Can you collect unemployment and social security at the same time in Washington state?

That's such a relief! I was worried I'd have to choose between them. Do you know if the Social Security amount reduces my unemployment benefit dollar-for-dollar?

No, Social Security doesn't reduce your unemployment benefits in Washington. You report it but it's not deducted from your weekly benefit amount. Just make sure you're honest about all income when filing your weekly claims.

Good to know I'm not the only one in this situation! Did you have any trouble with the application process since you were already getting Social Security?

No trouble at all. The online application asks about other benefits and I just listed my Social Security. The adjudication process was normal, took about 2 weeks to get approved.

Never heard of Claimyr before. Is it legit? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks about my claim issues.

Yeah it's totally legitimate. They basically help you get through the phone queue to actually talk to a real person at Washington ESD. Was worth it for me since I was spending hours trying to call.

Social Security is federal retirement benefits, not wages from employment. Washington state unemployment law only reduces benefits for wages earned from work, not retirement income.

oh ok that makes sense i guess. thanks for explaining

Age discrimination in unemployment benefits would be illegal. As long as you're genuinely able and available for work and actively job searching, your age shouldn't matter. You'll need to complete your job search activities just like any other claimant.

That makes me feel better. I definitely want to work again, just worried about age bias in the system.

My dad was 68 when he collected unemployment after his company closed. No issues at all as long as he did his job searches and filed weekly claims properly.

Pension income is trickier - it depends on whether it's from your base period employer and how it's structured. Social Security is different because it's federal retirement benefits, not employer-based income. You'd need to check with Washington ESD about specific pension situations.

Ugh this is getting complicated. I have a small pension from my old job plus Social Security. Sounds like I need to call Washington ESD directly.

SAME!! Their phone system is absolutely terrible. I've been trying for two weeks to talk to someone about my adjudication.

This is exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier. They helped me skip all that phone frustration and actually get connected to someone who could answer my questions.

Might have to look into that. This phone situation is ridiculous for people who need answers.

That's interesting! I didn't realize you could collect unemployment with disability benefits too.

Yeah, as long as your disability doesn't prevent you from working and you can meet the able and available requirements, it's allowed.

Good point! I need to make sure I understand all the job search requirements before I file.

Yeah, log into WorkSourceWA to track your activities. They're pretty strict about the job search requirements.

I agree the system could be clearer. The basic rule is that wages from work reduce benefits, but retirement income like Social Security generally doesn't. But there are always exceptions and special cases.

thanks that helps simplify it a bit

Both unemployment and Social Security can be taxable income depending on your total income. You might want to have taxes withheld from your unemployment benefits to avoid a big bill later.

Good advice, I'll look into the tax withholding options when I file my claim.

How much does Claimyr cost? I'm hesitant to pay for something that should be free from the state.

I get that hesitation, but honestly my time is worth something too. Spent way more time trying to call for free than it would have cost me to just use the service from the start.

Absolutely! I definitely plan to report everything honestly. Don't want any issues down the road.

Smart approach. Washington ESD can cross-reference with other agencies, so honesty is always the best policy.

That's reassuring to hear! Sounds like it's pretty straightforward as long as you follow the rules.

Exactly. The hardest part was just getting accurate information at the beginning, but once she understood the process it's been smooth.

Thanks for the professional perspective! That gives me more confidence about moving forward with my claim.

Are you a benefits counselor or something? It's nice to have expert input on these threads.

I work in workforce development, so I deal with unemployment questions regularly. Always happy to help clarify when I can.

You're welcome! Good luck with your claim. Hope the process goes smoothly for you.

Glad we could help! Remember to keep good records of your job search activities and file your weekly claims on time.