How to close an unemployment claim - Washington ESD process help needed

You need to file one final weekly claim reporting your return to work. When you file that claim, make sure to report all the hours you worked and wages earned during that week. This officially closes your claim and prevents any issues.

congratulations on the new job! make sure you keep all your job search logs too just in case they audit your claim later

I had trouble reaching Washington ESD when I needed to clarify this same thing. After being hung up on multiple times, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual agent. They have this video demo that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. The agent confirmed exactly what you need to do - file that final weekly claim with your work info.

WHATEVER YOU DO don't just stop filing without reporting the work!!! I made that mistake and got a $2800 overpayment notice 6 months later. Had to go through appeals and everything.

The key is accurate reporting on that final weekly claim. List your employer's name, start date, gross wages earned during the claim week, and total hours worked. If you worked more than 32 hours or earned more than your weekly benefit amount plus $5, you'll get $0 but your claim closes properly.

i think you can also call and tell them directly but good luck getting through lol

Also keep in mind that once you close your claim, if you lose this job within a year, you might be able to reopen the same claim if you have benefit weeks remaining. But you'd need to meet job search requirements again.

Does anyone know if there's a deadline for filing that final claim? Like what if you forget for a few weeks?

The Washington ESD website has instructions for this but they're buried in like 50 different FAQ sections. Basically you file weekly claims until you're working full time consistently.

I used that Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier when I had overpayment issues. Got through to Washington ESD in like 20 minutes versus the usual 2+ hour wait times. Worth it just for the time savings.

wait so if I work part time do I still file weekly claims or what? this is confusing

Pro tip: screenshot your final weekly claim submission as proof you reported the work correctly. Saved me during an audit last year.

The system will automatically stop sending you payment once you report full-time work. You don't need to do anything else after that final weekly claim unless they contact you.

Just remember to keep your job search logs even after you close the claim. Washington ESD can audit claims up to 5 years later and they'll want to see that documentation.

Congrats on the new job OP! The final weekly claim thing worked perfectly for me when I went back to work. No issues at all.