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make sure you understand the difference between gross and net earnings when reporting. Washington ESD wants your gross earnings (before taxes), not your take-home pay
Bottom line: you can work part-time and collect unemployment in Washington, but you need to report everything accurately and keep looking for full-time work. The system is complicated but manageable if you stay on top of it.
Don't forget about the tax implications. Unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld from your weekly payments or handle it when you file your tax return next year. Most people prefer to have it withheld.
Also wanted to mention that Claimyr service someone brought up earlier - I tried it when my payments suddenly stopped and I couldn't figure out why. Turned out there was an issue with my job search log that I never would have known about if I hadn't been able to speak to someone. Sometimes these systems have problems that only a human can fix.
Oh and one more thing - make sure you're available for work and actively seeking employment. If you're planning to go back to school full-time or take an extended vacation, you might not be eligible during those periods.
The whole system is pretty straightforward once you get used to it. I've been filing weekly claims for 8 weeks now and it takes maybe 5 minutes each Sunday. The hardest part is really just that initial application.
If you do run into any complications or need to speak with someone at Washington ESD, I had good luck using Claimyr to get through to an actual person. Their system helped me bypass the endless hold times when I had questions about my claim verification. The demo video they have explains it pretty well.
quick question - do you need a social security number to apply for washington unemployment? or can you use your individual taxpayer identification number?
Sean Murphy
One last tip - if you do get through to someone on the phone, ask them to email you written confirmation of what they tell you about the appeal process. That way you have it in writing if there are any questions later.
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NeonNinja
•That's smart advice. I'll definitely ask for that if I can get someone on the phone.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
Good luck OP! Don't give up - appeals can be won if you have good documentation and present your case well.
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NeonNinja
•Thank you! I'm going to try the Claimyr service tomorrow morning and see if I can get some real help with this.
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