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Theodore Nelson

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

I'm 63 and recently got laid off from my job at a manufacturing plant. I've been collecting Social Security retirement benefits for about 8 months now but I'm wondering if I can also file for unemployment through Washington ESD? I heard conflicting information - some people say you can't do both, others say it's fine. Does anyone know the actual rules? I really need the extra income right now since my Social Security alone isn't covering all my bills.

Yes, you can collect both in Washington state! Social security and unemployment are separate programs. The key thing is you still need to meet all the regular UI requirements - actively searching for work, able and available, etc. Your social security won't disqualify you from unemployment benefits.

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Yes, you can collect both in Washington state! Social Security and unemployment are separate programs with different rules. Your Social Security won't affect your UI eligibility, but you do need to be able and available for work to qualify for unemployment benefits.

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That's great news! Do I need to report my Social Security income when I file my weekly claims?

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You should report it on your weekly claim filing. Washington ESD needs to know about all income sources, even if it doesn't disqualify you.

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Yes, you can collect both in Washington state! Social Security doesn't count as disqualifying income for unemployment benefits. However, you still need to meet all the regular UI requirements - available for work, actively seeking employment, and filing your weekly claims. The key thing is that you have to be genuinely looking for work and able to accept a job if offered.

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That's a relief! I was worried I'd have to choose between them. Do I need to report my Social Security income when filing my weekly claims?

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You should report it, but it won't reduce your unemployment benefits. Washington ESD just wants to know about all income sources for their records.

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Just went through this exact situation last year. You can definitely collect both, but make sure you're actively looking for work and able to accept a job if offered. That's the key requirement for UI benefits.

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Did you have any issues with Washington ESD questioning your availability for work since you're getting Social Security?

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Not at all. As long as you're genuinely seeking employment and available to work, there's no conflict between the two benefits.

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I'm in a similar situation and have been collecting both for 6 months now with no issues. The only thing that tripped me up initially was making sure I was really available for full-time work. At 63, some employers might assume you're not serious about working, so you need to be extra diligent with your job search documentation.

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Good point about the job search documentation. How many jobs are you required to apply for each week in Washington?

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You need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep detailed records. I use the WorkSourceWA website to track everything.

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I had trouble reaching Washington ESD to get clarification on this exact question. Kept getting busy signals and disconnected calls. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual agent who confirmed I could collect both. There's even a helpful video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

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How long did it take to get through with that service? I've been trying to call for days.

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It was way faster than trying on my own. Got connected to an agent within about 30 minutes instead of hours of busy signals.

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Never heard of Claimyr before but might have to try it. The Washington ESD phone system is impossible.

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Yes, you can collect both Social Security and unemployment benefits in Washington state. The key is that you have to be actively looking for work and available to work to qualify for UI benefits. Your Social Security won't affect your unemployment eligibility, but you do need to report the Social Security income when you file your weekly claims.

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That's a relief! Do I report the full $1,200 or just part of it when I file my weekly claims?

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You report the full amount of Social Security you receive. Washington ESD will factor it into their calculations, but it typically won't reduce your UI benefits dollar for dollar.

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Yes, you can collect both in Washington! Social Security and unemployment benefits are separate programs and don't disqualify you from each other. Just make sure you're actively seeking work and meet all the other Washington ESD requirements for your weekly claims.

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That's a relief! I was afraid they'd make me choose one or the other. Do I need to report my social security income when I file my weekly claims?

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No, you don't report Social Security as income on your weekly claims. It's not considered wages or earnings from work. Just report any actual work income you might have.

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Yes, you can collect both unemployment and social security in Washington state. They're separate programs and one doesn't disqualify you from the other. You'll need to report your social security income when you file your weekly claims with Washington ESD, but it won't reduce your unemployment benefits dollar for dollar.

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That's a relief! Do I report the gross amount of my social security or just the net after taxes?

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Report the gross amount before any deductions. Washington ESD wants to know your total income from all sources.

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Yes, you can collect both Social Security and unemployment benefits in Washington state! There's no federal law that prevents you from receiving both. However, you need to meet all the regular UI eligibility requirements - available for work, actively seeking work, etc. The key thing is being able and available for full-time work.

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That's good to know! Do I need to report my Social Security income when I file my weekly claims with Washington ESD?

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You should report it, but Social Security benefits typically don't reduce your unemployment benefits in Washington. It's considered unearned income, not wages from work.

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My dad went through this exact same thing 2 years ago. He collected both without any issues. The key is being genuinely available for work - if you're not actively looking because you think you're too old, that could be a problem with Washington ESD.

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Good point about being available for work. I definitely want to keep working, that's why I'm filing for UI in the first place.

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Yeah my uncle tried this but he wasn't really looking for work and they caught on during his eligibility review. You gotta do the job searches for real.

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Wait, I thought there was some kind of offset? My neighbor told me her unemployment got reduced because of her Social Security. Maybe that's a different state though?

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Some states do have offsets, but Washington doesn't. Your neighbor might be in a different state or thinking of a different type of benefit like pension income.

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That makes sense. She lives in Oregon so maybe their rules are different.

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Wait, I thought if you're getting any kind of retirement benefits you can't get unemployment? This is confusing.

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That's a common misconception. Social Security early retirement is different from a pension or 401k withdrawal. You can work and collect Social Security, so you can also collect UI if you become unemployed.

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Oh okay, that makes sense. Thanks for clarifying!

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Be careful though - if you're collecting Social Security disability instead of regular retirement, that might be different. Disability benefits could conflict with the 'able and available for work' requirement for unemployment.

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I'm getting early retirement Social Security, not disability, so I think I should be fine.

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Yeah, early retirement shouldn't be a problem. Just make sure you're truly available for work when you file your weekly claims.

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My dad was in this situation and collected both for about 6 months until he found another job. No issues at all with Washington ESD.

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Did he have to do anything special when he applied for unemployment, or just file normally?

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Just filed normally through the Washington ESD website. He made sure to report his Social Security income on his weekly claims and everything went smoothly.

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Yes, you absolutely CAN collect both Social Security retirement benefits and unemployment benefits in Washington state. There's no rule preventing you from receiving both at the same time. The key thing is that you still have to meet all the regular unemployment requirements - you have to be able and available for work, actively searching for jobs, and all that.

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That's a relief! I was worried I'd have to choose between them. So I just file normally through the Washington ESD website?

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Exactly, just file your initial claim like anyone else would. Make sure to report your Social Security income when they ask about other benefits during the application process.

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Yes, you can collect both! Social Security retirement benefits don't count as disqualifying income for Washington ESD unemployment. I did this exact thing two years ago when I got laid off at 63. You just need to make sure you're still able and available for work, which is a requirement for UI benefits.

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That's such a relief to hear! Did you have any issues with Washington ESD questioning your ability to work because you were collecting Social Security?

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Nope, no issues at all. As long as you're actively looking for work and available to accept suitable employment, you're good. The Social Security Administration and Washington ESD are separate systems.

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That's great news! Do I need to report my social security income when I file my weekly claims?

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I'm in almost the exact same situation - 64 and collecting social security while looking for work. Been trying to get through to Washington ESD for two weeks to ask about this but their phone lines are always busy. So frustrating!

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Have you tried calling right at 8am when they open? That's usually the best time to get through.

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Yeah I've tried that multiple times. Still get the busy signal or get disconnected after waiting on hold for 45 minutes.

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I was in almost the exact same situation last year! 62 years old, collecting early Social Security, got unemployment after being laid off. The tricky part is proving you're actually looking for work at our age - some employers discriminate even though they're not supposed to.

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Did you have any trouble with the job search requirements? I'm worried about finding work at 63.

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The job search log was annoying but doable. I applied to 3 jobs per week like required. Took me 4 months but I did find part-time work eventually.

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Age discrimination is real but you still have to document your job search activities properly for Washington ESD.

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I was in the exact same situation last year! I'm 64 and was collecting Social Security when I got unemployment after being laid off. Washington ESD approved my claim no problem. Just make sure you can prove you're actively looking for work and available for full-time employment.

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How did the job search requirements work for you? Did you have any issues with employers not wanting to hire someone already on Social Security?

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The job search requirements are the same - 3 job contacts per week logged in WorkSourceWA. Some employers were hesitant, but I focused on part-time and contract positions which helped.

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I'm in a similar boat - 65 and collecting both. Been doing it for 3 months now with no problems. Just make sure you report your Social Security income correctly on your weekly claims even though it doesn't reduce your UI benefits.

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Do you report the full Social Security amount or just the taxable portion?

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I report the full gross amount. Better to be transparent than have them question it later during an audit.

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You can definitely collect both. I helped my dad navigate this last year when he got laid off at 65. The key thing is making sure you're still able and available for work - that's what Washington ESD really cares about for unemployment eligibility.

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What do you mean by able and available? I'm definitely looking for work but I'm wondering if my age might be an issue.

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It just means you're physically able to work and actively seeking employment. Age discrimination is illegal so that shouldn't be a factor in your eligibility.

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I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD when I had questions about this same situation. Kept getting busy signals for weeks. Finally used claimyr.com and got connected to an actual agent who confirmed I could collect both. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made the whole process so much easier than trying to call on my own.

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Thanks for the tip! I've been dreading trying to call Washington ESD. How long did it take with that service?

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Got through in about 15 minutes and talked to someone who actually knew what they were talking about. Worth it just for the peace of mind.

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Never heard of claimyr before but that sounds way better than sitting on hold for hours. Gonna check out that video.

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If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an agent. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of redial attempts.

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How does that work exactly? Do they call for you or something?

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They basically handle the calling process and get you connected to a live agent. Much better than sitting there hitting redial all day.

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Interesting, I might try that. I've been calling for weeks about my adjudication status with no luck.

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Just make sure you understand that if you're collecting Social Security retirement benefits, you still need to meet all the regular UI requirements - able and available to work, actively seeking work, etc. The biggest issue I see people run into is when Washington ESD questions whether someone really wants to work if they're already getting retirement benefits.

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This is exactly what happened to my neighbor. They questioned his availability because he was getting Social Security and it took forever to resolve.

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Yeah, you might face extra scrutiny during adjudication if they think you're not genuinely seeking work.

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I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask about this exact question. Spent hours on hold and kept getting disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Game changer for getting answers about complex situations like yours.

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Interesting, I've been having the same problem trying to reach someone at Washington ESD. How does that service work exactly?

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Basically they handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent is available. Saved me so much time and frustration.

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I've heard of Claimyr too - my sister used them when her claim got stuck in adjudication. She said it was worth it just to avoid the phone maze.

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The social security administration has specific rules about working while collecting benefits if you're under full retirement age. Since you're 63, you need to be aware of the earnings test. Your unemployment benefits might affect your social security if you find work.

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Wait, so if I get a job, my social security could be reduced? I thought unemployment benefits themselves wouldn't affect it.

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Unemployment benefits don't count as earnings for social security purposes. But if you get a job, then yes, your wages could reduce your social security if you're under full retirement age.

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I had issues reaching Washington ESD when I needed to clarify this exact question about Social Security and unemployment. Spent hours on hold trying to get through. Finally used claimyr.com to get connected to an actual agent who explained everything clearly. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works - saved me so much time and frustration.

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Never heard of that service before. Did it actually work to get you through to someone?

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Yes! Got connected within 20 minutes instead of sitting on hold for hours. The agent confirmed I could get both benefits as long as I met the work search requirements.

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Interesting, might have to try that if I can't get through the regular way.

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The key thing to remember is that Social Security earnings limits don't apply to unemployment benefits. They're considered different types of income by Social Security Administration.

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Good point! I was worried about the earnings test affecting my Social Security.

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Exactly. UI benefits won't count toward your Social Security earnings limit, so you don't have to worry about that.

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Hold up, this is more complicated than people are making it sound. While Washington state allows you to collect both, your unemployment benefits might be reduced depending on how much Social Security you're getting. It's not always dollar for dollar.

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Reduced how? Like they subtract my Social Security amount from unemployment?

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Not exactly. Washington ESD has specific formulas for this. Your Social Security retirement benefits generally don't reduce your UI benefits, but you need to report them. It's different from other types of retirement income.

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You should report it to be safe, but social security retirement benefits typically don't reduce your unemployment amount in Washington.

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Actually, there's one thing to be careful about - if you're collecting Social Security DISABILITY benefits, that's different from retirement benefits. Disability benefits can potentially impact your UI eligibility because they might indicate you're not able to work. But regular Social Security retirement is fine.

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Good point! Mine is regular retirement Social Security, not disability, so I should be okay.

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This is exactly why I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD to clarify this stuff. Spent hours on hold trying to talk to someone who could explain the difference.

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If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD, you might want to check out claimyr.com - they have a service that helps you get through to an actual agent. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

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wait so social security doesn't count as income for unemployment? that seems weird to me

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It's because Social Security retirement benefits are considered 'earned' from your past work contributions, not current employment income. The unemployment system is designed to help people who lost current employment income.

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oh ok that makes more sense when you put it that way

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Be careful though - if you're on Social Security DISABILITY (SSDI), that's different from regular Social Security retirement benefits. SSDI recipients usually can't work full-time, which would make you ineligible for unemployment since you have to be able and available for work.

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I'm on regular Social Security retirement benefits, not disability, so I think I should be okay.

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Yeah, retirement SS is totally different from disability. You should be fine as long as you can work full-time.

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Wait, I thought there was some kind of offset between Social Security and unemployment? My friend said her unemployment got reduced because of her Social Security.

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That might have been in a different state. Washington doesn't offset Social Security against unemployment benefits the way some other states do.

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Oh good to know! I was worried about that for when I retire.

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this happened to my sister and she had no problems collecting both. just be honest about everything when you file your weekly claims with washington esd

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