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

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

You should report it to be safe, but it won't affect your UI benefit amount. Social Security isn't considered wages for unemployment purposes.

Thank you! Do you know what the earnings threshold is? I don't want my UI benefits to be too small to be worth the hassle.

It depends on your weekly benefit amount, but generally if your social security is more than 1.5 times your weekly UI benefit, they'll reduce your unemployment. You should still apply though - even a reduced benefit is better than nothing.

How many jobs are you required to search for each week? I heard it was 3 but want to make sure.

Yes, it's 3 job search activities per week. I keep a log of everything - applications, networking, job fairs, etc.

Wait, I thought if you're over 60 the job search requirement was reduced? Or am I thinking of something else?

Have you tried using Claimyr? I discovered it last month when I couldn't reach Washington ESD for weeks. It's a service that helps you get through to actual agents - there's a demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Worked great for me when my claim was stuck in adjudication.

Never heard of it but I'm desperate at this point. The Washington ESD phone system is impossible.

Claimyr sounds interesting. How does it work exactly? Do they charge a lot?

Your neighbor might be thinking of other states or older rules. In Washington, you can definitely collect both but there might be offsets depending on the amounts.

Yeah that's old information. The rules changed years ago. You just have to report everything honestly on your weekly claims.

That's really helpful! Did you have any problems with the application process since you were already getting social security?

No issues with the application itself. Just took a bit longer for them to process because they had to verify my pension income. Took about 3 weeks total before I got my first payment.

That's not double dipping - social security is earned from years of paying into the system, and unemployment is insurance you pay for through payroll taxes. Completely different programs.

Exactly. I worked and paid taxes for 40+ years. I'm not taking anything I didn't earn.

Should I mention the Social Security on my initial application or just when I file weekly claims?

Report it on both. Washington ESD wants complete financial information upfront to avoid any issues later.

Good point! I hadn't thought about that earnings limit. So unemployment benefits won't reduce my Social Security at all?

Correct - UI benefits are not considered earnings for Social Security purposes. Only wages from employment count toward that limit.

This is really helpful info. I'm 63 and considering filing for both after my plant closes next month.

How does that service work exactly? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for two weeks with no luck.

It basically handles the calling and waiting for you, then connects you when an agent is available. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

Is there a cost for using Claimyr? Sounds too good to be true.

There is a fee but honestly it was worth it to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD instead of wasting entire days trying to get through.

Good point about job search. Do I still need to do 3 job searches per week at my age?

Yes, unless you qualify for standby status with your employer. Age doesn't exempt you from work search requirements in Washington.

I'm on regular early retirement, not disability. Started taking it at 63 because I needed the income.

Then you should be fine with both benefits. SSDI has different work requirements that could complicate things.

Wow that's amazing! I might need to try that if I run into problems with my application.

20 minutes?? I've been calling for weeks and never even get past the busy signal.

Oh good point! I didn't think about the tax implications. Can I elect to have taxes taken out when I file?

Yes, there's an option during the application process to withhold 10% for federal taxes. Definitely recommend it.

A whole year? Did you have trouble finding work in your 60s?

yeah age discrimination is real but I eventually found something. took longer than expected but unemployment helped bridge the gap

Both are taxable income, so yes it could affect your tax situation. You might want to have taxes withheld from your UI benefits.

Good thinking. I already have taxes taken out of my Social Security, should probably do the same with unemployment.

Definitely talk to a tax professional about this. The combination of both benefits plus any new job income could get complicated.

Yes, social security retirement benefits count as pension income and need to be reported as such on your weekly claims. Don't report it as wages or other income.

This tripped me up too. There's a specific section for retirement/pension income when you file your weekly claim.

That's honestly one of my biggest concerns. I have good experience but worry about competing with younger workers.

I've had better luck focusing on part-time positions and contract work. Employers seem more open to older workers for those roles.

The key is demonstrating you're genuinely looking. Washington ESD can't control whether employers hire you, just that you're meeting the search requirements.

That's really a personal financial decision. Taking social security early permanently reduces your monthly benefit amount. You might want to talk to a financial advisor about your specific situation.

I took mine early because I needed the guaranteed income. Even with the reduction, having both has been a lifesaver during my job search.

SSDI is treated differently than retirement benefits for unemployment purposes. You'd need to check with Washington ESD directly about your specific situation since disability has different work availability requirements.

Yeah, SSDI gets complicated because you have to prove you're able and available for work to get UI, which might conflict with your disability determination.

There's the SCSEP program (Senior Community Service Employment Program) but that's run through different agencies, not Washington ESD directly.

I'll look into that. Any extra resources would be helpful at this point.

Great advice. I'm already keeping a spreadsheet of my job applications. Should I save the Social Security stuff too?

Yes, keep copies of your Social Security award letter and monthly statements. Washington ESD might want to see them.

Definitely gives some peace of mind knowing both options are available.

Just remember the earnings limit I mentioned earlier if you're planning to work while getting early SS.

because there has to be some limits or people would abuse it

I don't think wanting benefits you paid for is abuse. We all worked hard for these.

That's great! I'm definitely going to try Claimyr if I need help. Seems like everyone who uses it has good results.

Wish I had known about this service months ago when I was struggling to reach anyone.

Every single weekly claim. Any week you don't report it, they might flag your account for fraud investigation.

Yes, every week! I made that mistake once and had to go through a whole verification process. Not fun.

Definitely worth it! Even if they reduce your UI benefits, you're still getting more total income than just social security alone.

Plus unemployment benefits might qualify you for other assistance programs that social security alone wouldn't.

What kind of paperwork do they ask for?

Usually just your social security award letter or recent bank statements showing the deposit amounts. Nothing too crazy.

Good luck! Make sure to report your social security accurately from day one and you should be fine.

And remember, if you run into any issues reaching Washington ESD, that Claimyr service really works. Made my whole experience much less stressful.

Yes, definitely keep Claimyr in mind as a backup plan. Sometimes you really need to talk to a human to sort things out.

Nope, I was completely upfront about my SS benefits and Washington ESD didn't even ask follow-up questions about it.

That's reassuring. I was worried they might think I'm not serious about finding work because I have some income already.

As long as you're meeting the work search requirements and are genuinely available for work, having other income sources isn't a problem.

It's all online through the Washington ESD website. Pretty straightforward application process.

Yeah, everything is digital now. You can file your weekly claims online too.

Really? I didn't know you could work part-time and still get some unemployment. How does that work exactly?

Washington has a partial benefit formula. As long as you earn less than your weekly benefit amount plus $5, you can get some UI benefits.

This is perfect for older workers who might want to ease back into employment rather than jumping into full-time right away.

Good to hear another positive review of that service. I might give it a try if I need to talk to someone at Washington ESD.

The phone system at Washington ESD is just impossible. Any tool that helps get through is worth considering.

Glad it helped! It's nice to know we're not alone in this situation.

There are definitely more of us older workers dealing with unexpected job loss than people realize.

That's a great idea. I hadn't thought about temp agencies but that could be a good way to get back into the workforce.

Plus temp work can sometimes lead to permanent positions if you're a good fit.

Agreed! I feel much more confident about filing for unemployment now. Thanks to everyone who contributed.

That's really solid advice about keeping detailed records! I'm just starting this process and hadn't thought about needing verification documents later on. Can you share what kind of Social Security documents Washington ESD typically asks for? I want to make sure I have everything organized from the beginning.