Bottom line - working while claiming unemployment is totally legal in Washington as long as you report it. The problems only start when people try to hide work or earnings.

This is such valuable information! I'm in a similar situation working reduced hours at a restaurant while getting partial benefits. It's reassuring to know that being honest and reporting everything is the right approach. One thing I learned from my experience is to keep detailed records of all your reported earnings and hours - I screenshot my weekly claim confirmations just in case I ever need to reference them later. Washington ESD's system can be glitchy sometimes and having your own records gives peace of mind.

Thanks for asking this question OP. I'm sure there are other people in similar situations who will benefit from reading this discussion and learning about the resources that were shared.

I work with immigrant communities and wanted to add that some cities and counties in Washington have their own emergency assistance programs that don't have the same federal restrictions as unemployment benefits. King County, for example, has emergency rental assistance and other support programs. It's worth checking with your local city hall or county offices to see what's available in your specific area. Also, many community colleges offer free job training programs that could help you transition to other types of work while you're dealing with this situation.

@profile4 You can apply for Training Benefits after exhausting regular UI, but there's a catch - you need to apply within 30 days of your benefit exhaustion date. So if you just recently exhausted benefits, you're still within that window. The other requirement is that your training program must be something that will help you become employed in an in-demand occupation (which healthcare certainly qualifies for). Also, regarding your food benefits question from earlier - yes, most applicants do have to complete a phone interview, but they're processing those fairly quickly these days, usually within 7-10 days of application.

I'm in a similar situation - exhausted my regular UI benefits last month and the job market is brutal right now. One thing that helped me was reaching out to local churches and community organizations. Many have emergency assistance funds for rent/utilities that you can apply for quickly. Also, check if your city has any emergency rental assistance programs - Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane all have programs that can help with immediate rent relief while you figure out longer-term solutions. For healthcare jobs, have you tried looking at school districts? Many need substitute school nurses or health assistants, and the pay is decent even if it's not full-time. It's something to bridge the gap while you pursue the training benefits program that others mentioned. Hang in there - this market is rough but there are resources out there to help get you through this tough period.

One last tip - when you file your weekly claims, make sure you understand the difference between 'able and available' and actively seeking work. As a former business owner, they might question your availability for traditional employment.

I went through a similar situation when I had to close my marketing agency in 2023. One thing I wish I had known earlier is to keep detailed records of your business closure date and all the steps you took to wind down operations. Washington ESD will want to see evidence like your final client communications, office lease termination, business license cancellation, etc. Also, be prepared for them to ask about any business assets you might have sold or transferred - they want to make sure you're not just restructuring to collect benefits. The process can be lengthy but if you legitimately closed your business and paid unemployment taxes on your wages, you should qualify. Just be patient and have all your paperwork organized from the start.

One more thing - if you get disconnected while on hold, try calling back immediately. Sometimes you can get through faster on the second attempt.

I'm in the exact same situation - been trying to call for over a week about my flagged claim and can't get through at all. It's so frustrating when you need help but can't reach anyone. I'm going to try some of the strategies mentioned here like calling right at 8am and the lunch hour approach. Has anyone had luck with contacting their state representative's office like Taylor mentioned? That sounds like it might be worth a shot if the phone lines keep failing.