How does Washington ESD know if you leave country while on unemployment?

You're required to be available for work and actively seeking employment to receive UI benefits. Leaving the country makes you unavailable for work, which is a disqualification. You need to report this travel when filing your weekly claims - there's a specific question about being available for work.

they definitely can find out through passport records and stuff like that. my cousin got caught doing this exact thing and had to pay back like $4000 in benefits

If you need to travel for a family emergency, you should contact Washington ESD directly to discuss your options. Sometimes they can put your claim on hold without disqualification depending on the circumstances. Don't just stop filing - that creates other problems.

WAIT - I need to know more about this Claimyr thing. I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for weeks about my adjudication issue. Does it actually work?

The system tracks everything these days. When you swipe your passport at customs, that data gets shared with government agencies. Washington ESD has access to determine if you were available for work during your claim periods.

ugh the government surveillance state is real. they know everything about us now

I had to travel for a funeral last year while on unemployment. I called Washington ESD beforehand and they put my claim on inactive status for two weeks. When I got back, I reactivated it with no issues. Just be honest with them.

Just want to add that even if you're out of the country, you might still be required to do your job search activities through WorkSourceWA to maintain eligibility when you return. Make sure you understand all the requirements.

Don't risk it. I know someone who thought they were being clever and didn't report international travel. Washington ESD flagged them during a random audit and they had to repay 6 months of benefits plus interest.

The honest approach is always best. Washington ESD deals with family emergencies all the time. Call them, explain your situation, and ask about putting your claim on hold. It's better than risking fraud charges.

Wait, can someone explain what happens if you just stop filing weekly claims while you're gone? Would that be better than filing and lying about being available?

The travel restriction makes sense when you think about it. Unemployment insurance is supposed to help people who are temporarily out of work but actively seeking employment. Hard to do that from another country.

My neighbor got audited by Washington ESD and they found his trip to Mexico from two years ago. Had to pay back $8,000 in benefits. The government agencies definitely share information.

For what it's worth, when I had to deal with a complex Washington ESD issue, I used Claimyr and it was honestly a lifesaver. Got connected to an actual human who could help instead of navigating the phone tree maze for hours.

Bottom line: be honest with Washington ESD about your travel. They have ways of finding out anyway, and the penalties for fraud are severe. A temporary hold on benefits is way better than having to repay everything with penalties.

Just wanted to add that Washington ESD has specific procedures for emergency travel situations. I had to leave suddenly when my father was hospitalized overseas and they were actually pretty understanding when I called ahead. They put my claim on temporary hold and when I returned with documentation (hospital records), they reactivated it without any penalties. The key is communicating with them before you travel, not after. Don't try to hide it - they really do have access to travel records through federal databases.