Can you collect Washington ESD unemployment if you have a contract job?

That's such a relief! So I just report whatever I made that week when I file my weekly claim?

Exactly! Report the gross amount you earned during the week you're claiming, not when you got paid. So if you did work Monday-Friday of claim week but didn't get paid until the following week, you still report it for the week you actually worked.

Yikes, how much trouble did you get in? I definitely don't want to deal with overpayment issues.

Had to pay back about $800 plus penalties. It was a nightmare trying to get through to someone at Washington ESD to explain the situation. Took me calling dozens of times.

Never heard of that service before. Is it legit? I've been struggling to get through to Washington ESD for weeks about my own contract work questions.

Yeah it's totally legit. They basically handle the calling process for you and connect you with an actual Washington ESD representative. Saved me hours of redialing busy signals.

Might have to check that out if I run into issues. Thanks for sharing!

Good point! I've been keeping track of my applications but wasn't sure if the contract work counted as job search activity.

Nope, contract work is considered employment, not job search. But definitely keep doing it if it's bringing in income - just make sure you're also actively looking for permanent employment.

YES! You have to report ALL income, no matter how small. Even $10 needs to be reported. Washington ESD has access to wage databases and can catch unreported income.

damn that seems like a lot of paperwork for such small amounts but I guess better safe than sorry

That's exactly what I'm worried about. The whole system seems designed to trip people up.

It really is. I wish they made the reporting process clearer, especially for people doing gig work or contract jobs.

That's a great point! I do get charged fees on some of my contract platforms. So I report the net amount after fees?

Exactly! Report what you actually received in your bank account or what's shown on your earnings statement from the platform.

I understand the frustration, but the system is designed to encourage people to work while also providing support. The $5 disregard helps with small amounts.

I guess that makes sense. Still feels overly complicated though.

Great to hear it worked out! Just keep being consistent with reporting your earnings each week.

Good for you for doing it right from the start. Will save you headaches later.

Washington ESD subtracts your earnings from your weekly benefit amount, but you get to keep the first $5. So in your example, you'd get $400 - ($100 - $5) = $305.

Oh that's not as bad as I thought! So there's always some incentive to work.

Yeah, I probably called Washington ESD 50+ times before I found Claimyr. It's frustrating how hard it is to get basic information about your own benefits.

Exactly! And the website FAQ doesn't cover half the real-world situations people face.

As long as you're still actively looking for full-time employment and meeting all the other requirements, you can collect partial benefits for your entire benefit year. The contract work doesn't change your total benefit duration.

That's good to know. I was worried there might be some kind of restriction.

Good advice! I've been keeping invoices and payment records for tax purposes anyway.

Perfect! Those same records will help if Washington ESD ever has questions about your reported income.

I know it seems overwhelming at first, but once you get into the routine of reporting your income each week, it becomes pretty straightforward.

I hope so because right now it feels like I need a degree in bureaucracy just to file for benefits

Yes, that's exactly my situation! Some weeks I have projects, some weeks I don't. Good to know I can still get full benefits during the slow weeks.

That's reassuring! Have you found that the contract work helped you land a full-time position?

Actually yes! One of my contract clients ended up offering me a permanent role. The contract work helped me build new skills and connections.

Always report income for the week you actually performed the work, not when you received payment. This is really important for Washington ESD reporting.

Thanks! That's what I thought but wanted to double-check.

How much does something like that cost? I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point.

It's worth checking out their website for details. For me, the value was definitely there considering how much time I was wasting trying to get through on my own.

Glad it helped! Definitely don't let contract work stop you from filing. Just be honest about your earnings and you should be fine.

Absolutely right. While this discussion covers the basics, everyone's situation is unique and sometimes you need official guidance from Washington ESD.

Good point. I'll definitely reach out to them if I run into any specific issues with my situation.