Can you work and draw unemployment benefits from Washington ESD?

That's such a relief to hear! Do I need to do anything special when I apply, or just mention that I'm working part-time?

When you file your initial claim, just answer the questions honestly about your work situation. Then every week when you file your weekly claim, report your exact gross earnings for that week. Washington ESD will automatically calculate your partial benefit.

Wait, I thought they took away more than dollar for dollar? This sounds better than I expected.

Nope, Washington has a pretty generous partial benefit formula compared to some states. The $5 'disregard' actually helps you come out a little ahead.

I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that calls Washington ESD for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. I used it last month and finally got my questions answered after weeks of trying on my own. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

What does 'able and available' actually mean if I'm already working some hours?

It means you're ready, willing, and able to accept full-time work if it's offered to you. Your part-time job can't prevent you from taking a full-time position.

How many job contacts do I need to make each week while working part-time?

It's still 3 job search activities per week in Washington, same as if you were completely unemployed. You can count things like applying for jobs, attending job fairs, or networking events.

And keep good records! Washington ESD can audit your job search log at any time.

Did you run into any problems or issues while doing this?

Not really, as long as I reported my earnings correctly each week. The only time I had an issue was when I forgot to report some tip money and had to call Washington ESD to fix it.

Do I have to tell my employer I'm applying for unemployment?

You don't have to, but it's usually better to be upfront about it. Washington ESD might contact your employer anyway as part of processing your claim.

That's confusing. What if I work different days each week?

Just report the total gross earnings for whatever days you worked during each weekly claim period (Sunday through Saturday).

Oh no! What happened exactly?

I was reporting my net pay instead of gross pay for a few weeks. Washington ESD caught it during an audit and said I owed back benefits. Took months to sort out.

That's why it's so important to report GROSS earnings, not what you take home after taxes and deductions.

I tried messaging but never got a response. That's why I'm considering trying that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier.

Yeah, their response time for messages can be really slow. The phone is usually better if you can actually get through.

Thanks, that makes me feel better about applying. I was worried it might be complicated.

It's really straightforward once you get started. The weekly claim form walks you through everything.

You can search in any field where you're qualified to work. Washington ESD doesn't restrict your job search to your current industry.

Good to know! I was hoping to use this time to maybe find something in a different field anyway.

How long did the adjudication take?

About 3 weeks for me, but I've heard it can be longer depending on how busy they are.

That's another situation where Claimyr really helps - you can actually talk to an agent to check on your adjudication status instead of just wondering what's happening.

Good point. At what point would I no longer qualify for any benefits?

Generally when your weekly earnings exceed your weekly benefit amount plus $5. So if your weekly benefit is $300, you'd stop getting benefits when you earn more than $305 per week.

What happens if I forget to file one week?

You might be able to file a late claim, but it can delay your payments. Washington ESD is pretty strict about the weekly filing deadlines.

Seasonal work is treated the same as any other part-time work for partial benefits. Just report your earnings each week like normal.

Thanks! I wasn't sure if there were different rules for seasonal employees.

How long should I keep those records?

I'd keep them for at least a year after your claim ends, just to be safe.

Same here! I'm definitely going to apply now that I understand how it works.

That's exactly what the partial benefit program is designed for - helping people stay afloat while working reduced hours. Good luck with your claims!

Yes, any pay from your employer including vacation pay, holiday pay, or severance needs to be reported to Washington ESD.

Thanks for clarifying! I wasn't sure about that.