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

That's a relief! I was worried they would offset each other. Do I need to report my Social Security income on my weekly claims?

You should report it on your weekly claim form to be safe, but it shouldn't affect your UI benefit amount. Washington ESD treats Social Security differently than pension income.

How did you handle the job search requirements? Did you have any issues with Washington ESD questioning your availability since you're close to retirement age?

I kept detailed records of my job search activities and never had an issue. The key is being genuinely available for suitable work. Age discrimination is illegal, so Washington ESD can't assume you're not serious about finding work just because you're older.

Interesting, I'll check that out. I tried calling Washington ESD last week and couldn't get through after an hour of trying.

I've heard good things about that service too. Sometimes you really need to talk to a human to get clear answers on these complicated eligibility questions.

Your neighbor might have been confused or had a different situation. Simply receiving Social Security doesn't automatically disqualify you from unemployment benefits in Washington. The issue is whether you're able and available for work, not whether you're receiving Social Security.

Oh okay, that makes sense. I'll let her know in case she wants to reapply if she gets laid off again.

Good to know it's common. I was feeling like I was in some weird gray area that nobody else dealt with.

Not at all! Lots of people bridge the gap between layoffs and full retirement this way. Just make sure you understand what 'suitable work' means for someone with your experience level.

That's exactly what I'm trying to figure out! I'm wondering if I should wait to apply for Social Security until I actually need it or if there's an advantage to applying earlier.

From a financial planning perspective, that's really a separate question from the unemployment eligibility. You might want to talk to a financial advisor about the Social Security timing decision.

Thanks for the reminder about WorkSource. I'll make sure to get registered there if I end up needing to file for unemployment.

Yeah, it's one of those things that trips people up sometimes. They think other income sources might change the requirements, but Washington ESD is pretty consistent about the work search rules.

Social Security retirement benefits don't reduce your unemployment benefits in Washington. It's treated differently than pension payments or severance pay. You can receive the full amount of both.

That's great news! I was worried there might be some complicated offset calculation.

Yeah, I've heard the phone lines are always busy. Did you ever try any of those callback services that were mentioned earlier?

I actually used Claimyr after someone here recommended it. Worked really well - I got through to an agent the same day instead of spending hours on hold.

That's a good point. I have 30+ years of management experience and wouldn't want to feel pressured to take entry-level positions just to satisfy the work search requirements.

Exactly. Washington ESD understands that suitable work for someone with your experience level is different than for someone just starting their career. Document your search efforts well and you should be fine.

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

Definitely. I think a lot of people our age are dealing with this kind of uncertainty about employment and retirement timing.

Correct, no offset. You can receive the full amount of both Social Security retirement benefits and unemployment insurance benefits simultaneously in Washington.

Perfect, thanks for confirming that!

Yes, unemployment benefits are fully taxable, and depending on your total income, your Social Security benefits might be partially taxable too. You'll want to talk to a tax professional about the specifics.

Thanks, I'll definitely need to plan for that if I end up in this situation.

Good advice. I'd rather be transparent and avoid any issues down the road.

Exactly. It's much better to over-report than to have problems later if they audit your claim.

Yeah, it's one of those situations that I think a lot of people face but don't know who to ask about.

Especially with all the changes in the economy and people working longer before retiring. This kind of flexibility is really important.

Good tip! I'll make sure to keep everything organized just in case.

Yeah, having everything ready ahead of time really helps avoid delays in processing your claim.

Absolutely! I feel much more confident about my situation now. Thanks everyone for all the helpful information.

You're welcome! It's great when people can share their experiences and help each other navigate these complex situations.

I'm definitely going to bookmark that for future reference. Thanks for the recommendation!

No problem! Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to get clear answers on complicated situations like this.