Can you file for unemployment if you have another job in Washington state?

That's a relief! So I just report the $200 each week when I file my weekly claim?

Exactly! Report all gross earnings for the week you actually worked, not when you got paid. Washington ESD will calculate your partial benefit automatically.

Did you have any issues with Washington ESD questioning your part-time work?

nope, as long as you report it honestly they dont care. just dont try to hide income or they'll come after you for overpayment

That makes sense! Do I still need to do the job search requirements even though I'm working part-time?

Yes, you still need to meet the job search requirements unless you're on standby with your part-time employer. You need to be seeking full-time work or work that would make you ineligible for benefits.

This is really helpful info. I've been scared to file because I thought any work would disqualify me completely.

Never heard of Claimyr before. Did it actually help you get through to someone at Washington ESD?

Yeah, it connects you directly to ESD agents without the endless hold times. Was definitely worth it to get my questions answered quickly instead of spending days trying to call.

Interesting, I might check that out. The ESD phone system is absolutely terrible.

I agree the website could be clearer, but the basic rule is simple: report all work and earnings, be available for full-time work, and do your job searches.

But what counts as 'available for full-time work' if you already have a part-time job? Do you have to be willing to quit the part-time job?

You don't have to quit your part-time job, but you need to be available to accept full-time work if offered. Most part-time schedules allow flexibility for this.

Good point about the availability schedule. I should probably put that I'm available weekdays since my part-time job is only weekends.

Exactly! Just be consistent with what you report and you'll be fine.

Yes, all earnings need to be reported including gig work. Report the gross amount you earned for the week you actually did the work.

Thanks! I was worried about how to handle the irregular income from deliveries.

For gig work, keep good records of your earnings since you'll need to report them accurately on your weekly claims. The week you earned it matters, not when you got paid.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. The regular ESD phone lines are impossible to get through on.

I might have to try that. This is ridiculous that we need a third-party service just to talk to our own state agency.

The phone situation has been terrible since the pandemic. I think they're still understaffed.

What counts as 'suitable work'? Does it have to be in the same field as my previous job?

Suitable work is generally work that pays at least 80% of your previous wage and is within reasonable commuting distance. After several weeks, the standards may become less strict.

This is why the job search requirements exist - to show you're actively looking for full-time work, not just trying to stay on partial benefits forever.

Wow, that's scary! How did they find out about her unreported work?

I think they cross-reference with tax records or something. The penalties for not reporting income are way worse than just reporting it and getting reduced benefits.

Washington ESD has access to wage databases, so they'll eventually catch unreported income. Always better to be honest upfront.

Report the actual gross earnings for each specific week, not an average. If you worked 10 hours one week and 20 the next, report the actual earnings for each week separately.

Got it, thanks! I was overthinking this.

Glad this helped! A lot of people miss out on benefits they're entitled to because they don't understand the partial benefit rules.

Same here! I learned something new today about the partial benefit formula.

That makes sense. Better to have more work anyway, even if it means losing the unemployment benefits.

Exactly! The goal should always be to get back to full employment when possible.

How much does that service cost? I'm already tight on money.

I don't remember the exact cost but it was reasonable compared to the time I was spending trying to call on my own. Sometimes it's worth paying a little to get accurate information quickly.

Good reminder! I almost forgot about that requirement when I was working part-time.

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