What happens if you make a mistake on your Washington ESD unemployment claim?

Don't panic! Small date errors happen all the time and Washington ESD understands that. You should definitely report the correction though - it's much better to fix it proactively than have them discover it during a routine audit. You can usually update employment information through your SecureAccess Washington account under the 'modify claim' section.

Honestly, for something like a date discrepancy of just 2 months, I wouldn't stress too much unless it affects your base period calculations. Washington ESD has bigger fish to fry than minor clerical errors. BUT if you can't fix it online, definitely call them rather than ignoring it.

I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for weeks about a similar issue and their phone lines are impossible. Has anyone found a way to actually get through to talk to someone? I've tried calling at 8am sharp, during lunch, even late afternoon and always get disconnected.

WHATEVER YOU DO DON'T IGNORE IT! I made a similar mistake on my claim about 6 months ago - put down the wrong employer name (similar company name) and figured it was close enough. Three months later I got hit with an overpayment notice for $2,800 because they said I provided false information. Had to go through a whole appeal process.

For what it's worth, Washington ESD distinguishes between innocent mistakes and intentional fraud. An honest error in employment dates, especially if you're proactive about fixing it, is very different from deliberately misrepresenting your work history or wages. The key is being transparent about the correction.

can u fix mistakes after your claim is approved? i think i might have gotten my hours wrong for one week but my benefits are already showing up

Update: I was able to find the modify claim option in my SecureAccess Washington account! It let me submit a correction request for the employment dates. Thanks everyone for the advice - I feel much better now that I've reported it properly.

This thread is so helpful! I've been worried about a small mistake on my claim too. Does anyone know if corrections affect how long adjudication takes?

washington esd makes these forms so confusing anyway, no wonder people make mistakes. they should make it easier to fix errors without having to jump through hoops

I'm an HR manager and I see Washington ESD requests for employment verification pretty regularly. Small date discrepancies are super common and we just provide the correct information. It's really not a big deal from the employer side.

Following up on the Claimyr suggestion - I tried it and actually got through to Washington ESD yesterday! The agent was able to look at my claim and confirm that my date correction was processed. Definitely worth trying if you can't get through on your own.

Quick question - if you make a mistake on your weekly claim (like forgetting to report a few hours of work), is that the same process to fix it?

Does anyone know if there's a difference between fixing mistakes before vs after your first payment? I just realized I might have an error but I already received my first week of benefits.

at least they have online options now, remember when you had to mail everything in and wait weeks just to hear back about a simple correction?

This might be obvious but make sure to keep screenshots or records of any corrections you submit. I always save confirmation numbers or emails just in case there are questions later.

One thing to remember is that Washington ESD has access to your wage records from employers anyway, so major discrepancies would likely be caught during their verification process. Small honest mistakes are usually pretty obvious.

I'm dealing with something similar but my mistake was in my reason for separation. I put 'laid off' but it was actually a reduction in force. Should I correct that or is it basically the same thing?

Really glad I found this thread! I was stressing about a small mistake too but it sounds like Washington ESD is reasonable about honest errors as long as you're proactive about fixing them.

For anyone still reading this thread - I work for a nonprofit that helps people with unemployment issues and we see correction requests all the time. The vast majority are resolved quickly and without penalty. Don't let fear of making a mistake prevent you from applying for benefits you're entitled to.

As someone who just went through this process myself, I can confirm that Washington ESD is generally understanding about honest mistakes. I had a similar issue with incorrect employment dates and was able to fix it through the online portal without any problems. The key is being transparent and fixing it as soon as you realize the error. Don't let anxiety about small mistakes prevent you from getting the benefits you deserve - the system is designed to help people, not punish them for minor clerical errors.

I just want to echo what others have said about not panicking over small mistakes. I had a similar situation where I mixed up which quarter some of my wages belonged to, and I was terrified it would mess up my entire claim. But after reading through this thread and checking my SecureAccess Washington account, I found the modify option and submitted a correction. It was processed within a few days with no issues. The Washington ESD representatives I've dealt with have been pretty understanding that people don't always have perfect recall of employment details, especially if you've had multiple jobs. The important thing is fixing it when you catch it rather than hoping it won't matter. Your proactive approach in asking about this shows you're handling it the right way!

I went through something very similar last month when I realized I had entered the wrong hourly wage for one of my previous jobs on my initial claim. I was absolutely panicking, thinking I'd get flagged for fraud or have my benefits cut off entirely. But after reading about other people's experiences and talking to a friend who works in HR, I decided to submit a correction through the modify claim feature in my SecureAccess Washington account. The whole process was surprisingly straightforward - I just had to explain what the error was and provide the correct information. It took about a week for them to process the change, and I got a confirmation message saying it was updated. No penalties, no accusations, just a simple correction. Looking back, I wish I hadn't stressed so much about it. The Washington ESD system really does seem designed to accommodate honest mistakes, and being upfront about errors actually builds credibility rather than damaging it. My advice is definitely to fix it sooner rather than later - the longer you wait, the more complicated it might become.