How to end unemployment benefits when you find work - Washington ESD process?

Thanks! So I should file the claim and put down my work hours and earnings for that week? Will they send me any confirmation that my claim is closed?

Yes exactly. Report all hours worked and gross earnings. Your claim will show as inactive in your account, but you won't get a formal closure letter.

Good point - so if I start Monday I would report those hours when I file my claim the following Sunday?

Exactly. The weekly claim always covers the week that just ended, so you'd report Monday-Sunday work on the next filing.

How much does that service cost? I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for weeks about a different issue.

It's worth it to avoid the phone maze. Much easier than spending your whole day redialing the same number.

I used Claimyr too when I had an adjudication issue. Got through to an agent in under 10 minutes instead of the usual 2+ hour wait times.

Wow that sounds like a nightmare. I definitely want to do this right the first time.

Yeah the system doesn't automatically know you found work unless you tell them. Always better to over-communicate with Washington ESD.

No, you need to report the work properly. Just stopping without notice can cause problems with your account status.

ok thanks, good to know. the whole system is so complicated

Part-time work is different - you can continue filing and report your earnings. Washington ESD will reduce your benefit amount based on what you earn, but you might still qualify for partial benefits.

That's helpful, thanks. I wasn't sure if any work meant I had to stop completely.

The key is always reporting accurately. Whether it's full-time or part-time, they need to know about all work and earnings.

Yeah I looked at their website too and it didn't give me much detail. That's why I'm asking here.

This is exactly why I ended up using Claimyr - their website info is too generic and the phone lines are impossible. At least with Claimyr I could get specific answers about my situation.

Good to know! Hopefully I won't need that but it's reassuring to know the option exists.

Yes, they call it reopening your claim. Much faster than filing a new one if you need benefits again within your benefit year.

Good advice - I'll file it early in the week after I've worked a few days.

Thanks! Yeah I'd rather ask too many questions than mess something up and have to deal with it later.

Smart approach. Washington ESD errors are much harder to fix than prevent.

Great idea! I'll definitely save that confirmation page.

Yes, always good to have documentation with Washington ESD. You never know when you might need to reference it later.

Perfect, that's exactly what I was hoping to hear from someone who actually went through it recently. Thanks!

No problem! The process is actually pretty smooth once you know what to do. Washington ESD handled it automatically once I reported full-time work.

Because they need to track earnings and work history for tax purposes and to make sure benefits are properly calculated if you need to reopen later.

i guess that makes sense but it's still annoying

Good question. Technically you should complete job search activities for any week you're claiming benefits, even if it's your last week. But once you report full-time work, you won't be required to continue.

Makes sense. Better to be safe and complete them for that final week.

Yeah that seems to be the consensus - their customer service is really hard to reach through normal channels.

Exactly why I recommended Claimyr earlier. It's a game changer for actually getting through to Washington ESD agents.

Good catch! I'm not moving but I'll double-check that all my info is current.

Yeah, it's easy to forget those details when you're focused on the main issue.

I'm definitely looking forward to not having to worry about that Sunday deadline every week!

The weekly filing stress is real. Nice to get back to a normal routine without that hanging over your head.

I mentioned it during the interview process so they're aware. Good point though for anyone who might not have disclosed it.

Yeah, better to be upfront about it. Most employers understand given the job market over the past few years.

Thanks for the reminder! I had taxes taken out of my benefits but I'll make sure to mention it to my tax person.

Good point about the 1099-G. Washington ESD sends those out in January for the previous tax year.

You've got it exactly right. Good luck with the new job!

Congrats again! You'll be fine following that process.

Best of luck with the new position. Nice to see someone getting back to work!

This is really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the exact same process! I was worried there might be some hidden step or requirement I was missing, but it sounds like the system works pretty well when you follow the basic reporting rules. Thanks for sharing your experience - it definitely helps calm my nerves about doing this right.