ESD claim questions: reporting final paycheck and casino winnings
I'm totally confused about two things with my unemployment claim this week: 1) I stopped working at my job last week, but just got my final paycheck yesterday (Friday). Do I still file my weekly claim now, or should I wait until next week to make things simpler? Not sure if I need to report this final check or not. 2) I went to my cousin's birthday party at a casino and won $340 playing slots. Do I have to report this as income? I'm obviously still unemployed and actively looking for work, but I'm worried ESD will think I'm working or something if I report random gambling money. I don't want to mess up my claim by doing the wrong thing. Anyone dealt with either of these situations before?
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StarStrider
For your first question - yes, you should still claim this week. You'll need to report the final paycheck based on when you EARNED the money, not when you received it. So if the work was performed last week, you won't report it on this week's claim. As for the casino winnings, yes, you must report them as income. There's actually a specific category for this on the weekly claim form. Gambling winnings are considered income and reportable. It won't disqualify you from benefits, but you might receive a reduced payment that week depending on how much you won.
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Isabella Santos
AuthorThanks! So I would report my final paycheck on LAST week's claim (which I already filed), not this week's claim? And are you sure about the gambling thing? It just feels weird reporting it since it's not like regular income...
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Ravi Gupta
yah just file ur claim like normal, report any money u got WHEN U WORKED for it not when they paid u. ive had paychecks come late n never had a prob with esd about it, just be honest
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Freya Pedersen
I'm pretty sure gambling winnings DON'T count for unemployment!! My uncle won $500 at a poker tournament last year while on unemployment and he didn't report it, and nothing happened. ESD is only concerned with WORK income, not random luck money. Don't overcomplicate things.
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StarStrider
This is incorrect and could cause problems. ESD specifically asks about "other income" which includes gambling winnings. The exact wording on the weekly claim form includes "other income from any source." Not reporting required income can lead to an overpayment determination later.
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Omar Hassan
Lots of confusion here, so let me clarify: 1) You report income based on when you EARNED it, not when you received payment. So your final paycheck should be reported for the week you actually worked, regardless of when the check arrived. 2) Yes, gambling winnings are reportable income for unemployment purposes. ESD requires reporting "any income from any source" during your claim week. This includes gambling winnings, side gigs, cash jobs, etc. I recommend always reporting everything accurately. If you're unsure, check the ESD website or call to clarify. It's better to be honest than risk an overpayment situation later that you'll have to repay with penalties.
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Isabella Santos
AuthorThanks for clarifying! I'll report the casino winnings to be safe. So frustrating that the one time I get lucky, I have to report it! But better than dealing with an overpayment issue later.
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Chloe Anderson
When I was on unemployment last month I couldnt even get thru to ESD when I had questions about reporting stuff!!! tried calling for 3 days straight and either got disconnected or was on hold forever. ended up giving up. the whole system is designed to make us fail i swear
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Diego Vargas
I had the same problem trying to reach ESD about my missing payments! I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an agent after trying for days. They have this service where they basically wait on hold for you then call you when an agent picks up. Worked perfectly and saved me hours of frustration. You can see how it works in their video: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Worth it just to get a clear answer about these kinds of questions directly from ESD.
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CosmicCruiser
i dont think ESD can even check if u won money at casinos?? like theres no reporting system between casinos and unemployment office right?? just saying....
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Omar Hassan
This is dangerous advice. For significant winnings (typically $1,200+ for slots), casinos issue a W-2G form that's reported to the IRS. ESD can and does cross-reference with IRS data, especially during audits. Even for smaller amounts, intentionally concealing income is fraud and can result in disqualification, repayment requirements, and potentially criminal penalties. The risk isn't worth it.
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Isabella Santos
OK thanks everyone for the help! I'm going to: 1) File my claim as normal this week since the final paycheck was for work I did last week (already reported) 2) Report my casino winnings on this week's claim as "other income" I'd rather be honest and maybe get a slightly smaller payment this week than deal with overpayment headaches later. Still frustrated about having to report a lucky win, but it is what it is.
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StarStrider
Good decision! One more tip - just in case ESD has questions about either situation, keep documentation of your final paycheck showing the pay period dates, and maybe even something showing the date of your casino visit. It's rare they'll ask, but always good to have proof available if needed.
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Andre Moreau
Smart approach Isabella! You're absolutely doing the right thing by being transparent. I went through something similar last year when I had some freelance income while on unemployment - it's always better to over-report than under-report with ESD. One thing to keep in mind: when you report the casino winnings, it might reduce your weekly benefit amount for that week, but it won't affect your overall claim or disqualify you from future benefits. The reduction is usually calculated based on how much you earned above a certain threshold. Also, if you do this again in the future, you might want to consider the timing of when you claim your winnings if it's a significant amount - though obviously you can't control when you get lucky! Good luck with your job search.
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