How to stop unemployment benefits with Washington ESD - need to end my claim properly

Thanks! So I don't need to call them or fill out any special forms? Just stop filing weekly claims after reporting my work start date?

Exactly. The system handles it automatically when you stop filing. Just make sure your last claim is accurate about when you started working.

Good point. I actually start work on Monday which is the beginning of a new benefit week, so my last claim should be clean.

Perfect timing then. Just file your final weekly claim for the week ending before you start work and you're all set.

Wait, do you really need to call them just to stop benefits? Seems like it should be automatic.

You don't HAVE to call, but I wanted to make sure I did everything right since I'd heard horror stories about overpayments. The agent confirmed I was handling it correctly.

How much does that Claimyr thing cost? Seems weird to pay just to make a phone call.

It's worth it when you actually need to talk to someone. Way better than wasting entire days trying to get through the regular way.

That's reassuring. I was worried there might be some official process I was missing.

Nope, Washington ESD makes it simple when you're stopping benefits. It's starting them that's the nightmare lol

Good advice. I'll screenshot my final weekly claim and keep my job offer letter with the start date.

Smart thinking. Documentation is everything when dealing with unemployment benefits.

You can reopen your existing claim within the benefit year if you become unemployed again, as long as you still have weeks remaining on your claim.

Exactly. Your claim stays 'dormant' rather than closed, so you can reactive it if needed within your benefit year.

Oh that's actually pretty convenient. Good to know for peace of mind.

Yikes! Yeah I definitely don't want to deal with overpayment issues. I'll set a reminder to NOT file this Sunday.

Good idea. It's easy to forget when you've been filing every week for months.

Thank you! Yeah, getting approved for benefits was definitely more complicated than stopping them seems to be.

If you lose a job within the first few days, you'd typically be able to reopen your claim. But you'd need to report the brief employment period accurately.

Right, and if you earned any wages during that time, it could affect your weekly benefit amount when you reopen.

That's helpful to know about the notice. At least they confirm the claim is inactive so you know for sure.

Yeah, it's nice to have that confirmation in writing. Keeps everything clear.

Absolutely. I'm starting fresh on Monday so there's no overlap to worry about anyway.

Smart approach. Clean breaks make everything simpler.

You should update your WorkSource profile to show you're employed, but it's not technically required once you stop claiming benefits.

Good practice though, especially if you want to keep your profile active for future job searches.

Makes sense. Better to keep everything updated and clean.

Glad it helped! Congrats on your new job too.

Thanks! It's been a long search but finally worked out.

What kind of mess? Just want to make sure I avoid any pitfalls.

I had overlapping work days that I didn't report properly, and it took months to resolve the overpayment issue. Just be accurate with dates and you'll be fine.

So true! The initial application and job search requirements were way more complicated.

I think I'm overthinking it. The advice here is pretty consistent - just stop filing once I'm working full time.

That's exactly right. Keep it simple and accurate.

Yes, I got a notice after a few weeks of not filing that my claim was inactive. Nothing dramatic, just a simple notification.

The system sends periodic notices about claim status, so you'll know when it's officially inactive.

How quickly were you able to get through with that service?

Like 10 minutes compared to the hours I'd spent trying to call directly. Made the whole process less stressful.

Thanks everyone! Feeling much more confident about handling this properly now.

You've got this! Good luck with the new job.