How do I cancel my unemployment claim online with Washington ESD?

Thanks! So I just stop filing weekly claims and that's it? Do I need to notify Washington ESD about the job somehow?

Yes, just stop filing. If you want to formally notify them about employment, you can send a message through eServices but it's not required.

You're partially right - you should report work when you file your weekly claim. But if someone stops needing benefits entirely, they can just stop filing without formally canceling the claim.

oh ok that makes sense. just seemed like something you'd need to officially close out

Thanks! So I don't need to notify Washington ESD or anything? Just stop filing?

Exactly. Just stop filing when you start work. If you work part-time later, you can always resume filing and report your earnings.

That's really helpful! I was dreading trying to call Washington ESD. How long did it take to get connected through Claimyr?

Much faster than calling directly. They handle the calling process for you so you don't have to deal with busy signals and long hold times.

never heard of that service before but sounds useful for getting through to washington esd

Yikes, that sounds like a nightmare. How long did it take to resolve the overpayment issue?

About 6 weeks and lots of paperwork. Just be careful about the timing - your last weekly claim should be for the week before you start working.

If it's within your benefit year and you still have weeks available, you can restart filing weekly claims. If your benefit year expires, you'd need to file a new initial claim.

good to know, thanks!

Perfect, that's exactly what I needed to know. So my last claim should be for this week since I start work Monday.

Exactly right. File for this week, then you're done unless something changes with the job.

You report work when you file your weekly claim. If you're working full-time, you just stop filing altogether. No need to make a special call to report it.

Oh that makes sense. I've been stressing about not being able to reach anyone on the phone.

Thanks! Keep at it, something will come through. I was getting pretty discouraged too but persistence paid off.

Interesting, never heard of that. Good to know there are options if I ever need to actually talk to someone.

How much does something like that cost? Seems like it shouldn't be so hard to reach your own state agency.

Worth it for the peace of mind when you really need to talk to someone. Better than spending all day redialing.

This is important - I made the mistake of stopping my claims when I got a part-time job and missed out on partial benefits I was entitled to.

Exactly. The key is understanding the difference between working enough to not need benefits versus working some but still needing supplemental support.

Haha thanks for the caps lock emphasis! That actually makes me feel better about it.

Same here, I was so confused about this when I first got a job. The system is just not intuitive at all.

Because unemployment claims don't really get 'canceled' - they just become inactive when you stop filing. The system is designed around weekly certifications rather than permanent cancellations.

i guess that makes sense from their perspective but it's not intuitive for users

That's really helpful to know. So even if I work for 6 months and then get laid off, I could still use the rest of my original claim?

Yes, exactly. As long as it's within your benefit year, you can resume the same claim. You'd just need to meet the job search requirements again.

This is good info. I didn't realize claims stayed open like that.

That's exactly why I ended up trying Claimyr when I had questions. The phone system is just impossible to deal with most days.

2 hours on hold is crazy but not surprising for washington esd unfortunately

Yes, you'd continue filing and report your earnings. Washington ESD will reduce your benefits based on how much you earn, but you might still qualify for partial benefits.

Good to know. The whole system is so confusing when you're new to it.

Good point, though in my case it's just one full-time W-2 job so it should be straightforward.

Yes! That's exactly how I'm feeling right now. Like I'm going to mess something up.

The unemployment system definitely makes you feel like you're walking on eggshells. Everything seems so official and scary.

It just goes inactive silently. You won't get a confirmation email or letter. Your claim status will just show as inactive if you log into eServices after a few weeks of not filing.

ok thanks, was wondering if i'd get some kind of closure notification

Good point. I guess I was thinking about it wrong - like I needed to formally close it out or something.

Yeah there's really no downside to leaving it open. It's like insurance in case things don't work out.

Exactly my thinking. I've heard too many horror stories about people accidentally creating problems with their claims.

How much does something like that cost? Seems like it might be worth it to avoid screwing up the process.

It's worth checking out their site at claimyr.com - they focus on getting you connected efficiently rather than keeping you on hold forever.

Thanks everyone for all the advice! Sounds like I just need to file one more weekly claim and then I'm done. Really appreciate the help.

good luck with the new job!

Good reminder - I'll make sure the dates are right when I file this week.

might have to try that next time i have issues with my claim

yeah the regular washington esd phone system is basically unusable

Thank you! I'm excited to get back to work and put this whole unemployment experience behind me.

No, it's not automatically closed. Your claim remains open for the full benefit year. You can resume filing anytime if your work situation changes.

Phew! I was worried I'd have to start all over if I needed to file again.

This thread is so helpful. I had the same worries about missing weeks.

Good point. My account looks clean but I'll double-check for any notices or issues.

Yeah I had an overpayment notice show up months after I stopped filing. Had to deal with that mess.

Not during your benefit year. The claim stays open for the full 52 weeks regardless of how often you file.

Thanks! That's really good to know for planning purposes.

That's reassuring to hear from someone with experience using it that way.

Same here. I do gig work so my income varies a lot. The flexibility is actually pretty helpful.

Where do I find my benefit year end date? Is that in my SecureAccess Washington account?

Yes, it should be on your monetary determination letter or visible in your account summary. Usually shows as your claim effective date plus one year.

Right? I'm so glad I asked here first instead of spending hours on hold.

Though if you ever do need to reach them for something else, definitely check out that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. Total game changer for actually getting through.

These forum discussions are honestly more helpful than the official Washington ESD website sometimes.

Yes, you'll need to meet current job search requirements when you resume filing. The requirements might have changed since you last filed, so check the current rules.

Got it, thanks. I'll make sure to review the requirements if I ever need to file again.

Smart thinking! I'll definitely do that when I file my last weekly claim this Sunday.

Great advice. Documentation is always good to have with government benefits.

Thank you! And thanks to everyone who took time to explain how this all works. Feel much better about it now.

Love seeing people help each other out with this stuff. The unemployment system is confusing enough without having to figure it out alone.

Appreciate it! Sometimes the simplest answer is the right one.

Exactly. We tend to overcomplicate things when dealing with government systems.

That's really reassuring to hear. Thanks for sharing your experience!

Same here. It's the most normal thing in the world to stop filing when you don't need benefits anymore.

Agreed! Hopefully it'll help other people who search for this topic.

Yeah, wish I had found something like this when I had the same question months ago.