Final thought - if you do decide to take the freelance work, just factor the benefit reduction into your decision. Sometimes earning $300 but losing $295 in benefits isn't worth the hassle, depending on the work involved.

Just to add another perspective - I've been doing some gig work while on UI and one thing that helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to track potential earnings vs benefit reductions before taking on projects. For example, if a freelance job pays $400 but I'd lose $395 in benefits (since I get $450/week), I'm only netting $5 plus whatever experience/networking value the work provides. Sometimes it's worth it for the connections, sometimes not. Also worth noting that if you're doing contract work, you might want to consider the tax implications too since you'll be responsible for self-employment taxes on that income.

This thread has been super helpful. I'm in a similar situation and was worried about messing up my unemployment claim. Now I know what to do!

This is such valuable information! I've been hesitant to take on any work while collecting unemployment because I was afraid it would disqualify me completely. It's reassuring to know that Washington allows part-time work as long as you report everything properly. The earnings deduction formula makes sense too - you get to keep most of your benefits while still having some income coming in. I'm definitely going to look into some part-time opportunities now. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and advice!

Update us on how it goes! I'm sure other people on unemployment could benefit from hearing about your experience with the apartment search process.

I'm a landlord in the Seattle area and wanted to add my perspective. We absolutely consider unemployment benefits as valid income - what matters most to us is that you can demonstrate consistent payment history and that your total benefits meet our income requirements. Bring a printout from your ESD online account showing your payment history, not just the determination letter. Also, if you're worried about the temporary nature of UI, mention any job leads or interviews you have lined up. Shows you're actively working toward stable employment again.

One additional note based on your situation: Since you mentioned the LLC might call you back in a few months, you might qualify for "standby" status when you reopen your claim. Standby means you can receive benefits without having to do the usual job search activities because you're expected to return to your employer. For standby, you generally need: 1. A definite return-to-work date (within 8 weeks, though there are exceptions) 2. Written verification from your employer 3. A history of working for this employer (which you now have) Standby status is much easier than regular unemployment since you don't have to do and document the 3 job searches per week. Worth asking about when you speak with ESD.

I went through something similar about a year ago! For backdating, definitely be persistent - I had to call multiple times and got different answers from different agents. The key thing that helped me was having a clear, consistent explanation for why I missed filing each week. "I was confused about the appeal process and thought I couldn't file" is actually a pretty common and understandable reason, so don't stress too much about that. One tip for getting through on the phone: Try calling exactly at 8:00 AM when they open, but also try again around 4:30 PM. I found late in the day sometimes had shorter wait times because most people give up by then. For the temp job situation - definitely get documentation about the layoff being due to lack of work. And if they do mention a possible callback, get that in writing too even if it's not definite. ESD appreciates any documentation that shows the separation wasn't your fault. Good luck! The whole system is frustrating but you can get through it with persistence.

One thing I learned is that calling earlier in the week (Monday/Tuesday) and earlier in the day (right when they open) tends to result in shorter hold times. Fridays are apparently the worst. Also, while you're waiting, gather any documents related to your claim - separation notice, past correspondence from ESD, your work search log if applicable. Having everything ready will make the conversation more productive when you finally get through.

Wow, congratulations on getting through! I've been trying for over a week now and can barely get past the busy signal. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both helpful and terrifying - 2+ hour hold times sound brutal but at least there's light at the end of the tunnel. I'm also dealing with a construction layoff claim that's been stuck in adjudication for about 5 weeks now. Did the agent give you any sense of why these construction industry claims seem to be taking so long? Seems like a lot of us in the same boat are having similar delays.