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Remember that once you're approved, you'll need to file weekly claims to continue receiving benefits. This is usually done online and you'll need to report any work you did that week and wages earned, even if it's just a few hours.
No, you can work part-time and still receive partial benefits. Washington ESD will reduce your weekly benefit amount based on what you earned, but you won't lose everything.
Based on everything you've described, you should definitely qualify for unemployment benefits. Store closure, 8 months of work, $12,000 in wages - that all checks the boxes for Washington ESD eligibility. Don't overthink it, just apply!
One more tip - even if you think you might not qualify, it's worth applying anyway. Sometimes people are surprised and do qualify when they thought they wouldn't.
Bottom line: unemployment from Washington ESD is taxable income that goes on your 1040, but it's not considered earned income for things like EITC or Social Security. Make sure you have your 1099-G form and report it correctly.
Also remember that Washington state doesn't have a state income tax, so you only need to worry about federal taxes on your unemployment benefits. That's one less thing to deal with.
If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD with questions, I've heard good things about Claimyr. My sister used them when she had issues with her partial unemployment calculations and they got her connected to an agent who walked her through everything.
Several people have mentioned Claimyr now. Sounds like it might be worth trying if I run into problems.
The partial unemployment program is actually one of the better parts of the Washington ESD system. It encourages work instead of discouraging it. Just be honest about your earnings and you should be fine.
Mikayla Brown
Don't forget you can't collect unemployment while you're getting vacation pay or severance pay. Well, you can collect but you have to report it and they'll reduce your benefits accordingly. Found that out the hard way!
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Owen Jenkins
•I'm not getting any severance but that's good to know for the future.
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Sean Matthews
•Yeah always report ALL income during your weekly claims. Better to be honest than risk an overpayment later.
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Ali Anderson
The whole system makes more sense once you understand that it's insurance, not welfare. Employers pay in, workers who lose jobs through no fault of their own can claim benefits. It's actually a pretty smart system when it works properly.
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Owen Jenkins
•That's a good way to think about it. Takes away some of the stigma I was feeling about filing.
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Zadie Patel
•Exactly! You and your employer both paid into this system. You earned the right to use it when you need it.
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