Can you collect unemployment if you have a second job in Washington?

Yes you can still collect! You just need to report your part-time earnings when you file your weekly claims. Washington ESD will reduce your benefit amount based on what you earn, but you won't lose everything. There's a formula they use - I think you can earn up to like 1/3 of your weekly benefit amount before they start deducting dollar for dollar.

That's a relief! Do I report the gross or net earnings from my part-time job?

Report gross earnings - before taxes and deductions. Make sure you're accurate because Washington ESD cross-checks with employers.

I'm in a similar situation and it's been a nightmare trying to get through to Washington ESD to ask questions about partial unemployment. Been calling for weeks and either get disconnected or sit on hold for hours. Anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there?

Have you tried using Claimyr? I found out about it from someone on here and it actually got me through to a Washington ESD agent in like 20 minutes. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works.

Never heard of that but at this point I'll try anything. The regular phone system is completely broken.

Claimyr is legit - I used them last month when my claim got stuck in adjudication. Way better than trying to call Washington ESD directly.

MAKE SURE you report your work hours accurately on your weekly claims or you'll get hit with an overpayment later. Washington ESD is really strict about this stuff and they will audit your records. I learned this the hard way when they wanted $2,800 back from me.

Yikes! How did they find out you didn't report correctly?

They matched my wage records with what I reported. Apparently employers report quarterly wages to Washington ESD so they can see everything. The appeal process was a mess too.

The partial unemployment rules are confusing as hell. You can work up to certain hours and still collect but it depends on your weekly benefit amount. I think there's something called the 'earnings disregard' where they don't count the first portion of what you make.

Yeah it's complicated. The first $5 plus 50% of the remaining earnings are disregarded, then they deduct the rest from your weekly benefit amount. So if you normally get $400/week and earn $200, you'd still get some unemployment.

Thanks for explaining that! The Washington ESD website makes it sound way more complicated than it needs to be.

whatever you do dont quit that part time job thinking itll help your unemployment case. i made that mistake and washington esd said i quit without good cause and denied my whole claim. had to appeal and everything

Good to know! I wasn't planning on quitting but that's definitely something to keep in mind.

Wait, you can't quit a second job while on unemployment? That doesn't make sense.

apparently if you quit any job while claiming benefits they consider it 'refusing suitable work' even if its not your main source of income. washington esd rules are weird

I've been dealing with this exact situation for months. Key things to remember: 1) Report ALL earnings on your weekly claim 2) Keep detailed records of hours worked 3) Don't work more than full-time hours total or they'll question your availability for work 4) Make sure your part-time employer knows you're available for more hours if they need you.

This is super helpful! What do you mean about not working more than full-time hours total?

If you're working 40+ hours between your part-time job and any other work, Washington ESD might say you're not available for full-time employment, which is required to collect benefits.

That availability requirement is so stupid. Like obviously we're available for better work, that's why we're looking for jobs!

Just make sure you understand the job search requirements too. Even with partial unemployment you still need to be actively looking for work and logging your job contacts. Washington ESD can audit your job search log at any time.

How many job contacts do I need per week with partial unemployment?

Same as regular unemployment - at least 3 job search activities per week. Can include applications, networking events, job fairs, etc. Keep detailed records in WorkSourceWA.

Been there! The good news is partial unemployment can actually help you transition back to full-time work without losing all your benefits at once. Just be super careful about reporting everything correctly because Washington ESD will catch any discrepancies eventually.

How long can you collect partial unemployment? Is there a time limit?

Same 26 weeks as regular unemployment, but it might last longer since you're not collecting the full amount each week. Depends on your total benefit entitlement.

The reporting system on the Washington ESD website is pretty straightforward once you get used to it. Just answer the questions honestly about hours worked and gross earnings. If you mess up a weekly claim you can sometimes call to fix it, though good luck getting through...

That's where Claimyr comes in handy again. I used them to correct a mistake on my weekly claim and the agent was able to fix it right away.

Yeah I should probably try that service. The regular Washington ESD phone lines are basically useless at this point.

One thing nobody mentions is that having a part-time job while collecting unemployment can actually look good on your record. Shows you're willing to work and actively trying to get back on your feet. Just don't let it interfere with your job search for full-time work.

That's a good point! I was worried it might hurt my case somehow.

Definitely doesn't hurt. Washington ESD wants people to work, even part-time, rather than just collect benefits.

Make sure your part-time employer doesn't increase your hours dramatically while you're on unemployment. If you suddenly go from 15 hours to 35 hours a week, Washington ESD might question whether you're really looking for other work or just happy with reduced benefits.

Good catch! My manager did mention they might need more coverage during the holidays.

Just be strategic about it. Extra holiday hours are fine but don't make it a permanent thing if you want to keep collecting unemployment benefits.

This is why I love these forums - you guys think of stuff the Washington ESD website never mentions!