How far back can Washington ESD audit unemployment claims - worried about old issues

Washington ESD can generally audit claims going back up to 6 years for overpayment issues, but most audits focus on the past 2-3 years. If there was actual fraud involved, they can go back even further. What kind of mistakes are you worried about specifically?

I got audited last year for claims from 2021 so yeah they definitely go back that far. It was stressful but turned out fine since I had kept good records.

If you're really worried about this, you might want to contact Washington ESD directly to ask about your claim history. I know calling them is nearly impossible though - I've tried dozens of times and either get busy signals or get disconnected after waiting for hours.

The 6 year thing is mostly for collection purposes on established overpayments. For new audits they usually focus on more recent claims unless there's a specific reason to look further back. You're probably overthinking this if it's been 2 years with no contact.

Why are you even worrying about this? If you haven't heard anything by now you're probably fine. The system is so backlogged they can barely handle current claims let alone going back years.

From what I understand, Washington ESD has different rules for different situations. Regular UI benefits have one timeframe, but if you received any pandemic benefits like PUA that might be different. Also depends on whether it's a random audit vs. investigating specific fraud allegations.

I had a similar worry and ended up using Claimyr to get through to someone at Washington ESD who could check my account history. Turns out I had nothing to worry about but it gave me peace of mind. The service made it so much easier than trying to call on my own.

The real question is whether you actually did anything wrong. If you were honest on your claims and made good faith efforts to find work, minor paperwork errors aren't usually a big deal. Washington ESD is more interested in catching people who work under the table or lie about job searches.

Something to consider is that Washington ESD typically sends warning letters before any serious action. If they thought there was an issue they would have contacted you by now, especially after 2 years. Most overpayment notices come within 6-12 months of the claim period.

For what it's worth, I think you're probably worrying about nothing. But if you really want peace of mind, getting through to Washington ESD to check your account status is the way to go. Whether you use a service like Claimyr or keep trying to call yourself, knowing for sure is better than stressing.

One more thing to remember - even if there was an overpayment, Washington ESD usually offers payment plans. It's not like they're going to demand thousands of dollars immediately. The system is designed to work with people who cooperate.

honestly this whole thread is making me paranoid about my own old claims lol. I had no idea they could go back 6 years

Final thought - if you're really concerned, you could also pull your own records from Washington ESD online. Your account should show your claim history and any issues or flags. That might give you some peace of mind without having to talk to anyone.

Update us when you find out! I'm curious how this turns out since I'm sure other people have similar worries.

I went through something similar last year and completely understand the anxiety you're feeling. Based on my experience and research, Washington ESD typically has a 3-year statute of limitations for most overpayment issues, though they can extend it to 6 years in certain circumstances. The good news is that if you made honest mistakes rather than intentionally trying to defraud the system, they usually treat it as a simple overpayment rather than fraud. Since it's been 2 years and you haven't heard anything, that's actually a positive sign. Most audits and overpayment determinations happen within the first year after a claim ends. Try checking your online ESD account first - it should show any pending issues or flags on your claim history.