How to close my Washington ESD unemployment claim - found new job

Thanks! So I do need to file for this week since I worked 3 days? I earned about $480 gross.

Yes, definitely file for that week and report the $480. Washington ESD will calculate any partial benefit you're eligible for.

Yikes, that's exactly what I was worried about. Did you have to pay it all back?

Yeah, had to set up a payment plan. Took me forever to get through to someone at Washington ESD to sort it out.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone, I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an agent in like 10 minutes. They have a demo video too: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ

Why would they audit after you're already working again?

They can audit claims up to 3 years later. Random quality control checks mostly, but better safe than sorry.

You report work when you file your weekly claim for the week you actually worked. Don't report anything until you've actually started the job and earned wages.

ok good because I don't want to mess up my benefits if the job falls through

This is confusing. So if I work Monday-Friday but don't get paid until the following Friday, which week do I report it on?

You report it for the week you actually worked (Monday-Friday), not the week you got paid.

Thanks, that makes sense now.

Good idea! I'll definitely do that. Better to have proof of what I submitted.

What happens if you forget to file the final claim?

You can still file it late, but you'll need to explain why. Better to just file on time.

Like I mentioned earlier, Claimyr really works. I was skeptical at first but it saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.

Is it expensive? I'm worried about scams.

It's legitimate - they just help you get through the phone queue. Check out their demo video to see how it works.

Did you have to do anything else officially or just stop filing?

Nope, just stopped filing after reporting my work. Got a letter a few weeks later confirming the claim was inactive.

How do they find out? Do employers report to them automatically?

Yes, employers report quarterly wages to the state. They cross-reference this with unemployment payments.

It depends on how much you earned at the new job and how long you worked. You might be able to reopen your existing claim or you might need to file a new one with higher benefits based on your recent work.

Good to know, thanks!

Agreed, it's not as complicated as people make it seem.

Will do! Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice. I feel much more confident about closing this properly now.

Good point! My benefits start day one fortunately, but that's definitely something to check.

Yeah I had a 30-day waiting period for benefits at my new job. Had to get COBRA to bridge the gap.

What about like DoorDash or Uber? Do you have to report that?

Yes, any income needs to be reported, including gig work. Washington ESD considers it self-employment.