Can I draw Washington ESD unemployment while on Social Security benefits?

That's a relief! Do I need to report my Social Security payments on my weekly claims?

You should report all income on your weekly claims, including Social Security. Washington ESD will determine how it affects your benefit amount.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents without the endless hold times. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Interesting, I'll check that out. I've been trying to reach them for two weeks about my claim status.

Good point about age discrimination. How many job contacts do I need per week?

It's typically 3 job search activities per week in Washington. You can use WorkSourceWA to track your searches online.

Social Security is different from earnings from work. Washington ESD treats retirement benefits separately from wages when calculating UI payments.

It might still affect the total amount you receive though. Best to report everything and let Washington ESD calculate it properly.

That's exactly what I needed to hear! Did you have any issues during the application process?

Nope, filed online like anyone else. Just be honest about all your income sources and you'll be fine.

Tell me about it. That's why I ended up needing help just to talk to someone at Washington ESD.

That's exactly why services like Claimyr are so helpful. Takes the frustration out of trying to reach the right person.

I definitely want to work. The Social Security alone isn't enough to live on.

Then you should be fine. Just document your job search efforts carefully.

Good to know it worked out for someone else. I'm feeling more confident about filing now.

I'm not doing any other work right now, but I'll keep that in mind if I pick up anything part-time.

Smart. Washington ESD is pretty strict about unreported income, so it's better to over-report than under-report.

I was laid off two weeks ago, so I need to get on this right away. Thanks for the reminder!

Exactly! The sooner you file, the sooner you can start receiving benefits.

Never had any problems. Social Security Administration and Washington ESD are separate systems with different rules.

They don't really communicate with each other about this stuff. As long as you're honest with both agencies, you should be fine.

That's so frustrating! I wish I had known about Claimyr back then. It would have saved you all that time on hold.

Yeah, I'll definitely look into that if I need to contact them again. The phone system is absolutely terrible.

I'm on retirement benefits, not disability. Does that make a difference for unemployment eligibility?

Retirement benefits shouldn't prevent you from getting unemployment as long as you meet the work requirements. Disability might be more complicated.

Good advice. I'm already keeping a folder with all my layoff paperwork.

Perfect! That's exactly what you need to do. Organization will save you headaches later.

I'll make sure to have all my Social Security information handy when I fill out the application.

That's smart. Having your award letter and monthly amount ready will make the process smoother.

I'm open to either full-time or part-time work. I still have energy to work, I just need the extra income.

That flexibility will help with your job search. Just make sure to indicate that on your weekly claims.

Hopefully it won't come to that, but good to know I have options if there are issues.

Exactly. Most of the time everything goes smoothly, but it's good to know your rights just in case.

Great point! I'll double-check all my contact info when I file the application.

Perfect. That small detail can save you a lot of trouble down the road.

And if you do miss their call, remember that Claimyr can help you get back in touch with them quickly instead of dealing with busy phone lines.