Reported income in wrong week on ESD claim - how to fix + when to stop claiming?

Don't panic! This is a common mistake. You need to call ESD to report the correction for your previous week. It's really important to fix this because incorrect reporting can result in an overpayment notice down the road. For your second question, you can simply stop filing weekly claims when you return to full-time work that pays above your benefit threshold. Your claim stays open for a year from when you applied, but becomes inactive if you don't file for 4 consecutive weeks. There's no formal "closing" process needed.

I did this EXACT thing last year!!! reported when i got paid instead of when i worked!! ESD flagged my account for "misreporting income" and i almost had a heart attack thinking i was gonna get charged with fraud or something!!

Since no one mentioned this yet, when you do stop filing because you're back to work, make sure your last weekly claim includes ALL hours worked for that final week, even if you haven't been paid yet. This way you properly close out your claim cycle. Also, keep documentation of your orientation day (timesheet, email confirmation, anything) in case ESD questions the correction later. They usually go back 3 years for audits, so always keep good records.

my cousin works at esd and says ppl do this all the time. you'll be fine just call and fix it. they care more about people who NEVER report income than people who report it on the wrong week lol

I had to make a similar correction last month and spent THREE DAYS trying to get through to ESD. The phone lines are still completely overwhelmed. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through - they have this system that holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available. Saved me hours of being on hold. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Once I got through, the agent was able to fix my claim in about 10 minutes. Much better than stressing about it for weeks!

I'm an employment counselor and can provide some accurate information here: 1. For the income reporting correction: You need to contact ESD directly to make this adjustment. This is considered a "benefit adjustment request" and should be addressed promptly. The sooner you self-report, the better, as it demonstrates good faith. 2. Regarding ending your claim: The official guidance is that you can simply stop filing when your income exceeds your weekly benefit amount (WBA). Your claim remains open for one year from the application date (your benefit year), but becomes inactive after 4 weeks of not claiming. 3. Important: If you return to work mid-week, you must report ALL hours worked that week on your final claim, even if they haven't been paid yet. This completes your claim cycle properly. 4. For future reference, always report hours in the week they were worked, regardless of when payment is received. This is a very common misunderstanding.

The ESD system is such a mess! They make everything 10x more complicated than it needs to be and then punish US for their confusing rules. I've been on unemployment twice and they ALWAYS find some reason to hassle you or create problems. Good luck getting through to anyone who can actually help!

Update: I was able to get through to ESD! For anyone with a similar issue, the agent told me they've added notes to my file about the correction and adjusted my claim for last week. Because I was still under my weekly benefit amount even with the orientation day added, I didn't have to pay anything back. She said it was good I caught it early before they had to investigate. Also confirmed I can just stop claiming once I start my full-time job. Such a relief to have this resolved!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now where I think I've been reporting my work hours incorrectly. Reading through everyone's experiences here makes me feel less anxious about calling ESD to fix it. It's reassuring to know that they're used to these kinds of honest mistakes and that self-reporting early actually works in your favor. Thanks for sharing your update too - gives me hope that I can get this sorted out quickly!

I went through something very similar a few months ago and was absolutely panicking! Like others have said, the key is calling ESD as soon as possible to correct it. When I finally got through (took me about 4 tries over 2 days), the agent was actually really understanding and said they see this mistake constantly. One thing that helped me was having my work schedule/timesheet ready when I called, so I could give them the exact dates and hours. They were able to make the correction on the spot and it didn't affect my benefits since I was still under the threshold. For stopping your claim when you go back to work full-time, you really can just stop filing - no formal closure needed. Your claim will automatically go inactive after 4 weeks of not claiming, but it stays open for the full year in case your employment situation changes. Congrats on the new job and don't stress too much about this - you're doing the right thing by fixing it proactively!