage verification documents.

If you're ever unsure about whether something might affect your benefits, it's better to contact Washington ESD and ask. I know their phone lines are terrible, but getting clarification is better than losing benefits later.

Don't forget that if you do lose benefits, you can appeal the decision. A lot of people don't know they have rights in this process.

The key is documentation. Keep records of everything - job applications, work search activities, any communication with Washington ESD, income reports. If they ever question your eligibility, you'll need proof.

One more thing - seasonal workers need to be extra careful. If you're laid off seasonally and there's a reasonable expectation you'll be called back, you might be on standby status instead of regular UI.

Bottom line - Washington ESD has gotten really strict about enforcement. They're auditing more claims and catching things they used to let slide. Better to be overly cautious than risk losing everything.

Final tip - if you're ever in doubt about whether to report something, report it. It's better to over-report than under-report when it comes to Washington ESD.

Hope this thread helps others too. The unemployment system can be confusing but knowing the rules helps you avoid problems. And if you do need to reach Washington ESD directly, don't forget about services like Claimyr that can help you get through their phone system.

Glad we could help clarify things. The most important takeaway is that Washington ESD has clear rules, and as long as you follow them honestly, you shouldn't have problems with your benefits.