Does Washington ESD contact your employer when you file for unemployment?

Yes, Washington ESD does contact employers as part of their standard verification process. They typically send a separation notice to your employer asking them to confirm the reason for your job separation, your last day worked, and your wages. This usually happens within a few days of filing your claim.

they definitely contact the employer but its pretty standard stuff. nothing to worry about unless you lied on your application or something

I had the same concern when I filed last year. Washington ESD sent my employer a 'Request for Separation Information' form asking basic questions - why I was terminated, my last work day, and wage verification. My employer just filled it out and sent it back. The whole thing was very professional and straightforward. If you were laid off due to budget cuts like you mentioned, that's clearly not your fault so there shouldn't be any issues.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to check on your claim status or ask questions about the employer contact process, I discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually reach a live agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. I was stuck on hold for hours trying to get answers about my adjudication, but Claimyr got me through to someone in about 20 minutes.

The employer contact is automatic and happens for every claim. Don't stress about it - employers deal with these requests all the time. What you should focus on is making sure you file your weekly claims on time and meet the job search requirements once your claim is approved.

ugh i remember being so paranoid about this when i first filed. turned out to be nothing. they just verify you actually worked there and why you left. if you were laid off theres literally nothing for anyone to be upset about

One thing to keep in mind - if your employer disagrees with your claim for any reason, they can contest it. But since you mentioned you were laid off due to budget cuts, that's a qualifying reason for unemployment benefits so there shouldn't be any contest. Contests usually happen when there are disputes about whether someone was fired for misconduct or quit voluntarily.

just make sure all your info matches what your employer has on file. like your last day worked, your wages, stuff like that. any discrepancies can slow down your claim

The whole employer verification process is really just Washington ESD doing their due diligence to prevent fraud. They want to make sure people actually worked where they say they worked and left for legitimate reasons. Since unemployment insurance is funded by employer taxes, they have to verify these things. It's nothing personal against you.

Does anyone know if they contact ALL your previous employers or just the most recent one?

I work in HR and we get these Washington ESD forms regularly. We just fill them out with the basic facts - hire date, termination date, reason for separation, last wages paid. Takes maybe 5-10 minutes. We don't provide opinions or detailed explanations unless specifically asked. Most of us understand people need unemployment benefits to survive between jobs.

Been through this process twice and both times it was painless. First time I was laid off, second time I was fired but it wasn't for misconduct. Both claims went through fine after the employer verification. The key is just being honest on your application.

If you need to check on your claim status or have questions, calling Washington ESD directly can be a nightmare. I spent hours on hold multiple times. Someone mentioned Claimyr earlier and I looked into it - seems like it could save a lot of frustration if you need to actually talk to someone.

One more thing - make sure you respond promptly if Washington ESD asks you for any additional information during this process. Sometimes they need clarification about dates or circumstances, and delays in responding can hold up your claim.

the employer contact thing is standard but what really matters is getting your weekly claims filed on time once youre approved. thats where people mess up and lose benefits

I was worried about the same thing when I filed. Turns out my former employer was actually supportive - they knew the layoffs weren't our fault and they responded to Washington ESD quickly. Don't assume the worst about your employer's reaction.

Just remember that even if Washington ESD contacts your employer, you have rights in this process. If your employer provides incorrect information or tries to contest your claim unfairly, you can appeal and present your side of the story. But based on what you've described, it sounds like a straightforward layoff situation.

Good luck with your claim! The whole process seems intimidating at first but it's really not that bad once you get started. Most people who qualify for benefits get approved without any major issues.

The employer verification process is really standard - I went through it last year when I was laid off from my tech job. Washington ESD sent my former employer a basic form asking about my employment dates, wages, and reason for separation. Since you mentioned you were laid off due to budget cuts, that's actually one of the clearest qualifying reasons for unemployment benefits. Your employer will likely just confirm the layoff was due to business reasons, which supports your claim. The whole verification usually takes about a week, and then you should hear back about your claim status. Don't stress too much about it - layoffs due to budget constraints are pretty straightforward for Washington ESD to process.