Can I collect Washington ESD unemployment while working part-time?

Yes, you can work part-time and still collect partial unemployment benefits in Washington. You need to report ALL earnings when you file your weekly claim. Washington ESD will reduce your benefit amount based on how much you earn, but you can still get some benefits as long as your earnings don't exceed your weekly benefit amount plus $5.

be super careful about reporting everything correctly! I made the mistake of not reporting some cash tips from my part time job and Washington ESD caught it later. Had to pay back benefits plus penalties. Always report even small amounts.

The key thing to understand is Washington ESD's earnings deduction formula. For every dollar you earn over $5, they reduce your weekly benefit by that amount. So if your weekly benefit amount is $350 and you earn $100 that week, you'd receive $255 in unemployment benefits ($350 - $100 + $5 = $255). You must report earnings for the week you actually worked, not when you got paid.

I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask about this exact situation. Kept getting busy signals and hung up on after waiting forever. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to an actual agent. Saved me hours of calling. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

MAKE SURE you're still doing your job search requirements even if you're working part time! A lot of people think working part time means they don't have to look for full time work but that's not true. You still need to apply for jobs and keep your WorkSourceWA profile updated.

been doing uber eats while collecting and its been fine. just report everything on your weekly claim. the system calculates it automatically once you submit. dont overthink it

I tried this last year and it was such a hassle dealing with the weekly reporting. Every week I had to calculate my hours and earnings and sometimes the system would glitch when I tried to submit. Honestly wasn't worth the stress for the small amount of benefits I got after the deduction.

One important thing - if you're doing gig work like DoorDash or Uber, you're technically self-employed. Washington ESD treats self-employment earnings differently than regular part-time employment. You need to report your net earnings from self-employment, which is gross income minus allowable business expenses.

Whatever you do, DON'T try to hide the income! Washington ESD will find out eventually through cross-matching with other agencies and you'll owe back everything plus interest and penalties. I've seen people get hit with huge overpayment notices for trying to game the system.

I'm in a similar situation but with seasonal work. Got laid off in December but have a chance to do some tax prep work starting next week. Good to know I can still collect some benefits while working. Thanks for asking this question!

Pro tip: keep a simple spreadsheet tracking your weekly earnings from part-time work. Makes it much easier to report accurately on your weekly claims. I track date, hours worked, gross pay, and any deductions. Takes 2 minutes but saves headaches later.

Just want to add that if your part-time earnings exceed your weekly benefit amount, you won't get any unemployment for that week. But your claim doesn't close - you can still file and if you have a low-earning week later, you'll get benefits again. Don't let one high-earning week scare you into not filing.

Washington ESD's website has a decent calculator tool where you can estimate how much your benefits will be reduced based on your earnings. It's under the 'Benefits' section. Helps you plan your finances better.

Been there! Working part-time while on unemployment was actually what helped me transition back to full-time work. Kept me active in the job market and gave me something to put on my resume during the gap. Plus every little bit of income helps when money's tight.

Update on the Claimyr thing - I ended up using it again when I had questions about reporting my freelance writing income. The agent explained that irregular income from gig work needs to be reported in the week it was earned, even if payment comes later. Really cleared up my confusion.

One more thing - if you're working part-time in a completely different field than your usual work, make sure you're still applying for jobs in your regular field too. Washington ESD wants to see you're actively seeking work similar to your previous employment, not just taking any part-time gig.

Thanks everyone for all the detailed responses! This has been super helpful. Sounds like the main points are: report everything honestly, keep good records, continue job searching, and don't be afraid to work part-time while collecting. I feel much more confident about moving forward now.