Can you buy a car while on unemployment benefits in Washington?

You're fine to buy a car while on unemployment. Washington ESD doesn't have asset limits for regular UI benefits like some other programs do. They care about your weekly earnings, not what you own.

The only thing Washington ESD cares about is if you're working and earning money each week. Car purchases, rent, other expenses - none of that matters for your weekly claim certification. Just keep reporting your job search activities and any work income accurately.

Actually having a car might help your job search since you can apply to places further away. Just make sure you're still available for work and meeting the job search requirements.

I bought a car last year while on unemployment and had zero issues. Washington ESD never asked about it, never affected my benefits. You're overthinking this.

The only time assets matter is if you're on other programs like TANF or food assistance. Regular unemployment insurance doesn't have asset tests. I learned this the hard way when I was stressing about having savings in my account.

honestly i think you're fine but if you're really worried you could call washington esd and ask directly. though good luck getting through on the phone lol

Buy the car! You need transportation to get to job interviews and potentially to work. Having reliable transportation actually makes you more employable.

Wait, are you sure about this? I thought there were rules about having too much money while on benefits?

I was in the same situation last month. Bought a $12,000 car while on unemployment and everything was fine. Washington ESD doesn't track your purchases or bank account.

The system is already set up to help you find work, not punish you for having basic needs like transportation. Go ahead and buy the car.

Just to be extra clear - the only financial thing Washington ESD cares about is your weekly earnings from work. Everything else (savings, purchases, gifts, etc.) is irrelevant to your UI claim.

I wish I had known this earlier. I put off buying a car for months because I was scared it would affect my benefits. Ended up missing out on job opportunities because of transportation issues.

One thing to consider - if you're financing the car, make sure the monthly payments fit your budget with unemployment benefits. But there's no rule against it.

this whole thread is making me realize how much unnecessary stress i put myself through when i was on unemployment. nobody explains this stuff clearly

Go buy that car! You've got multiple people here confirming it's fine, and you need reliable transportation. Don't let anxiety about the system keep you from making practical decisions.

Just remember to keep track of your mileage for job interviews and job fairs - that's tax deductible when you're job searching.

I had to deal with Washington ESD about a different issue and ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. It actually worked - they got me through to an agent in about 20 minutes instead of me calling for hours.

The key thing is keeping your job search active and reporting accurately. Having a car will probably help you expand your search area and get to more interviews.

Update us when you get the car! This thread convinced me I need to stop putting off getting my own transportation situation figured out.