I went through an audit about 6 months ago and it was definitely stressful at first, but it ended up being resolved fairly quickly once I provided the documentation they requested. In my case, it was triggered because I had moved during my unemployment period and they wanted to verify I was still actively seeking work in my new area. The audit letter I received was pretty vague too, which made it more anxiety-inducing than it needed to be. What helped me was immediately gathering all my records - job search logs, applications I'd submitted, any emails from potential employers, and copies of all my weekly certifications. I also made sure to respond to their requests within the timeframes they specified. The whole process took about 3 weeks from start to finish. If you've been filing honestly and keeping up with the work search requirements, you should be fine. Just stay organized and don't let the initial panic get to you - most of these audits are routine checks rather than investigations into wrongdoing.

I actually work as a claims processor (not for Washington ESD but similar state agency) and can shed some light on this. Audits are often triggered by automated flags in the system rather than any specific wrongdoing. Common triggers include: wage discrepancies between what you reported and what employers reported, gaps in filing (even just one missed week), changes in address or contact info, job search activities that seem inconsistent with your field, or just plain random selection for quality control. The systems are designed to catch fraud but they also flag a lot of legitimate claims in the process. From what you've described, it sounds like it could be the missed week you mentioned or possibly something your former employer reported differently than what you stated. The good news is that if you've been honest and have documentation to back up your claims, these usually resolve in your favor. Just make sure to respond promptly to any requests and keep copies of everything you send them.

Just checking back - did your payment arrive? Most banks should have processed it by now if ESD issued it on Friday.

So glad to hear your payment finally came through! BECU definitely doesn't process on weekends - I've learned that the hard way too. For anyone else reading this who's still waiting, don't panic if it shows "paid" on Friday and doesn't hit your account until Monday or Tuesday. Credit unions especially tend to be slower with ACH processing compared to the big banks. The key thing is once ESD shows "paid" the money is definitely coming, it's just a matter of waiting for the banking system to catch up.

Just wanted to add my experience from last year when I was in almost the exact same situation! I was between two offers - one that was about 18% less than my previous role and completely different duties, and another that was perfect but moving slowly. The key thing that helped me was creating a detailed comparison document that I could reference if ESD questioned my decision. I made a simple table comparing: - Previous job salary vs new offer salary (with percentage difference) - Previous job duties vs new job requirements - Skills required for previous role vs skills needed for new role - Any other factors (commute, benefits, etc.) When I did decline the lower offer and reported it on my weekly claim, ESD called for a fact-finding interview about 2 weeks later. Having that comparison document made the conversation super straightforward - I could clearly explain why the position wasn't suitable based on both pay and job duties being significantly different from my background. The good news is that your proactive approach with Company B sounds really promising! Companies that are willing to expedite their process when they hear about competing offers are usually seriously interested. Even if things don't work out exactly as planned, you're handling this the right way by being transparent and documenting everything. Best of luck with the interview!

Just wanted to share some encouragement as someone who recently navigated a similar crossroads! Your situation really resonates with me - I was in tech consulting and faced a choice between a role that was 20% less pay doing basic admin work versus a senior analyst position that was taking forever to finalize. What really helped me was thinking about this decision in terms of my professional identity. You mentioned you're in data analytics - that's a specialized field where your expertise has real value. Taking a client management role at lower pay isn't just about the immediate financial hit; it's potentially stepping away from building the technical skills that make you valuable in your field. The fact that you've generated two solid interviews after only 4 weeks shows you're doing everything right with your job search. ESD recognizes that skilled professionals need time to find appropriate matches, especially early in the unemployment period. One practical tip: when I was in your shoes, I created a simple pros/cons list for each option that I could refer to during stressful moments. It helped me stay focused on the bigger picture rather than just worrying about the immediate risk of losing benefits. Really rooting for your Company B interview tomorrow! Even if it doesn't pan out exactly as hoped, you're clearly a strong candidate who's approaching this thoughtfully. Keep us posted - this community is here to support you through whatever comes next!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone who just started the unemployment process myself, I was equally confused about the waiting week concept. From reading all these explanations, I now understand it's essentially a one-week "penalty" period where you do everything required (file weekly claims, job searches, etc.) but don't receive payment for that first week. It's definitely frustrating when you're already dealing with financial stress from job loss, but at least knowing what to expect helps with planning. The comparison to an insurance deductible really made it click for me. Thanks to everyone who took the time to explain this in plain language - the official ESD website definitely doesn't make any of this clear!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Just filed my initial claim this week and was totally stumped by all the "waiting week" references. After reading through everyone's explanations here, I finally get it - you file that first weekly claim like normal but don't get paid for it, kind of like a one-week deductible before your benefits actually start. It's pretty frustrating when you're already stressed about money, but at least now I can plan my budget around that delay. This thread has been way more helpful than anything I could find on the Washington ESD website - they really need to explain this stuff more clearly upfront instead of leaving everyone to figure it out on their own!

UPDATE: Found it! It was on my bank statement like someone suggested. The automatic payment to Washington ESD had my account number in the transaction details. Thanks everyone for the help!

That's such a relief that you found it! I'm actually going through the exact same thing right now - trying to track down my business unemployment account number for a contractor application. I've been putting off dealing with it because I was dreading having to call Washington ESD. Definitely going to check my bank statements first based on your success story. Thanks for sharing the update!