Washington ESD work search log verification - do they actually check?

Yes they definitely do check! I got selected for a work search audit about 6 months into my claim. They wanted documentation for every single job contact I listed for a 4-week period. Had to provide screenshots of applications, contact info for employers, dates and times of everything.

It's random but they do audit. My coworker got audited and had to pay back 8 weeks of benefits because she couldn't prove her job searches were legitimate. Washington ESD takes it seriously.

You know what helped me when I was dealing with Washington ESD verification issues? I used claimyr.com to actually get through to a real person at ESD. They have this system that handles all the calling for you - there's even a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works. Way better than spending hours on hold trying to get answers about work search requirements.

From what I understand, Washington ESD uses a combination of random audits and targeted reviews. If your claim gets flagged for any reason - like reporting unusual work patterns or earnings - they're more likely to audit your work search activities too. The state Labor & Industries website has the official requirements.

honestly i never kept detailed records and never got audited in 6 months of unemployment last year. maybe i got lucky but it seems pretty random

The work search requirements are actually pretty specific in Washington. You need three job search activities per week, and they have to be legitimate efforts to find work in your field or a related field. Online applications count, but so do networking events, job fairs, informational interviews, etc.

I got so paranoid about this that I started keeping a spreadsheet with company names, contact methods, dates, position titles, and follow-up actions. Probably overkill but gives me peace of mind.

The thing is, even if you don't get audited, keeping good records helps you in your actual job search. I ended up following up with several employers I'd applied to just because I had their info organized.

Washington ESD definitely checks - my sister got audited and they wanted proof of her job searches going back 6 weeks. She had to call employers to get verification letters. Total nightmare.

wait do job fair visits count as work search activities? ive been going to a few but wasnt sure if i should log them

If anyone's having trouble getting through to Washington ESD about work search questions, I mentioned claimyr.com earlier - they really do make it easier to reach the right person. I used them twice when I had questions about my claim and it worked perfectly both times.

The randomness of audits is what makes it tricky. Some people never get checked, others get audited multiple times. Better to just assume you'll get audited and keep proper records from day one.

I think the key is making sure your job search activities are actually legitimate attempts to find work. Like don't just apply to jobs you're completely unqualified for or in totally different fields.

My unemployment counselor at WorkSource told me they're more likely to audit people who file claims for extended periods. Something about making sure long-term claimants are still actively seeking work.

does anyone know if they check the work search log you submit with your weekly claim or do they only look at it if you get audited?

Bottom line - Washington ESD does verify work search activities through audits. They're random but real. Keep good records, be honest about your job search efforts, and you'll be fine. The consequences of getting caught fudging your work search log aren't worth the risk.

One more thing - if you do get selected for an audit, don't panic. As long as you've been making genuine job search efforts and kept some basic records, you should be able to provide what they need.

Just to close this out - for anyone still struggling to get answers from Washington ESD directly, that claimyr service I mentioned has been a game changer for me. Check out the demo video to see how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to get clarity on these work search requirements.

Hope this thread helps other people too. Work search requirements can be confusing but the bottom line is Washington ESD expects genuine effort to find employment. Document what you do and you'll be prepared if they ever ask for verification.

I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here! As someone who's been on unemployment for about 3 months now, I've been keeping pretty detailed records but this thread made me realize I should probably organize them better. The audit stories are definitely motivating me to take documentation more seriously. It sounds like the key is treating it like you WILL get audited rather than hoping you won't. Better to have everything ready and not need it than the other way around.

This whole thread is really reassuring to read! I've been unemployed for about 2 months and honestly wasn't sure if I was doing enough with my work search documentation. Hearing from people who actually went through audits gives me a much better sense of what Washington ESD is looking for. I've been pretty casual about keeping records - just basic notes in my phone - but after reading about James having to provide screenshots and business cards, I'm definitely going to step up my game. The spreadsheet idea from Cole sounds perfect for staying organized. It's kind of scary knowing the audits are random, but at least now I know what to expect if I get selected. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences instead of just the official policy stuff!

Reading through everyone's experiences here has been super helpful! I'm about 4 months into my unemployment claim and have been pretty diligent about my work search activities, but admittedly my record-keeping has been hit or miss. The audit stories are definitely motivating - especially hearing about James having to provide screenshots and documentation going back weeks. I've been mostly just jotting down company names and dates in a notebook, but it sounds like I need to be way more thorough. Going to start taking screenshots of every online application and keeping digital copies of everything. The randomness of the audits is what makes this so stressful - you never know when your number might come up. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences, it's way more valuable than just reading the official ESD guidelines!