How does Washington ESD verify work search requirements - what do they actually check?

Do you know how often they actually do these audits? I've been on unemployment for 6 weeks and haven't heard anything yet.

It varies but I'd say maybe 10-15% of claims get audited at some point. Better to be prepared than scramble later.

Wait, they actually call employers? That seems like it would be embarrassing if the employer finds out you're on unemployment.

yeah they do spot checks sometimes. employers expect it though, its normal part of the process

Three weeks seems like a long time for verification. Did your benefits get held up during that period?

No, benefits continued while they reviewed my documentation. They only stop payments if they find issues or you don't respond to their requests.

Never heard of Claimyr before but getting through to Washington ESD is such a nightmare. Does it actually work?

What counts as 'unrealistic application patterns'? I applied to like 15 jobs in one day when I found a bunch of openings.

That's actually fine if you can document them all. They're more concerned about things like applying to the same job multiple times or listing employers that don't exist.

That's why keeping screenshots of confirmation pages is so important. Even if you don't get an email, most application systems show a confirmation page.

I didn't think to screenshot those! I've probably applied to 30+ jobs already without saving confirmations.

Don't panic, just start taking screenshots going forward. Most audits focus on recent activity anyway.

Networking activities do count but you need to document them properly - who you contacted, when, and what type of networking it was. Keep records of LinkedIn messages, emails, or meeting notes.

Good to know. I've been tracking everything in a spreadsheet but wasn't sure about the networking stuff.

How did they contact you about the audit? Email or mail?

got a letter in the mail with about 10 days to respond. had to upload documents through the secure messaging system

10 days doesn't seem like much time to gather all that documentation if you haven't been keeping good records.

The depth of verification depends on what triggers the audit and what they find in your initial documentation. Simple cases get simple reviews.

Makes sense. I guess it's better to over-document than under-document.

Oh wow, I never thought about job postings disappearing. That would be terrible if they asked to verify a job that's no longer posted.

Exactly! I learned this the hard way. Now I screenshot everything - the job posting, my application confirmation, everything.

This is really smart advice. I'm going to start doing this immediately.

WorkSource activities are easier to verify because they have direct integration with Washington ESD systems. Your workshop attendance gets automatically recorded in most cases.

That's reassuring. I've been doing a lot of their virtual workshops and wasn't sure if those counted the same as in-person ones.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already tight on money being unemployed.

I can't remember the exact amount but it was worth it for the peace of mind. Way cheaper than potentially losing benefits over documentation issues.

I might try this. I've been calling Washington ESD for two weeks about work search questions and can never get through.

Yes, registering with temp agencies counts as work search activity. Make sure you document which agencies, when you registered, and any follow-up contact you've had with them.

Good to know. I have all the registration confirmations saved so that should help with verification.

Pretty much, yes. The verification process is designed to catch people who aren't actually looking for work. If you're making genuine efforts and documenting them, you shouldn't have problems.

That makes me feel better. I've been genuinely looking but was worried my record-keeping wasn't detailed enough.

Same here. All these verification stories had me panicking but I've been applying to jobs every week.

Oh that's a good point. I sometimes estimate dates when I'm filing my weekly claim if I can't remember exactly.

yeah dont do that. if they audit you and the dates dont match it looks suspicious even if its just a mistake

It's never too late to start! Create a simple spreadsheet with company name, job title, application date, method, and any follow-up. Takes 2 minutes per application.

That's exactly what I'm going to do. Better to start now than regret it later if I get audited.

If you fail verification, Washington ESD can determine you weren't actively seeking work and may require repayment of benefits for those weeks. You'd also get disqualified until you complete additional work search requirements.

Yikes, that sounds serious. Definitely motivation to keep good records.

My cousin failed verification because he was listing fake job applications. Had to pay back like $3000 in benefits. Don't mess around with this stuff.

That's reassuring. I've been worried that one small mistake in my documentation would cause huge problems.

Washington ESD investigators can usually tell the difference between someone trying to cheat and someone who just didn't keep perfect records. Intent matters.

That's great! How long did it take to get connected through Claimyr?

About 25 minutes from start to finish. Way better than the hours I spent trying to call directly.

I might have to try this too. I have some specific questions about work search requirements that I can't find clear answers to online.

Good plan! The key is consistency - develop a system and stick to it for every application.

Absolutely. This thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding what Washington ESD actually looks for.

You're welcome! Having good documentation gives you peace of mind and makes the whole unemployment process less stressful.

Exactly right. A little extra effort upfront can save you a lot of headaches later if you get selected for verification.

Thanks for sharing your actual verification experience! That's really helpful to know they give you 14 days to respond and don't interrupt benefits during the process. The specific documentation you mentioned - job search log plus proof of 3 applications - gives me a good benchmark for what to prepare. I'm curious, did they randomly select you for verification or was there something that triggered it?