How many hours can you work and still collect unemployment in Washington ESD?

You can work part-time and still collect unemployment in Washington, but there are some rules to follow. You need to report ALL hours worked and earnings on your weekly claim. Generally, if you work less than full-time hours and earn less than your weekly benefit amount plus $5, you'll still get some unemployment benefits. The key is staying under full-time status and being available for full-time work.

I've been working part-time while on unemployment for 3 months now. The most important thing is to report EVERYTHING on your weekly claim. I work about 20 hours a week at a coffee shop and still get partial benefits. Just make sure you're available for full-time work and actively job searching.

Be really careful about the 'available for work' requirement. If you take a part-time job with a fixed schedule that conflicts with potential full-time opportunities, Washington ESD might question your availability. I had a friend who got in trouble because her part-time job was Monday-Friday 9-2 and they said she wasn't available for full-time work.

I struggled with getting through to Washington ESD when I had questions about working while claiming. Their phone lines are always busy and I kept getting disconnected. Finally found a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have this system that calls for you and connects you when someone picks up. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

The Washington ESD system is so confusing about part-time work rules! I've been on unemployment twice and both times got different information from different agents. One told me I could work up to 32 hours, another said 30 hours max. It's frustrating that they can't give consistent answers.

I work part-time as a substitute teacher while collecting unemployment. Some weeks I work 0 hours, other weeks up to 25 hours. The key is reporting everything accurately on your weekly claim and being available for full-time positions. Washington ESD calculates your partial benefits automatically based on what you report.

Be warned - if you work more than 32 hours in a week, Washington ESD considers that full-time and you'll lose your benefits for that week entirely. I learned this the hard way when I picked up extra shifts during the holidays.

Make sure your part-time job doesn't interfere with your job search requirements. You still need to do your work search activities unless you're working 30+ hours per week. I keep a spreadsheet of all my job applications to submit with my weekly claims.

Another thing to consider - if your part-time job offers you full-time hours, you generally have to accept or risk losing your unemployment benefits. Washington ESD expects you to take suitable full-time work when offered.

I've been doing gig work (DoorDash, Instacart) while on unemployment. You still have to report all earnings even from gig work. Keep good records because you'll need to report gross earnings before any expenses or fees.

Word of caution - don't try to hide part-time work thinking you'll get more benefits. Washington ESD cross-references with employers and tax records. I know someone who had to pay back benefits plus penalties when they got caught not reporting work.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD to ask about your specific situation, I had good luck with Claimyr recently. They help you get through the phone queues so you can actually talk to someone. Sometimes you need to speak to an agent to get clarity on your particular circumstances.

The earnings deduction formula is: (Gross weekly earnings - $5) subtracted from your weekly benefit amount. So if you earn $200 and your benefit is $400, you'd get $205 in unemployment ($400 - $195). But remember, if you work 32+ hours, you get nothing regardless of earnings.

Don't forget about vacation pay or holiday pay from your previous employer. That also needs to be reported and can affect your benefits even if you're not currently working. I had to report my final paycheck that included unused vacation time.

Been working 20-25 hours a week at Target while collecting unemployment for 2 months now. No issues as long as I report everything accurately and keep looking for full-time work. The extra income really helps while I'm searching for a career-level position.

The thing about being 'available for work' isn't just about hours - it's also about being willing to accept suitable full-time positions. If you turn down full-time job offers, Washington ESD might question your availability and could disqualify you.

I tried calling Washington ESD multiple times about part-time work questions and kept getting busy signals or disconnected calls. Finally used a service that handles the calling for you - Claimyr - and got through to an agent the same day. Really helpful when you need specific answers about your situation.

Pro tip: Keep detailed records of all your work hours, earnings, and job search activities. If Washington ESD ever audits your claim or asks for documentation, you'll have everything organized. I use a simple notebook to track everything weekly.

Just to add - the rules can be different if you're on standby status with your regular employer. If you're expecting to be called back to work, the part-time work rules might be more restrictive. Worth checking with Washington ESD if that applies to your situation.