Started new job while on Washington ESD unemployment - what steps do I need to take?

Congratulations on the new job! You need to report your employment on your next weekly claim filing. When you file your weekly claim, there's a question about starting work - answer YES and provide the start date. You should continue filing your weekly claims until you actually start working, but once you begin full-time employment, you'll no longer be eligible for benefits.

Make sure you report it accurately because Washington ESD will eventually find out through their wage matching system anyway. It's better to be upfront about it from the beginning.

I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD when I started my new job last year. Kept getting busy signals and disconnected calls. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to an actual agent who walked me through the process. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made the whole thing so much easier than trying to call on my own.

wait do you have to call them or can you just report it online when you file your weekly claim??

Congrats on the job! One thing to keep in mind is that if your new job doesn't work out within the first few weeks, you might be able to reopen your unemployment claim without having to file a completely new application. Just something to be aware of in case things don't go as planned.

Make sure you keep all your paperwork from the unemployment period and your new job start documents. You never know when you might need them for tax purposes or if there are any questions later.

Is there any waiting period or anything if you need to go back on unemployment later? Like if this job doesn't work out in a month or two?

Whatever you do, don't try to keep collecting benefits after you start working full-time. That's considered fraud and Washington ESD takes it seriously. I know someone who had to pay back thousands in overpayments plus penalties.

I remember being nervous about this too when I got my job. The online system makes it pretty straightforward though. Just answer all the questions honestly on your weekly claim and you'll be fine.

Honestly the hardest part about transitioning off unemployment is just remembering not to file your weekly claim anymore once you start working. I almost filed out of habit the first week at my new job lol

For anyone else reading this who needs to talk to Washington ESD about job transitions or other claim issues, I really can't recommend Claimyr enough. Saved me hours of frustration trying to get through on my own. The peace of mind of actually talking to a real person was worth it.

Does anyone know if you need to notify them before your start date or is it okay to report it on your next weekly claim filing?

Good luck with the new job! Make sure you understand your new employer's benefits and probationary period policies too. Some places have waiting periods for health insurance and other benefits.

This thread is helpful. I'm in a similar situation but my new job is only part-time. I assume the process is different if you're still working less than full-time hours?

The system actually makes this pretty easy once you know what to do. I was worried about it too but it's just a matter of being honest and following the prompts on the weekly claim form.

One more tip - take screenshots of your final weekly claim filing where you report the new job, just for your records. Good to have documentation that you reported everything properly.

I was on unemployment for 6 months before finding work. The transition off benefits was actually the easiest part of the whole process. Washington ESD's weekly claim system handles it pretty smoothly.

Congrats again OP! Make sure to celebrate this milestone - going from unemployment back to work is a big accomplishment, especially in today's job market.

Just want to mention one more time for anyone struggling to reach Washington ESD - Claimyr really is a game changer. I know it sounds like I'm promoting them but I'm just sharing what worked for me when I couldn't get through any other way.

This whole thread has been super helpful. I'm bookmarking it in case I need to reference it when I hopefully get a job offer soon!

This is exactly the kind of info I needed to see! I'm in a similar boat - been on unemployment for about 6 weeks and have a promising interview next week. It's really reassuring to see how supportive everyone is being and that the process seems pretty straightforward. Connor, wishing you all the best with your new job! And thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is awesome for helping people navigate these transitions.

Really appreciate seeing this whole conversation play out! I'm actually starting a new job next Monday too after being on unemployment for about 10 weeks. It's so helpful to see the step-by-step process laid out clearly - report on your final weekly claim, be completely honest about start dates, and then just stop filing once you begin full-time work. The reminder about keeping documentation is smart too. Connor, congratulations on landing the position! It feels good to finally be transitioning back to work after the uncertainty of job searching. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - makes the whole process feel less intimidating.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently on week 14 of unemployment and have been feeling pretty anxious about the whole process of transitioning back to work when I eventually land something. Reading through everyone's experiences here - especially seeing Connor, Carmen, and others successfully navigating this transition - gives me so much confidence that it's actually a pretty straightforward process. The key takeaways I'm getting are: be completely honest on your weekly claims, report your start date accurately, keep good documentation, and just stop filing once you begin full-time work. It's reassuring to know that the online system handles most of it and you don't necessarily need to call unless there are complications. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and advice - this community really is a lifesaver for people dealing with unemployment stress!

This whole discussion has been so reassuring! I've been on unemployment for about 5 weeks now and was already starting to worry about what happens when I eventually find work. Seeing Connor's situation and all the helpful responses really breaks down the process nicely. The main points I'm taking away are: report the new job on your next weekly claim, be completely honest about start dates, keep filing until you actually start work, then stop once you begin full-time employment. It's good to know the online system handles most of it without needing to make dreaded phone calls to ESD. Connor, huge congratulations on landing the job - that's awesome news! And thanks to everyone else who shared their experiences, especially the tips about documentation and being upfront about everything. This community is such a great resource for navigating these transitions!

This has been such an informative thread! I'm currently on week 3 of unemployment and already thinking ahead to when I hopefully land a new position. It's really comforting to see how straightforward the process actually is - just report honestly on your weekly claim when you get the job, keep filing until you start work, then stop once you begin full-time employment. Connor, congratulations on your new job! It must feel amazing after 8 weeks of searching. I'm also really appreciating all the practical tips here like taking screenshots for documentation and the reminder that Washington ESD will find out about employment eventually anyway through their wage matching system. The honesty-is-the-best-policy approach definitely seems like the way to go. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it's making what seemed like a potentially complicated process feel much more manageable!