Can you receive social security and Washington ESD unemployment at the same time?

Thanks! That's a relief. Do you know how much it might reduce my benefits by?

It depends on your weekly benefit amount, but social security is usually deducted dollar-for-dollar from your UI. So if you get $300/week in social security and your UI would be $500, you'd get $200 in unemployment.

No, that's not how it works. You have to report ALL income including social security, pensions, part-time work, etc. But Washington ESD calculates deductions based on the type of income. Social Security retirement benefits are deducted differently than wages from work.

oh ok that makes more sense. i was worried about my mom's situation

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr.com - it's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. They have this video demo (https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ) that shows how it works. Basically they handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent picks up. Saved me hours of frustration!

That sounds too good to be true. How much does it cost?

They focus on the value of getting through rather than the cost. For me it was worth it just to avoid sitting on hold for hours every day. The stress relief alone was huge.

What kind of mistake did you make? I want to make sure I don't do the same thing.

I accidentally put my monthly social security amount in the weekly income field instead of dividing it by 4.3 weeks. Washington ESD thought I was getting way more income than I actually was. Always convert monthly amounts to weekly!

Good point about the weekly conversion. Also make sure you're reporting GROSS social security, not net after Medicare deductions.

I agree it's complicated, but once you understand the basics it gets easier. The key is being consistent and accurate with your reporting every week.

easier said than done when you can never reach anyone to ask questions

This is really helpful. Is there anywhere on the Washington ESD website that explains this calculation?

Yes, check the Washington ESD handbook online. Look for the section on 'Deductible Income' - it has examples and worksheets.

I looked for that handbook everywhere and couldn't find it. Can you post a direct link?

Wow, only $5? That does seem like it wouldn't be worth it.

But you should still file if you're eligible! Even small amounts add up, and you maintain your job search requirements which can be motivating. Plus if your social security changes or stops for any reason, you'd already have an open claim.

true, my dad did end up finding a part time job through the job search requirements so maybe it helped in that way

Common misconception! You can receive Social Security retirement benefits and still work or look for work. The 'retirement' just refers to the type of SS benefit, not your actual employment status. As long as you're able and available for work, you can collect UI.

Oh that makes sense. I always thought retirement meant you stopped working completely.

Yeah, I took early social security at 62 but kept working until this layoff. Now I need to find another job to make ends meet.

I understand the frustration, but there are policy reasons for income deductions. The idea is that unemployment benefits are meant to replace lost wages, so if you have other income sources, the replacement amount is adjusted.

still doesnt make sense to me but whatever the system is what it is i guess

A spreadsheet is a great idea! What information do you track in it?

I track my weekly social security amount, any other income, job search activities, and the dates I file my claims. Helps me stay organized and catch any mistakes before I submit.

Social Security Disability (SSDI) has different rules. Generally if you're receiving SSDI, you're considered unable to work, which would make you ineligible for unemployment benefits since UI requires you to be able and available for work.

ah ok that makes sense. thanks for clarifying

Same here! I've been trying for days. Someone earlier mentioned Claimyr - I'm thinking about trying that service. Has anyone actually used it successfully?

I finally got through by calling right at 8am when they open. Took about 45 minutes but I did reach someone. They confirmed everything people are saying here about social security and unemployment.

Good point! I did get 2 weeks severance. Does that delay when I can start collecting?

It might, depending on how Washington ESD allocates it. They treat severance as wages for the period it covers, so if you got 2 weeks pay as severance, they might consider you 'employed' for those 2 weeks even though you weren't actually working.

So for social security, I report the full amount before Medicare premiums are taken out?

Exactly! Report the gross amount that appears on your Social Security statement, not what actually gets deposited to your bank account.

Glad it helped! The most important thing is accurate reporting. Washington ESD will eventually catch any discrepancies, and it's much easier to get it right from the start than to fix overpayment issues later.

Definitely learned that lesson from other people's experiences. Better to be cautious and accurate than deal with adjudication problems.

That's great to hear! I might try that service too if I run into any issues with my claim.

How long did it take them to connect you to an agent?

About 20 minutes from when I submitted my request. Much better than the hours I was spending on hold before.