How long can you work while on Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

So if my weekly benefit is $400, I can earn up to $400 without losing any benefits? That seems too good to be true.

Not exactly - there's a $5 disregard, then they reduce your benefits dollar for dollar after that. So you'd keep the first $5, then lose benefits for anything over that amount.

For gig work you report the gross earnings for the week you actually did the work, not when you got paid. Make sure you keep records of your hours too.

wait so if i worked monday but didn't get paid until the next week, i report it for the week i worked?

Exactly right. Report earnings for the week the work was performed, regardless of when payment is received.

How much does that service cost? I'm already struggling financially and can't afford to pay extra just to talk to someone.

It was worth it for me to get clear answers instead of guessing and potentially making a mistake that could cost me my benefits. Way less stressful than trying to get through on my own.

That doesn't sound right. If you only worked 15 hours at minimum wage, you should have still received partial benefits unless you earned more than your weekly benefit amount plus the $5 disregard.

Maybe I reported it wrong then? This whole system is so confusing and they don't explain anything clearly.

This is super helpful! So if I make $100 in a week and my benefit is $350, I'd get $5 + ($350 - $95) = $260 in benefits?

Yes, that's correct! You keep the first $5, then your $350 benefit gets reduced by the remaining $95 in earnings.

Wait, I think I've been calculating this wrong. I thought it was more complicated than that.

Have you had any issues with them questioning your availability since you're working part-time?

nah as long as you're still looking for full time work and available for it they don't care about part time work

Theoretically yes, but working that many hours would likely make you unavailable for full-time work, which is a requirement for receiving benefits. They could question your availability.

The hours themselves aren't the limit - it's about earnings and availability. But working 39 hours a week would definitely raise red flags about your availability for other employment.

You should contact Washington ESD to correct the error. It's better to fix it proactively than have them discover it later during an audit.

Definitely call them. I used Claimyr to get through quickly when I had a similar issue. Better to fix it now than deal with an overpayment notice later.

Thanks, I'll try calling tomorrow. Hopefully I can get through to someone.

Seasonal work is treated the same as any other employment. If you're working full-time temporarily, you wouldn't be eligible for benefits during those weeks, but you can resume your claim afterward if you still have benefit weeks remaining.

So I don't have to reapply for a whole new claim? I can just stop filing weekly claims and then start again?

Correct, as long as your benefit year hasn't expired. You just resume filing weekly claims when the temporary work ends.

Don't let fear prevent you from taking work! Part-time employment while on unemployment is allowed and often beneficial since you're earning some income and potentially networking.

I felt the same way! But the rules aren't as scary once you understand them. Take the job if it's a good opportunity.

Is that service legit? I'm always skeptical of companies that charge to help with government benefits.

I was skeptical too, but it saved me hours of trying to get through on the phone. Sometimes it's worth paying for convenience and peace of mind.

Good point! I've been keeping a spreadsheet with dates, hours, and gross pay for each job.

That's smart. Also keep any pay stubs, invoices, or other documentation. The more detailed your records, the better.

Yes, you report work for the week it was performed, not when you receive payment. This is clearly stated in the weekly claim instructions.

oh crap i think i've been doing this wrong. i've been reporting based on when i got paid

You should contact Washington ESD to correct any errors in your previous claims. They may need to adjust your benefit payments.

Yes, all forms of self-employment and freelance work must be reported, including the hours worked and gross earnings.

even if it's just like $25 for a small project?

Yes, even small amounts must be reported. All work and earnings, regardless of amount, need to be included in your weekly claims.

That's encouraging! How do you handle the job search requirements while working part-time?

I still do my job searches and keep my log updated. The part-time work doesn't excuse you from the job search requirements if you're still claiming benefits.

Exactly right. The system is designed to encourage work, not penalize it, as long as you follow the rules and report accurately.

Same here! I was worried about nothing. Going to take those shifts at my old job.

That's a great point! I hadn't thought about the benefits lasting longer if you're working part-time.

Yes, your benefit year is based on the total dollar amount available to you, not the number of weeks, so partial payments do stretch it out.

Glad we could help! Don't hesitate to ask if you have more questions as situations come up.

Agreed! I'll definitely be back if I run into any issues with my part-time work reporting.

I might have to try that. I've been trying to call for two weeks about a specific question and can never get through.

It's definitely worth it if you need answers quickly. The peace of mind is valuable when you're dealing with benefit eligibility.

Great to hear it worked out! Proper reporting really is the key to making part-time work while on unemployment benefits work smoothly.

Excellent! You're a good example of how the system is supposed to work when people follow the rules correctly.

awesome, glad you figured it out! having some work income definitely helps while job searching