Can you work and still get unemployment benefits in Washington?

Yes, you can work part-time and still receive unemployment benefits in Washington, but there are specific rules. You must report ALL income when you file your weekly claim, even if it's just $1. Washington ESD uses a formula where they reduce your weekly benefit amount based on how much you earn. Generally, if you earn less than your weekly benefit amount, you'll still get some unemployment.

I've been doing part-time work while on unemployment for 3 months now. The key is being completely honest on your weekly claims. Report every penny you make, even cash jobs. Washington ESD will find out eventually if you don't, and then you're looking at overpayment and possibly fraud charges.

Had this exact situation last year. You need to report the income when you file your weekly claim, but make sure you're still available for full-time work. That's a big requirement they look for. If you turn down full-time job offers because of your part-time gig, that could disqualify you.

I was struggling with getting through to Washington ESD about this exact question a few months ago. Kept getting busy signals and disconnected calls. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling and the agent explained the part-time work rules clearly.

ugh the whole system is so confusing!! I worked 2 days last month and forgot to report it on my weekly claim and now I'm panicking that they're going to say I committed fraud. Should I call them or just report it on my next claim??

The formula is pretty straightforward once you understand it. Your weekly benefit amount minus (gross earnings - $5) = your unemployment payment for that week. So if you make more than your weekly benefit amount plus $5, you get zero unemployment that week but your claim stays active.

Be careful about 1099 work vs W-2 work. If you're doing independent contractor work, you might need to pay quarterly taxes on that income. Don't want to get hit with a big tax bill next year on top of everything else.

I've been working part-time retail while on unemployment and it's actually working out pretty well. I make about $250/week and still get $200 in unemployment benefits. It's not full-time money but it helps bridge the gap while I look for something permanent.

Wait, so if I work one day and make $150, I have to report that? Even if it's just helping someone move or something?

Here's what I learned the hard way - don't try to game the system by working right at the limit. Washington ESD looks at patterns and if they think you're deliberately working just enough to max out benefits, they might investigate. Just be honest and work as much as you can while still looking for full-time employment.

Does anyone know if gig work like DoorDash or Uber counts as work for unemployment purposes? I've been thinking about doing some driving to supplement my benefits.

I tried calling Washington ESD about this months ago and could never get through. Finally used Claimyr to get connected and the agent was super helpful. She walked me through exactly how to report part-time income and what to expect. Worth every penny just to get real answers instead of guessing.

WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT LIE ON YOUR WEEKLY CLAIMS. I know someone who didn't report cash work and Washington ESD found out 8 months later. They had to pay back $4,000 in overpayments plus penalties. It's just not worth it.

Just to add - make sure you understand what 'suitable work' means for your situation. If you've been unemployed for less than 10 weeks, you can generally turn down jobs that pay significantly less than your previous job. But after 10 weeks, the definition of suitable work expands.

The bottom line is this: report all income, stay available for full-time work, keep doing your job search activities, and don't try to cheat the system. Part-time work can actually help you transition back to full-time employment while keeping some benefits flowing.

One more thing - if you work in a week but don't get paid until the following week, report the income in the week you worked, not the week you got paid. Washington ESD goes by when the work was performed.

Has anyone here used Claimyr recently? I'm having trouble getting through to Washington ESD about a different issue and keep seeing it mentioned in these threads.

Just want to echo what others have said - be completely honest about your income. I reported everything, even small odd jobs, and never had any problems with Washington ESD. The system actually works pretty well if you follow the rules.

For what it's worth, I think the $5 deduction they give you is supposed to cover work-related expenses like gas or tools. So if you make $100 in a week, they only count $95 against your benefits. It's a small thing but every bit helps.