Can I get Washington ESD unemployment benefits while receiving SSI?

Thanks for the info! Do you know how much unemployment income would reduce my SSI? I'm getting about $900 from SSI right now.

SSI has income exclusions - they don't count the first $65 of earned income plus half of the remainder. But unemployment might be treated differently since it's not technically 'earned' income. You should definitely check with Social Security about this.

Have you tried using Claimyr? I found out about it when I was having trouble reaching Washington ESD agents. It's a service that helps you get through to actual people at ESD - saved me tons of time. Check out claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Never heard of that but definitely checking it out. Getting hung up on after waiting 2 hours was driving me crazy.

What kind of problems during adjudication? I was working part-time before so I thought that would prove I'm able to work.

Sometimes Washington ESD questions whether someone receiving disability benefits can truly be 'available' for full-time work. Your part-time work history should help, but they might still require additional documentation about your work capacity.

This is exactly why the system is broken. They make it impossible for people who actually need help to get it.

Did you have to report the unemployment to Social Security right away?

Yes, I reported it monthly when I did my SSI reports. Better to be upfront about it than get in trouble later.

Oh wow, I didn't think about that. My unemployment would probably be around $400-500 per week based on my wages. That plus SSI would definitely put me over the limit.

Actually, unemployment benefits aren't counted the same as earned income for SSI purposes. They're unearned income, so they reduce SSI dollar for dollar after the first $20. You really need to talk to Social Security about your specific situation.

You're right, I was mixing up the rules. Thanks for the correction!

That's actually terrible advice. If you're not upfront with both agencies, you could end up with overpayments or even fraud charges. Always better to be transparent from the start.

ok fair point i guess i got lucky nothing happened to me

This sounds like the safest approach. I'd rather take a little extra time to do it right than mess up my SSI.

Agree 100%. I work at a disability advocacy organization and we always tell clients to check with SSA before making any changes that could affect benefits.

Tell me about it. I've been dealing with this bureaucratic nightmare for months.

I understand the frustration, but the rules exist for a reason. The key is understanding how to navigate them properly.

That's a good point. I should probably calculate the actual financial impact before deciding.

Plus there's the time and stress factor of dealing with both systems simultaneously. Sometimes it's not worth the hassle for minimal financial gain.

That's helpful to know. Maybe I should run the numbers before making any decisions.

If you do decide to file, definitely use a service like Claimyr to help you get through to Washington ESD when you need to talk to someone. The phone system is brutal otherwise.

Yeah, my sister said she spent days trying to get through to ESD just to ask basic questions. Would have saved her a lot of time.

SSI allows people to work part-time and still receive benefits under certain income limits. If someone was working and gets laid off, they might still be able to work (just don't have a job right now), so they could potentially qualify for unemployment.

oh ok that makes sense i guess. the whole system is confusing

That's awesome! What did they tell you about the disability/unemployment combination?

They said as long as I can demonstrate I'm able and available for work within my limitations, and I report everything properly to Social Security, it should be fine. They recommended documenting my job search efforts really well.

What's the best way to document that I'm able and available while on SSI?

Keep detailed records of your job search activities, any accommodations you might need, and be very specific about the type of work you can do. Washington ESD wants to see that you're genuinely looking for work within your capabilities.

Exactly right. Transparency with both agencies is crucial. Better to ask questions upfront than deal with overpayment issues later.

And don't forget about using tools like Claimyr if you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD. Makes the whole process way less frustrating.

Good point. I can definitely do job searches online and the weekly claims seem straightforward. I think I'm going to call Social Security tomorrow to discuss my specific situation.

That's the smart approach. Get the facts for your specific situation before making any decisions.