Does Washington ESD actually audit work search logs or just trust us?

Wow that's intense! How did they notify you about the audit? Was it random or did something trigger it?

Got a letter in the mail and also a message in my SecureAccess Washington account. They said it was a random selection but who knows.

That's my worst nightmare right there. I've been pretty good about keeping records but some weeks I definitely cut corners on the details.

What kind of red flags would trigger an audit? I'm paranoid now that I might have done something wrong.

Things like inconsistent reporting, claiming benefits for extended periods, or random quality control selections. Just be honest and keep good records.

That's actually really helpful, I hate trying to call Washington ESD. Did it cost a lot to use that service?

It was worth it for the peace of mind during the audit. Way better than wasting whole days trying to get through on the phone.

Never heard of claimyr but anything that helps with those phone lines sounds good to me. The hold times are ridiculous.

Smart to keep records. Even if you haven't been audited yet doesn't mean you won't be. Better safe than sorry.

8 months is a long time, hope you find something soon. The job market is tough right now.

That's what I figured. Probably just luck of the draw for most people.

Networking events can count as long as they're specifically job-related. Online applications definitely count. You can also do things like contacting employers directly, attending job fairs, or using WorkSource services.

Good to know about the networking events. I wasn't sure if those were legitimate or not.

yeah it's stressful enough being unemployed without worrying about getting in trouble for paperwork

I understand the frustration, but the requirements exist to ensure the system isn't abused. As long as you're genuinely looking for work and keeping records, you shouldn't have issues.

They actually contact the employers? That seems like a lot of work for them to verify everything.

She said they didn't contact all of them but they did verify a few randomly. Pretty thorough process.

Good to hear you got through it okay. These audits sound scary but if you're doing everything right it should be fine.

That's a good system. I should probably get more organized with my tracking.

Excel is perfect for this. I do the same thing and it makes filing my weekly claims so much easier too.

I don't think there's public information about their audit patterns, but I'd assume it's fairly consistent throughout the year. Federal oversight probably requires regular quality control checks.

I feel you on that. Sometimes it's hard to find 3 genuine opportunities every week, especially in specialized fields.

The goal is to encourage active job searching. Even if some applications don't pan out, you're still putting yourself out there and might find unexpected opportunities.

20 weeks worth! That's a lot of documentation to keep track of. I really need to get better at this.

That's brilliant advice. I never thought about jobs getting taken down. Going to start doing this immediately.

Yes! And save the job posting details too, not just that you applied. They want to see what position you applied for.

That's reassuring to know. So it's kind of like a one-and-done thing for most people?

That's what the agent told me anyway. They said it was random selection and unlikely to happen again in the same benefit year.

How quickly did you get through? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks about my claim status.

Under 30 minutes both times I used it. Way better than the 3+ hour hold times I was getting before.

Thanks everyone for all the advice. Definitely taking this more seriously now and going to clean up my record-keeping.

Smart move. Better to be over-prepared than get caught off guard by an audit.

I use a simple spreadsheet with these columns: Date, Company Name, Position Title, Contact Method (online application, email, phone), Contact Person/Email if applicable, and Notes (like confirmation numbers or responses). Some people also add a column for follow-up actions. The key is being consistent and specific - instead of just "applied online" write "applied via company website" or "applied through Indeed." Save screenshots and confirmation emails too!

That's exactly the kind of detail I was looking for! I've been way too vague in my tracking. One question - when you save screenshots, do you organize them in folders by week or month? I'm trying to figure out the best way to store everything so I can find it quickly if needed.