What triggers an unemployment audit with Washington ESD?

Audits can be triggered by several things - random selection, computer flags for unusual patterns, or third-party reports. If you've been honest on your claims, you should be fine. Just gather all your documentation like job search logs, any correspondence with employers, and records of your weekly claims.

Sometimes it's just a data match issue. Like if your employer reported something different than what you reported, or if there's a discrepancy in your wages. Washington ESD cross-references a lot of databases.

I got audited last year and it was because I had reported looking for work in a different field than my previous job. Apparently that flagged their system as 'unusual job search pattern' or something. Took 6 weeks to resolve and I couldn't get anyone at Washington ESD on the phone during that whole time.

Common audit triggers I've seen: reporting work in a different industry than your base period, having gaps in your weekly claims, reporting job contacts that can't be verified, or having income that doesn't match employer reports. Also if you've filed for unemployment multiple times in a short period.

ugh audits are the WORST. I got one because I was doing some freelance work and reported it but apparently not correctly. They wanted me to pay back 3 months of benefits even though I was trying to follow the rules!

From what I understand, Washington ESD uses data analytics to flag claims for review. Things like unusual spending patterns on your unemployment debit card, job search activities that don't match your stated availability, or inconsistencies in your reported addresses can trigger an audit.

I work in HR and see this from the employer side. Sometimes we get verification requests from Washington ESD asking about former employees' separation reasons, work availability, or last day worked. If there's a discrepancy between what the employee reported and what we report, it can trigger an audit.

honestly the whole system is set up to catch people doing wrong instead of helping people who need it. i got audited just for moving to a different county during my claim. like sorry for trying to find cheaper rent during unemployment???

Key things that can trigger audits: 1) Employer protests your claim, 2) You report work or earnings that seem inconsistent, 3) Your job search contacts can't be verified, 4) Random selection for quality assurance, 5) Data matches from other state agencies. The good news is if you've been honest, you'll be fine.

Had an audit last year that dragged on for months. Turned out to be a simple mistake - I had reported my gross wages instead of net wages from my part-time work. But getting someone at Washington ESD to actually look at my documentation was nearly impossible until I used Claimyr to get through their phone system.

Sometimes audits happen if you're collecting benefits longer than average for your industry or if your benefit amount seems high compared to others in your area. It's not necessarily that you did anything wrong - they just want to double-check eligibility.

Pro tip: if you get audited, respond to every request immediately and keep copies of everything. Don't ignore any correspondence from Washington ESD even if it seems like a duplicate. I learned this the hard way.

I think I got audited because my base period wages were from multiple employers and one of them went out of business. Created some confusion in their system about my earnings history. Took forever to prove my wages were legitimate.

I went through an audit last year and it was nerve-wracking at first, but it turned out to be pretty routine. In my case, it was triggered because I had reported some odd jobs that I did for cash and the amounts seemed inconsistent to their system. The key thing is to be completely transparent and provide all the documentation they ask for. Keep detailed records of everything - job applications, responses from employers, any work you've done, and all communication with Washington ESD. Most audits are resolved in your favor if you've been honest on your claims. The process can take a while, but don't panic. Just be thorough in your responses and meet all their deadlines.

Based on all these responses, it sounds like audits can be triggered by a variety of things - some random, some due to data discrepancies, and some from employer reports. The most important thing seems to be staying organized and responsive. I'd recommend creating a folder with all your unemployment documentation including job search logs, correspondence, pay stubs from any work, and copies of all your weekly claims. If you do need to contact Washington ESD during the audit process, it sounds like their phone system is really difficult to get through, so having a service like Claimyr as a backup option could be helpful. Try not to stress too much - if you've been honest and following the rules, the audit should resolve in your favor even if it takes some time.