How to opt out of unemployment benefits in Washington - need to stop my claim
I started collecting unemployment a few weeks ago but I just got offered a full-time position that starts Monday. I want to completely stop my unemployment claim and opt out of the system. I don't want to keep filing weekly claims or have any issues later. How do I properly opt out of unemployment benefits with Washington ESD? Do I need to call them or can I do it online through my account?
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Brooklyn Knight
You don't really 'opt out' - you just stop filing your weekly claims. Once you stop filing, your claim will eventually close on its own after a few weeks of no activity.
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PrinceJoe
•So I don't need to officially notify Washington ESD that I'm stopping? I'm worried about leaving it hanging open.
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Brooklyn Knight
•Nope, just stop filing. The system will automatically close your claim due to inactivity. Congrats on the new job!
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Owen Devar
Actually you should report that you're returning to work on your final weekly claim. There's a section where you can indicate you've found employment.
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PrinceJoe
•Oh good point! I haven't filed this week's claim yet. I'll make sure to report the new job when I file.
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Daniel Rivera
•Yes, always report work on your weekly claim. This helps keep your record clean with Washington ESD for any future claims.
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Sophie Footman
I had trouble reaching Washington ESD when I needed to clarify something about stopping my claim. If you need to talk to someone directly, I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Made it much easier than trying to call on my own.
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Connor Rupert
•Is that legit? I've never heard of using a service to help with Washington ESD calls.
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Sophie Footman
•Yeah it's real. I was skeptical too but it actually worked when I couldn't get through after days of trying.
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Molly Hansen
•Interesting, might have to check that out for future reference. The Washington ESD phone lines are impossible.
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Brady Clean
when i got my job back i just stopped filing and never had any problems. been working for 6 months now and no issues with washington esd
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PrinceJoe
•That's reassuring to hear. Did you report the job on your last claim or just stop filing completely?
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Brady Clean
•i think i reported it but honestly cant remember exactly. either way no problems
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Daniel Rivera
The proper way is to file your final weekly claim and report your return to work. You can also call Washington ESD to formally close your claim, but it's not required. The system will close it automatically after 3-4 weeks of no filing activity.
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Skylar Neal
•What if you want to reopen the claim later? Does it matter how you close it?
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Daniel Rivera
•If you properly report your return to work, it's easier to reopen if needed. But either way you can reopen a claim within the benefit year if circumstances change.
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PrinceJoe
•Good to know! I'll definitely report the new job on my weekly claim just to be safe.
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Vincent Bimbach
I'm in a similar situation but I'm worried about having to pay back benefits if I do something wrong. Is there any risk of overpayment issues when stopping a claim?
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Daniel Rivera
•As long as you were eligible for the benefits you already received, stopping your claim won't cause overpayment issues. Just make sure to report any work earnings properly.
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Owen Devar
•The overpayment risk comes from not reporting work or earnings while collecting benefits. If you stop when you start working, you're fine.
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Kelsey Chin
Wait, can you restart unemployment if the job doesn't work out? I'm scared to stop my benefits in case something goes wrong.
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Brooklyn Knight
•Yes, you can reopen your claim within the same benefit year if you become unemployed again. You just need to meet the weekly eligibility requirements.
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Norah Quay
•I had to do this last year when a job fell through after 2 weeks. Washington ESD reopened my claim no problem.
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Kelsey Chin
•That's a relief! I was worried I'd lose everything if I stopped filing.
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Leo McDonald
The Washington ESD website has info about this but it's buried in their FAQ section. Basically you can stop filing anytime and the claim will go dormant. No need for formal notification unless you want to call them.
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PrinceJoe
•Thanks! I looked on the website but couldn't find clear instructions. I'll file my last claim this week and report the new job.
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Jessica Nolan
DONT JUST STOP FILING WITHOUT REPORTING YOUR WORK!!! I made this mistake and Washington ESD flagged my account for potential fraud. Had to appeal and everything. Always report work on your weekly claim.
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PrinceJoe
•Wow, that sounds like a nightmare! I definitely don't want any fraud issues. I'll make sure to properly report the job.
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Angelina Farar
•What happened during your appeal? Did they make you pay anything back?
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Jessica Nolan
•No payback since I was actually eligible for the benefits I got, but it was weeks of stress and paperwork. Just report everything properly!
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Sebastián Stevens
I used Claimyr when I had questions about properly closing my claim after finding work. Really helped me get through to someone at Washington ESD who could confirm I was doing everything right. Worth it for the peace of mind.
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Bethany Groves
•How much does that service cost? I might need help too.
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Sebastián Stevens
•I don't remember the exact cost but it was reasonable for avoiding the hassle of calling Washington ESD repeatedly. Check their website for current pricing.
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KingKongZilla
Pro tip: keep records of when you stop filing and when you started your new job. If any questions come up later, you'll have documentation.
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PrinceJoe
•Great advice! I'll screenshot my final weekly claim and keep my job offer letter.
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Rebecca Johnston
•Yeah documentation is key with Washington ESD. They can ask for verification of anything months later.
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Nathan Dell
This thread is super helpful! I'm starting a new job next month and was wondering the same thing. Sounds like filing one last claim and reporting the work is the way to go.
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PrinceJoe
•Glad it helped! That's definitely what I'm going to do based on all the advice here.
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Maya Jackson
•Same here, was worried about this exact situation. Good to know it's straightforward.
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Tristan Carpenter
Just to add - if you're doing part-time work while on unemployment, you need to keep reporting those earnings. But if you're going to full-time work, then yes, just file your final claim with the work info and you're done.
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PrinceJoe
•Thanks for clarifying! It's definitely full-time work so I'll be completely done with unemployment after this week.
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Amaya Watson
has anyone had problems with washington esd trying to contact them after stopping benefits? worried theyll keep sending me stuff
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Brooklyn Knight
•You might get some automated notices for a while but they'll stop once your claim is officially closed. Nothing to worry about.
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Grant Vikers
•I got a few notices after stopping but they were just system-generated. No big deal.
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Giovanni Martello
The most important thing is to be honest about your work status. Washington ESD can verify employment with employers, so always report work truthfully on your weekly claims.
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PrinceJoe
•Absolutely! I definitely don't want any issues later. Better to be completely transparent.
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Savannah Weiner
•This is so important. They do cross-check with employers and the IRS. Honesty is always the best policy.
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Levi Parker
Update us on how it goes! I'm sure others will have the same question in the future.
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PrinceJoe
•Will do! I'm going to file my final claim tomorrow and report the new job. Feeling much more confident about the process now.
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Libby Hassan
•Yeah this has been really informative. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!
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Fatima Al-Farsi
Congratulations on landing the new job! Based on what everyone's shared here, it sounds like you have a solid plan. Just to summarize the key points: file your final weekly claim, report your new employment on that claim, and then you're all set. Washington ESD will automatically close your claim after a few weeks of inactivity. Keep documentation of your last filing date and job start date just in case. The system is pretty straightforward once you know the right steps. Good luck with your new position!
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Jade Santiago
•Thanks for the great summary! This whole thread has been incredibly helpful. I was really nervous about making a mistake and causing problems with Washington ESD, but now I feel like I know exactly what to do. It's reassuring to see so many people sharing their experiences - both the success stories and the cautionary tales about properly reporting work. I'll definitely follow the advice about keeping documentation too. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to help out!
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