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

That's a relief! Do I need to report my social security income when filing my weekly claims with Washington ESD?

You should report all income on your weekly claims, including social security. But social security retirement benefits typically don't reduce your unemployment benefits dollar-for-dollar like wages would.

Did you have any trouble with the job search requirements? I'm worried they might think I'm not serious about finding work since I'm getting social security.

Not at all. As long as you're genuinely looking for work and meeting the three job contacts per week, age doesn't matter. I actually found a part-time job that worked well with my situation.

That's what I'm worried about - getting clear information from Washington ESD directly. Their phone lines are always busy.

I ended up using a service called Claimyr that helped get through to an actual Washington ESD representative. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Made the whole process way less stressful.

You're thinking of the earnings test for social security, which only applies if you earn wages above a certain threshold. Unemployment benefits themselves don't trigger the earnings test penalty.

Oh okay, that makes sense. I was getting confused about the different rules.

Good point. I definitely want to keep working if I can find something suitable. The social security would just be a safety net while I look.

That's the right approach. Document your job search activities well - Washington ESD can request to see your job search log at any time during your claim period.

Thanks for sharing that. It's reassuring to hear from people who've actually done this successfully.

Age doesn't matter for unemployment eligibility as long as you're able, available, and actively seeking work. Full vs early social security shouldn't affect your UI claim.

That's what I hoped to hear. Time to start the application process then.

Good reminder. I'll need to be careful about that if I do find part-time work while collecting both.

Exactly. It's not that you can't work, but you need to understand the thresholds and how they interact.

The information is there but it's definitely not organized in a user-friendly way. The interaction between federal and state benefits creates complexity that isn't always explained clearly.

Exactly my point. These are probably common questions but finding answers is like pulling teeth.

Two hours on hold? That's insane. I really don't want to deal with that if I can avoid it.

Yeah, it was brutal. Next time I might try that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Anything to avoid sitting on hold for hours.

That's good advice. I was thinking I needed to have everything figured out before applying but you're right - better to get the process started.

Exactly. Time is money when it comes to unemployment benefits. You can't get retroactive benefits for weeks you delay filing.

Washington doesn't have extended benefits specifically based on age, but they do have the WorkSourceWA system that offers additional job search assistance for all claimants.

Thanks for clarifying. I'll look into WorkSourceWA then.

I feel your frustration. The lack of consistent information is really problematic when people are dealing with financial stress.

Exactly. We shouldn't have to become experts in bureaucracy just to get the benefits we're entitled to.

That's exactly what I needed to hear. I'll make sure to keep everything well documented.

Good plan. I kept a spreadsheet with all my job applications, interviews, and networking activities. Made me feel more confident about my claim.

Report the gross amount before taxes. Washington ESD wants to know the full benefit amount you're receiving.

Thanks for the clarification. I was unsure about that detail.

That's really a personal financial decision that depends on your specific circumstances. From an unemployment perspective, it doesn't matter - you can collect UI either way.

True, I guess I'm overthinking the unemployment part. That's a separate decision from the social security timing.

Pensions are typically treated differently than social security for unemployment purposes. You'd need to report pension income and it might affect your benefit amount depending on the type of pension.

I figured it would be more complicated with three sources. I'll definitely need to talk to Washington ESD directly about that.

Thanks for sharing that. All these success stories are really encouraging.

Happy to help. The whole process was less complicated than I expected once I got started.

If you're having trouble reaching them, definitely check out that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. It really helped me get through when I needed to talk to someone at Washington ESD.

I'll look into that. Sounds like it could save me a lot of time and frustration.