Been working part-time while on UI for 6 months now. The key is understanding that formula: WBA minus (gross wages minus $5). Once you get that, it's straightforward.

Thanks for asking this question! I was in a similar situation last year working part-time retail while collecting benefits. The earnings calculation can be confusing at first, but once you understand the formula (WBA minus gross wages minus $5), it becomes much clearer. I found it helpful to calculate my expected benefit amount before each weekly claim so there were no surprises. Just make sure you're reporting your exact hours worked and gross wages - don't try to estimate or round. The system is actually pretty fair about allowing part-time work while you search for full-time employment. Good luck with your job search!

this thread should be pinned, super useful info about payment timing that everyone needs to know

Just wanted to add my experience - I'm a newcomer to Washington unemployment and was also confused about payment timing at first. I've been filing every Sunday morning and consistently getting paid on Tuesday (I have Bank of America). The key thing I learned is to file as early as possible on Sunday and make sure all your work search activities are logged properly. Also, the ESD website payment calendar that Marcus mentioned is really helpful for planning - it shows you exactly which Tuesday or Wednesday your payment will come based on your filing week. Hope this helps other newcomers!

One more important thing: if you haven't been keeping detailed records, start doing so immediately before your appointment. Create a simple spreadsheet or document with: - Date of activity - Company name - Position applied for - Method of application - Any follow-up or response For past activities, reconstruct as best you can from emails, browser history, etc. WorkSource staff understand that not everyone has perfect documentation, but showing that you're making a good faith effort to comply with requirements is crucial. At the appointment, be honest if your record-keeping hasn't been perfect, but emphasize that you've been actively searching and are committed to improving your documentation going forward.

Just wanted to add that if you're feeling overwhelmed about organizing your job search documentation, you can also use the WorkSource website to log your activities retroactively. They have a job search tracking tool that lets you enter past activities as long as you have the basic info (date, company, position). I did this before my appointment and it made everything much smoother. The counselor was impressed that I had everything organized in their system already. Also, don't forget that attending job fairs, networking events, or even informational interviews count as valid job search activities too - not just applications!

Bottom line - take the severance, file for unemployment, be honest about both. Washington state is generally pretty reasonable about this stuff compared to some other states. You're dealing with a layoff situation which is exactly what unemployment benefits are designed for.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago when my company did layoffs. I was so worried about messing something up, but it turned out to be much more straightforward than I expected. I received a $12,000 severance package and was still able to collect full unemployment benefits from Washington ESD. The key thing that helped me was calling them directly (eventually got through after many attempts) and just being completely upfront about the severance during my initial interview. The representative told me that as long as it's a true severance payment and not wages for a specific notice period, it doesn't affect eligibility. I'd recommend documenting everything about your severance agreement and being prepared to explain the details when you file. Washington ESD seems to handle these situations pretty routinely - you're definitely not the first person to be in this spot!

The most important thing is to keep filing your weekly claims every week, even if you haven't received your first payment yet. You can't go back and file for missed weeks later.

I've been through this exact situation! Got approved on a Friday and was panicking about when my first payment would come. From my experience, Tuesday mornings are definitely the norm - usually between 2-6 AM. But for your very first payment, it might take until the following Tuesday since there's extra processing time. The good news is once you get that first deposit, the weekly payments are super reliable. I'd recommend switching to direct deposit as soon as possible to avoid those Way2Go fees - you can do it right in your ESD account under payment options. Hang in there, the waiting is the hardest part but it does get easier!