How low is unemployment rate affecting Washington ESD weekly claim requirements?

I've been doing the 3 contacts but sometimes I forget to log them right away. Is that going to be a problem?

You need to log them immediately. They're auditing more frequently when the job market is good. Don't give them any reason to question your eligibility.

Did you appeal it? That sounds like something you could fight.

yeah I'm trying to but getting through to anyone at Washington ESD is impossible

This is so frustrating! I've been looking for work in my field for months but they want me to take anything.

Unfortunately that's how it works. When the overall unemployment rate is low, they expect you to be less picky about jobs.

That's not fair though. Why should I have to take a minimum wage job when I have 15 years experience in my field?

Really? How does that work exactly? I've been trying to call for weeks.

They basically handle the calling for you and get you connected to an actual Washington ESD representative. Saved me hours of frustration.

Sounds too good to be true but at this point I'm desperate enough to try anything

My claim has been in adjudication for 2 weeks now. Is that normal?

Two weeks isn't too bad lately. I've seen some take 4-6 weeks. Keep checking your account for updates.

Wait, they can report when someone turns down a job offer? I didn't know that.

Oh yeah, if they think you turned down suitable work, they can absolutely report it. And Washington ESD takes those reports seriously when unemployment is low.

This is terrifying. I turned down a job last week because the pay was way too low for my experience.

I feel you but getting angry won't help. We just have to work within the system.

Easy for you to say! I've been looking for 6 months and Washington ESD is breathing down my neck about every little thing.

Have you tried reaching out to Washington ESD directly about your situation? Sometimes they can be more understanding than you think.

How do they audit you? Do they contact the employers you applied to?

They can contact employers, but mostly they just want to see your documentation. Screenshots of applications, emails, phone call logs, etc.

What happened to your cousin exactly?

they made him prove every single job application he submitted for like 3 months. took forever to get it sorted out

Did they help you resolve your issue?

Yeah, the Washington ESD rep was able to look at my account and explain exactly what documentation they needed. Cleared everything up quickly.

Do you have any specific numbers on how much stricter they've gotten?

I don't have exact statistics, but anecdotally I'm seeing more people getting called in for eligibility reviews and more denials for job search issues.

Just make sure you're following all the requirements exactly. Document everything and keep records of all your job search activities.

I think I've been doing that but now I'm second-guessing everything. Maybe I should call Washington ESD to make sure?

Good luck getting through! I've been trying for days.

They offered me a retraining program but it's in a field I have no interest in.

You might want to consider it anyway. When unemployment is low, they can be less flexible about continuing benefits if you turn down retraining opportunities.

What do you mean by that exactly?

Like they might consider a job suitable even if it pays less than your previous job or requires a longer commute. The standards get more flexible when they think jobs are available.

That's really concerning. I need to make sure I understand what they consider suitable for my situation.

That actually makes sense. Get people back to work fast but make sure they're really following the rules.

Yeah but it creates a lot of stress for people who are legitimately looking for work.

I'm getting desperate enough to try anything at this point. The regular phone lines are impossible.

I felt the same way. It's worth trying - they have a demo video that explains how it works if you want to check it out first.

Thanks for the summary. This thread has been really helpful but also kind of scary.

Better to know what you're dealing with than be surprised later. Knowledge is power when it comes to navigating Washington ESD.

How would they find out about unreported income?

They can cross-check with Department of Revenue, other state databases, even social media in some cases. Don't risk it.

Social media? That's kind of scary that they're monitoring that.

Exactly. Better safe than sorry when it comes to Washington ESD compliance.

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I feel like I have a much better understanding of what to expect now.