How to stop claiming unemployment benefits in Washington ESD system?

You should definitely report your return to work properly! Don't just stop filing - that can create issues. Log into your eServices account and report your first day of work when you file your final weekly claim. There's a section specifically for reporting return to work.

Congratulations on the job! Make sure you report the exact start date. If you worked any days during your claim week, you need to report those hours and wages too. Washington ESD is pretty strict about accurate reporting.

I tried calling Washington ESD about this same thing last month and could never get through. Spent hours on hold. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me reach an agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Got through in like 20 minutes and confirmed exactly how to close my claim properly.

wait do i have to pay anything back if i stop claiming? im worried about overpayments

I'm in a similar situation but my job is only part-time. Can I keep claiming unemployment while working part-time or do I have to stop completely?

Make sure you keep documentation of your start date and first paycheck stub. I've heard stories of people having to prove their return to work date later if there are any questions.

The eServices system is pretty straightforward for this. When you file your weekly claim, there's a clear question about returning to work. Just answer honestly and it handles everything automatically.

Don't forget about the work search requirements! Since you're returning to work, you won't need to do job searches anymore, but make sure your final claim reflects that correctly.

I had to close my claim last year and it was really smooth through the online system. Just filed my regular weekly claim, reported my start date, and got a confirmation that my claim was closed. No drama at all.

Quick question - if I close my claim and then get laid off again in a few months, can I reopen it or do I have to file a new claim entirely?

Make sure your employer knows you were on unemployment too. Some companies want documentation for their records, especially if there's any gap in employment history.

Honestly, I was terrified about messing up my claim closure. Ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier just to double-check everything. Agent confirmed I was doing it right and walked me through the exact steps. Made me feel way more confident about the whole process.

Just wanted to add - if you're nervous about doing anything wrong, you can always call Washington ESD directly. But yeah, the wait times are brutal. Sometimes it's easier to just follow the online prompts carefully.

Remember that your final payment might be prorated if you work any days during that claim week. Don't be surprised if it's less than your usual weekly benefit amount.

Congrats on landing the job! The timing worked out well starting on a Monday - makes the reporting cleaner. You should be all set just following the standard process everyone outlined.

One last tip - screenshot or print your final claim confirmation for your records. It's good to have proof that you properly reported your return to work in case any questions come up later.

This thread has been super helpful! I'm in the same boat starting a new job next week and wasn't sure about the proper process. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences.

For anyone still worried about this process - I've helped several friends close their claims and it's really not complicated. The Washington ESD online system handles most of the work for you once you report your return to work date accurately.

Just to close the loop on the Claimyr discussion - I used them last month for a different issue and they were legit. Sometimes it's worth paying for help when you need to talk to Washington ESD quickly, especially if you have time-sensitive questions about your claim.