Does Washington ESD unemployment count as income for Social Security benefits?

That's a relief! So the $580/week I'm getting from Washington ESD won't reduce my future Social Security payments?

Correct - unemployment doesn't reduce your Social Security calculation. But remember, if you start collecting Social Security before full retirement age and then get a job, your earnings from work could reduce your Social Security benefits temporarily.

Good point. I think I have 10% federal taxes being withheld from my weekly claims, but maybe I should increase that.

You can change your withholding anytime through your Washington ESD online account. I learned that the hard way after owing money at tax time.

Thanks! I didn't know there were services to help with government phone calls. How much did it cost?

It was worth it for me since I needed answers quickly about my benefits. Much better than spending all day redialing government numbers.

That's not correct. You can collect both unemployment and Social Security simultaneously. They're completely different programs with different eligibility requirements.

Your neighbor might be thinking of disability benefits, which have different rules. Regular Social Security retirement benefits can be collected along with unemployment.

That's a good point. I am actively looking for work and doing my job search activities, so I should be fine there.

Exactly. As long as you're meeting Washington ESD's work search requirements and truly available for work, you can collect both.

Did you have any issues with either agency when you were collecting both?

No issues at all. Just make sure you report everything correctly on your taxes since both are taxable income.

What's the earning limit for 2025? I want to make sure I understand this correctly.

For 2025, if you're under full retirement age, you can earn up to $23,400 per year without affecting your Social Security benefits. Above that, they reduce benefits by $1 for every $2 you earn.

Definitely agree about talking to them directly. That's why I mentioned Claimyr earlier - it's really helpful for getting through to government agencies when you need specific answers about your situation.

I'll check out that Claimyr service. Getting through to Social Security by phone has been impossible lately.

True, I've been on unemployment for about 8 weeks now, so I have roughly 18 weeks left assuming I don't find work before then.

And remember, even if you find work while collecting Social Security early, the benefits they withhold aren't lost forever - they recalculate and give you higher payments later.

Tell me about it! I spent three hours on hold with Social Security last week just to ask a simple question.

The rules really are unnecessarily complicated. That's why it's worth talking to someone who knows the system inside and out.

This has been incredibly helpful. I think I'll apply for Social Security and continue with my unemployment benefits while I job search.

Sounds like a good plan. Just make sure you understand the earning limits if you do find work while collecting early Social Security.

Good reminder! I'll double-check my address in my eServices account.

You can also access your 1099-G online through the Washington ESD website, which is handy if you need it before the mailed copy arrives.

Pensions can affect Social Security benefits if you worked for government and didn't pay Social Security taxes on that job. Private pensions usually don't affect Social Security.

It was a private company pension, so sounds like I should be okay. This stuff is so confusing though.

Glad it's helpful for others too! I was really worried about making the wrong decision.

It's smart to research this stuff ahead of time instead of making hasty decisions when you're already unemployed and stressed.

If you're at full retirement age, there's no limit on how much you can earn while collecting Social Security. That makes the decision much easier.

That's what I thought, but wanted to confirm. Thanks!

How much difference are we talking about? I'm trying to decide whether to apply now or wait.

It depends on your birth year and full retirement age, but generally you lose about 6-7% per year if you take benefits before full retirement age. But you also get payments sooner, so it's a trade-off.

That's exactly what I need. I've been trying to call them for weeks.

Yeah, it's a game-changer for dealing with busy government phone lines. Worth checking out their demo video to see how it works.

I've been keeping screenshots of my weekly claim confirmations, but I should probably print them out too.

You can also download payment history from your Washington ESD account, which is helpful for tax preparation.

Completely agree. It shouldn't be this complicated to understand how your own benefits work.

At least forums like this help people share information and figure things out together.

My wife is 61, so she's not eligible yet. I'll need to research how my decision affects her options.

Spousal benefits can be complicated, especially with the timing of when each person starts collecting. Definitely worth discussing with Social Security directly.

This is really reassuring to hear from someone who actually went through it! Four months of collecting both sounds like it gave you good financial stability while job searching. Did you have any issues with Washington ESD when you were also collecting Social Security, or did they not care as long as you were doing your work search activities?