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Bottom line - you can definitely work part-time while collecting unemployment in Washington. Just be honest about your earnings, keep looking for full-time work, and you should be fine. Thousands of people do this successfully.
One last tip - if you're ever unsure about something with partial unemployment, it's better to call and ask than to guess wrong. I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it was way easier than trying to get through on my own. The agents are usually pretty helpful once you actually reach them.
Just wanted to follow up and say I successfully set up federal tax withholding on my Washington ESD account online. The process was pretty straightforward once I found the right section. Look under 'Payment Information' in your account dashboard.
One more thing to consider - if you're planning to return to work soon and will only be on unemployment for a short time, you might not need to worry as much about withholding. But if you're looking at being on benefits for several months like I am, definitely set up that tax withholding.
make sure your address is correct in the system too. friend of mine had payments delayed because his address was wrong
Just remember that even if you qualify for unemployment, you still need to actively look for work and report your job search activities. Washington ESD takes that requirement seriously.
Best of luck OP! Getting fired is never fun but at least unemployment benefits can help bridge the gap while you find something better. The system isn't perfect but it does work for situations like yours.
Nina Chan
Whatever you do, don't give up. I know it's frustrating but these disqualifications can often be overturned if you have good documentation and persistence. The appeal process works if you follow it correctly.
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Owen Jenkins
•Thanks for the encouragement. I'm going to file the appeal tomorrow and keep trying to reach someone who can explain the specific reason.
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Ruby Knight
•That's the right approach. Document everything and keep copies of all communications. You'll need a paper trail for the appeal hearing.
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Diego Castillo
Just wanted to add that I used Claimyr recently when I couldn't get through to Washington ESD about my adjudication issue. Took about 2 hours but they got me connected to an agent who was able to explain exactly what was holding up my claim. Might be worth trying for your situation.
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Owen Jenkins
•I keep hearing about this service. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get answers. Thanks for sharing your experience.
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Logan Stewart
•Same here - used it last month when my claim got stuck. The agent was able to clear up a misunderstanding about my job search activities in about 10 minutes once I finally got through.
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