Can you draw unemployment benefits after retirement in Washington state?

That's what I was afraid of. What if I'm forced into early retirement though? Like if they eliminate my position?

If your employer eliminates your position and you didn't choose to retire, that could be different. You'd need to show it was involuntary separation.

Wait, so if you're getting Social Security you can't get unemployment at all?

It's more complicated than that. Social Security retirement benefits can reduce your weekly UI benefit amount, but don't automatically disqualify you if you meet other requirements.

So if I retire but then start looking for part-time work immediately, I might qualify?

You'd have to meet all the usual requirements - able and available for work, actively job searching, didn't voluntarily quit without good cause. The retirement aspect makes it tricky.

Never heard of that service. Does it actually work for getting through to Washington ESD?

Yeah, it connected me with an agent within a few hours instead of days of calling. Worth it when you need specific answers about complex situations like retirement and UI.

I've been trying to reach someone at Washington ESD for two weeks about my claim. Might have to check this out.

Right, there's voluntary retirement where you choose to stop working, and then situations where you might be forced out due to age discrimination or health issues.

This is giving me a headache. How is anyone supposed to understand all these rules?

What about if your company offers early retirement packages? Is that considered voluntary or involuntary?

Early retirement packages are usually considered voluntary since you have a choice. But if the alternative is layoffs and you're essentially forced to take the package, that might be different.

That's interesting. So it really depends on your most recent job separation, not whether you've ever retired?

Exactly. Washington ESD looks at why you became unemployed from your most recent job, not your entire work history.

Yeah, there's definitely talk about more layoffs coming. I guess I should wait and see what happens rather than retiring voluntarily.

Just make sure you document everything if they do eliminate your position. Washington ESD will want proof it wasn't voluntary.

How would you prove age discrimination though? That seems really hard to document.

It is difficult, but things like sudden changes in responsibilities, exclusion from meetings, or comments about 'bringing in fresh blood' can be evidence.

So if you take any time off from job searching, that disqualifies you?

Not necessarily disqualifies, but you have to be able and available for work during the period you're claiming benefits. If you took a true retirement break, that gap could be an issue.

WorkSourceWA? Is that something new? I haven't looked for a job in 20 years.

It's Washington state's job search website. If you get UI benefits, you have to register and document your job search activities there every week.

I wasn't planning to take my pension right away, but good to know that could affect things.

Yeah, any income you're receiving can reduce your weekly benefit amount, including retirement income.

Good luck getting through their phone system though. Like I mentioned earlier, Claimyr was the only way I could actually reach someone to get answers.

How much does that service cost? I'm already worried about money if I retire early.

It's worth checking out their site for current info. The time and stress it saves trying to get through on your own is valuable.

Wait, so even if I only want part-time work in retirement, I have to be available for full-time jobs?

Generally yes, unless you get approval for part-time job search, which has its own requirements. It's another reason to talk to Washington ESD about your specific situation.

Thanks everyone for all the information. Sounds like I need to think this through more carefully and maybe wait to see what Boeing does with restructuring.

Smart approach. Keep documenting everything at work just in case things change and you end up with an involuntary separation.

Good point about health issues. I haven't considered that angle.

If health problems force you to leave your current job but you're still able to do other types of work, that could potentially qualify as involuntary separation.

That makes sense. Better to have too much documentation than not enough if the situation comes up.

Absolutely. Save emails, meeting notes, any communications about position changes or company restructuring. You never know what might be relevant later.

That's helpful to know. I'll look into those programs regardless of what happens with my job situation.

The AARP website also has good resources for people considering retirement but still wanting to work. Lots of companies are looking for experienced workers these days.

Thanks! I hadn't really considered consulting, but that might be a good bridge between full-time work and full retirement.

Definitely worth exploring. A lot of retirees are finding consulting work pays well and gives them more flexibility than traditional employment.

This is really valuable insight - thank you for sharing your experience! The timing aspect is something I hadn't fully considered. It sounds like waiting to see what happens with Boeing's restructuring could actually work in my favor. I'm curious about the "suitable work" standards you mentioned - how similar does the work have to be initially? I've been doing engineering work for decades, so I'm wondering if they'd expect me to only look for similar technical positions at first, or if I could pursue other types of work that might be more appropriate for someone transitioning toward retirement.

@b92fc0aa5e6d That's really helpful perspective! I'm in a similar boat at Boeing right now. When you say "suitable work" standards relax over time, roughly how long are we talking? I'm wondering if I'd be expected to only look for senior engineering positions initially, or if I could reasonably pursue lower-stress roles that might be a better fit for someone my age. Also, did you find the job search requirements burdensome while collecting benefits? I keep hearing about having to log everything in WorkSourceWA and I'm not sure what to expect from that process.

@b92fc0aa5e6d This is exactly the kind of real-world experience I needed to hear! The timing strategy makes so much sense - waiting to see what Boeing does rather than jumping into voluntary retirement. I'm definitely going to hold off on any retirement plans until I see how the restructuring plays out. Your point about being genuinely available for work is important too. I think I was naive about thinking I could just collect benefits while casually looking for part-time work. It sounds like Washington ESD really does verify that you're serious about finding employment. Can I ask how long you ended up collecting benefits before finding your next position? And did you find that employers were receptive to hiring someone in their 60s, or did age become a factor in your job search?

@b92fc0aa5e6d This is incredibly helpful - thank you for sharing your experience! Your timing strategy makes perfect sense. I'm definitely going to hold off on any retirement decisions and see what Boeing does with their restructuring over the next few months. The distinction between voluntary buyouts and layoffs is something I hadn't fully grasped before. I'm also glad you mentioned the job search requirements being genuine - I was probably being unrealistic thinking I could casually look for part-time work while collecting benefits. It sounds like Washington ESD really does expect you to be serious about finding employment. I'm curious about one more thing - when you were going through this process, did you find that your age was a factor in employers' hiring decisions? I'm wondering what to realistically expect in terms of how long it might take to find suitable work at 62, especially if I'm competing with younger candidates.

@b92fc0aa5e6d This is exactly the kind of real-world insight I was hoping for! Your experience really drives home how important timing can be. I'm definitely going to hold off on any voluntary retirement decisions and see what happens with Boeing's restructuring plans. The difference between taking a buyout versus waiting for potential layoffs could make all the difference for UI eligibility. I'm also realizing I need to be more realistic about the job search requirements - it sounds like Washington ESD really does expect genuine effort to find work, not just going through the motions. One question about your experience: when you were collecting benefits and actively job searching at 63, did you encounter any age-related challenges in the hiring process? I'm wondering what kind of timeline I should realistically expect if I do end up in a similar situation, especially given that I've been in the same role at Boeing for so long.

@b92fc0aa5e6d Thank you for sharing such detailed insight from your experience! This is incredibly helpful as I'm trying to navigate the same decision at Boeing. Your timing strategy makes perfect sense - waiting to see if the company offers voluntary buyouts versus layoffs could completely change my UI eligibility. I hadn't fully understood that distinction before. I'm also realizing I was probably being naive about the job search requirements. It sounds like Washington ESD really does verify that you're genuinely looking for work, not just going through the motions while waiting for full retirement. That's good to know upfront. One question about the "suitable work" standards - when they initially expect you to look for similar positions, how strictly do they interpret that? Given my engineering background at Boeing, would I be expected to only pursue other engineering roles at first, or could I reasonably look at project management or consulting type positions that might be less demanding but still utilize my experience?