Can I go to school while on unemployment Washington ESD - worried about eligibility

Thanks! The program I'm looking at is evenings and weekends so that should work. Do I need to get pre-approval from Washington ESD or just report it when I start?

You should report it as soon as you enroll. They may ask for documentation about your class schedule to verify you're still available for work during normal business hours.

Have you tried using Claimyr? It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents without waiting on hold. I found it at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Saved me so much time when I needed to discuss my job search requirements.

That's not correct. Washington state allows education while on unemployment as long as you're still able and available for work. The key is the timing - you can't be in classes during normal work hours when you should be available for employment.

Oh wow, I've been avoiding applying to programs because I thought it wasn't allowed. Thanks for clarifying!

That's encouraging to hear! Did you have any issues with Washington ESD when you reported the classes?

Nope, no issues at all. I was upfront about it from the beginning and made sure my class schedule didn't conflict with potential work hours. The training actually counted toward some of my job search activities.

Study time itself doesn't count as work search activities, but attending job-related training courses or workshops might count. Check with your program to see if they offer any career services or job placement assistance - those activities could count.

Also make sure you're still applying to jobs while in the program. Don't let school be an excuse to slack off on your job search requirements.

It's a digital marketing certification at Bellevue College. Figured it would help me pivot into a growing field. What industry are you in?

I'm in manufacturing but looking to get into logistics. There's a supply chain management program at South Seattle College I'm considering.

Glad it worked for you! It's been a game-changer for me when I need to clarify anything with Washington ESD.

How much does that service cost? I'm always skeptical of paying for something that should be free.

It's worth it when you consider how much time you save not sitting on hold. Plus they have different options depending on what you need.

The guidelines are actually posted on the Washington ESD website under the 'Able and Available' section. The challenge is that every situation is a bit different, so sometimes you need to talk to someone directly.

I looked there and it's all legal jargon that doesn't make sense to normal people. They should write it in plain English.

Good point! Bellevue College is definitely accredited and the program leads to industry-recognized certifications.

Definitely worth it! The key is finding something that will actually help you get hired. Don't just take random classes - make sure they're relevant to your job search.

Absolutely. I'm looking at healthcare administration programs since that field is always hiring around here.

That's a great point! I hadn't thought about financial aid on top of unemployment benefits. That could really help stretch my budget.

That's why part-time evening/weekend programs work best. You're still available for interviews and work during normal business hours Monday-Friday. If you were in school full-time during the day, that would be a problem.

Ohhh I see. So as long as you're free 9-5 weekdays you're good. That makes sense.

Definitely planning to be upfront about it. Better to be transparent from the start than deal with issues later.

I didn't have any issues, but I made sure to follow all the rules. The risk comes if you're not truly available for work or if you don't report it properly.

Same here - no problems as long as you're honest and follow the guidelines. The Washington ESD agent I talked to through Claimyr was actually encouraging about it.

Welding is such a good field to get into right now! Lots of demand and good pay. Just make sure the program schedule works with your availability requirements.

I'll look into that! Washington state does seem to have a lot of workforce development programs. Thanks for the suggestion.

I'm definitely going to try this next time I need to call Washington ESD. The hold times are absolutely ridiculous.

Glad it was helpful! This community is awesome for getting real answers about unemployment stuff.

Great advice! I'll make sure to keep copies of everything. Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses!

That's really reassuring to hear from someone who's been through it! The cybersecurity field seems like it would be a great area to get into right now. How did the bootcamp work out for you - did it help you land a job after unemployment? I'm hoping my digital marketing program will have similar results. It's good to know that Washington ESD can actually be supportive when they understand the training is job-related.

The bootcamp worked out great! I actually got hired as a junior cybersecurity analyst about 3 weeks after I finished the program. The combination of the certification and being able to show Washington ESD that I was actively working to improve my skills seemed to make a positive impression. They never gave me any trouble about it, and like you said, they were actually supportive once they understood it was directly related to getting back into the workforce. Your digital marketing program sounds like a smart choice - that field is definitely growing. Just make sure to highlight on your weekly claims how the skills you're learning apply to the jobs you're applying for.

That sounds like a really solid program choice! Data analytics is such a hot field right now. From what I've seen in this thread and my own experience, programs with career services components are definitely viewed favorably by Washington ESD because they show you're serious about getting back to work. Those networking events and job fairs that are part of the program could very well count toward your work search activities - I'd definitely ask about that when you report the enrollment. The fact that it's evenings/weekends at an established community college like Seattle Central should make it a no-brainer for approval. Just make sure to document everything and be upfront about it on your weekly claims. Sounds like you've really thought this through!

I actually completed a similar data analytics program at Green River College last year while on unemployment and it was one of the best decisions I made! The career services component was huge - they had mock interviews, resume workshops, and industry meetups that definitely helped me network. When I reported it to Washington ESD, I mentioned that the program included job placement assistance and they were totally supportive. Some of those career-focused activities did count toward my work search requirements, especially the networking events where I could show I was making actual job contacts. Just make sure to get documentation from the program about which activities count as job search efforts - it makes reporting so much easier. The 4-month timeline is perfect too, not so long that it looks like you're avoiding work but long enough to actually gain valuable skills.

That's awesome that you're doing web development! It's so encouraging to hear that the Washington ESD agent was supportive when you called. I've been hesitant to make that call but hearing multiple people say they were helpful makes me feel better about it. The Claimyr service keeps getting mentioned - I think I'm going to have to try it since everyone says it actually works. You're right about balancing job apps with studying being tough, but like you said, at least we're being productive and building skills that will help us in the long run. Web development and digital marketing actually complement each other really well, so who knows, maybe we'll cross paths professionally someday! Thanks for sharing your experience.

I haven't done IT certifications specifically while on unemployment, but I have a friend who completed his CompTIA A+ and Network+ certifications through a program at Spokane Community College while collecting benefits. He said Washington ESD was really supportive because those certifications are so directly tied to employability in the IT field. The program he did was mostly self-paced online study with weekend lab sessions, so he could maintain his availability for work during the week. He actually ended up getting hired at a local MSP before he even finished the second certification! IT certs seem like they'd be perfect for this situation since they're clearly job-focused and you can often do them on flexible schedules. Plus employers in tech really value those industry-standard certifications, so it shows you're serious about getting back into the workforce with relevant skills.

That's really interesting about the TAA program! I hadn't heard of that before. My job loss wasn't trade-related, but it's good to know Washington state has programs like that to help people retrain. It really does seem like the state wants to support people getting back into the workforce with better skills rather than just collecting benefits indefinitely. The medical coding field is great too - always in demand and good pay. It's encouraging to see so many examples in this thread of people successfully combining education with unemployment benefits. Makes me feel much more confident about moving forward with the digital marketing program. Thanks for sharing that additional resource!

You're so welcome! I'm glad this thread has been helpful for you too. A UX/UI design bootcamp sounds like an excellent choice - that field is really booming right now and companies are always looking for good designers. It's been amazing to see how supportive this community is and how many people have successfully navigated school while on unemployment. I'm feeling so much more confident about enrolling in my program now. Definitely try the Claimyr service when you call - it seems like everyone who's used it has had great results. Best of luck with your bootcamp! Maybe we can check back in later and share how our programs went.