How many hours can you work and still get Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

So if I work 20 hours one week, I still get some unemployment as long as I report it correctly?

Yes, exactly. They calculate your benefit reduction based on your gross earnings. Just be honest about everything when you file your weekly claim.

So there's no hour limit at all? That's confusing because I thought there was some kind of cutoff.

Nope, no hour limit. The key is staying under your weekly benefit amount plus $5. If you earn more than that, you won't get any unemployment for that week.

That's really helpful! My weekly benefit is $385 so I can earn up to about $577 then. That gives me some breathing room.

Just make sure you're reporting every penny you earn, even if it's cash work. Washington ESD will catch up with you eventually if you don't.

Thanks! So it's based on earnings not hours? That makes more sense. My weekly benefit is $380 so I could earn up to $570 and still get something?

Exactly! And Washington ESD uses a formula where they subtract your earnings from your weekly benefit amount, with the first $5 disregarded. So you'd still get partial benefits even if you earn that much.

So if I work 25 hours one week but only earn $200, that's different than working 15 hours and earning $300?

Exactly! It's all about the dollar amount you earn, not the hours. Washington ESD uses a formula to calculate your partial benefits based on your weekly earnings.

Wait, so there IS a cutoff point? What if I earn exactly $600 in your example?

At exactly $600 you'd get a small amount, maybe $25-50 depending on the calculation. Once you go over 1.5x your weekly benefit amount, that's when you get zero.

This is super helpful! I didn't realize it was based on earnings instead of hours worked.

I definitely plan to report everything! I'm just trying to figure out what's allowed before I accept the job.

So if I make $200 in a week, how much would that reduce my benefits? I get $450 per week normally.

Your calculation would be: $200 minus $5 = $195. Then $195 x 0.75 = $146.25 reduction. So your $450 benefit would be reduced to $303.75 that week.

Good point about the tips. I do get some cash tips occasionally that I wasn't sure about reporting.

Yes, report ALL income including tips, even if it's just $20. Better safe than sorry with overpayments.

Thanks! Do you know what the exact hour cutoff is? Like is there a specific number of hours where they cut you off completely?

It's not really about hours - it's more about your total earnings. If you earn more than 1.5 times your weekly benefit amount, you won't get any unemployment for that week.

Oh wow, I had no idea it was based on earnings! So even if I work 30 hours at minimum wage, I could still get some benefits?

Exactly! Washington ESD deducts your earnings from your weekly benefit amount dollar for dollar after the first $5. So if you earn $200, you'd get $292 in benefits that week.

So there's no specific hour limit? It's more about the money you make?

Exactly! It's earnings-based, not hours-based. As long as you're available for full-time work and actively seeking employment, part-time work is allowed.

Wait, so I can earn $96 without any reduction? That's news to me. I thought any work affected the payment.

Exactly! That's the 25% disregard. It's designed to encourage people to take part-time work while looking for full-time employment.

This is why I love this forum - I've been on unemployment for 6 months and never knew about the 25% thing.

That doesn't sound right. I've heard different numbers from different people.

Yeah that's why I'm confused! Everyone seems to have different info about the hour limits.

This is super helpful! So it's really about the money you make, not the hours?

Exactly. Focus on reporting your exact earnings, not worrying about hour limits that don't actually exist.

Wait, can you explain that formula again? I'm working part-time too and want to make sure I understand.

Thanks! So I should definitely report the income on my weekly claim then? I was scared they'd just cut me off completely.

Yes, absolutely report it. Not reporting work income is considered fraud and can result in overpayment notices and penalties later.

Thanks! My weekly benefit is $420, so I can earn up to $630 and still get something? That helps a lot.

That's right, but remember you still have to be available for full-time work and actively job searching. Don't get too comfortable with the part-time situation.

Good to know someone else is doing this successfully. Did you have any problems with Washington ESD questioning your job search efforts?

Nope, as long as you're still applying to full-time jobs and documenting your job search activities, you're fine. I keep a spreadsheet of all my applications.

That's helpful! My weekly benefit is $350 so I could potentially earn up to $525 and still get something?

Right, but they subtract your earnings from your benefit amount in a specific way. It's not dollar for dollar.

Actually the calculation is: they subtract 75% of your gross earnings from your weekly benefit amount. So if you earn $200, they subtract $150 from your benefit.

Thanks! So I definitely need to report the hours even if it's just part-time? I was worried they'd cut me off completely.

Yes, always report your hours and earnings. Washington ESD has a formula - they subtract your earnings from your weekly benefit amount, but you get to keep the first $5 you earn without any reduction.

Thanks! So if my weekly benefit is $400 and I earn $200 from part-time work, I'd still get some unemployment?

Exactly. They have a formula where they subtract your earnings from your weekly benefit amount. You'd still get partial benefits as long as your earnings don't exceed your benefit amount plus that $5 buffer.

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

It's worth it when you consider how much time you save not sitting on hold for hours. Plus getting wrong information can cost you way more in overpayments.

What happens if you forget to report work one week? I'm paranoid about making a mistake.

If it's an honest mistake, you can usually fix it by calling Washington ESD or reporting it on your next weekly claim. But intentionally not reporting work is considered fraud and can result in overpayment penalties.

Oh wow, that's scary. How did they find out about those 8 hours?

They cross-reference with employer records. The system catches everything eventually. Just be honest on your weekly claims.

This happened to my cousin too. Washington ESD doesn't mess around when it comes to unreported work hours.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr.com - they help you get through to Washington ESD agents automatically. I was able to talk to someone within 2 hours instead of spending days trying to call. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Really? That sounds too good to be true. How does it work exactly?

It basically calls Washington ESD for you and waits on hold, then connects you when an agent picks up. I used it last week and finally got my questions answered about part-time work rules.

32 hours is the cutoff? I thought it was 40 hours like full-time work.

Washington ESD considers 32+ hours full-time for unemployment purposes. Anything under that is part-time and you can still collect benefits.

How much does that service cost? I'm already strapped for cash.

It's way cheaper than losing benefits because you didn't understand the rules correctly. Plus the peace of mind knowing you're doing everything right is worth it.

Never heard of Claimyr but anything that helps you actually talk to Washington ESD sounds useful. Their phone lines are always busy.

That's a good point. I'm working retail so my hours are all over the place. Should I be worried about that?

As long as you're actively job searching and can accept full-time work if offered, you should be fine. Just document your job search activities.

Really? I've been trying to call them for weeks about some other issues with my claim. How much does it cost?

It's worth it just to get through and get accurate information. Way better than spending all day redialing and getting hung up on.

Never heard of this but anything is better than the current system. Washington ESD's phone system is a nightmare.

This is really helpful! So if my weekly benefit is $400 and I earn $200 from part-time work, I'd still get $200 from unemployment?

Not exactly - Washington ESD subtracts your earnings dollar-for-dollar after the first $5. So you'd get $205 from unemployment ($400 - $195 in earnings over the $5 allowance).

This is super clear, thank you! So at 20 hours x $18/hour = $360/week, I'd get $385 - ($360 - $96.25) = $121.25 in unemployment.

Your math is right! And don't forget you still need to do your job search activities even when working part-time.

How do they define 'consistently'? Is there a specific number of weeks?

I don't think there's a hard rule, but I'd guess if you're earning close to the maximum for 4-6 weeks straight, they might ask questions.

This happened to my friend. After 8 weeks of high earnings they called her in for an interview to discuss her job search efforts.

How much does that service cost? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks with no luck.

It was worth it for me to get a real person on the phone who could explain the rules. Much better than guessing or getting different answers from forums.

Never heard of this before. Does it actually work or is it just a scam?

This is so important! I forgot to report 4 hours of freelance work once and they flagged my account for an overpayment investigation. Took weeks to resolve.

Yikes, that's exactly what I'm worried about. I'll definitely report everything, even small amounts.

Is that legit? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks about my claim status.

Yeah it's real, they basically handle the calling and waiting for you. I was skeptical at first but it actually worked. Got through to someone at Washington ESD within a day.

Never heard of Claimyr before. Does it actually work for getting through to Washington ESD?

Yeah, it connected me within about 20 minutes. The agent was able to look at my specific situation and explain exactly how my part-time earnings would affect my benefits.

Interesting, I might try this. I've been calling Washington ESD for days with no luck.

This math is confusing me. Can you give me a concrete example with actual numbers?

Sure! Let's say your weekly benefit is $300 and you earn $200 working part-time. $200 - $5 = $195. 75% of $195 = $146.25. So $300 - $146.25 = $153.75 in unemployment benefits for that week.

Thank you for breaking this down! I've been trying to figure out this calculation for weeks.

Really? I have to keep looking for work even though I already have a part-time job?

Yes, unless you're on standby with your current employer. If you're just working reduced hours, you still need to actively search for additional work or a full-time position.

This is news to me too. I thought working part-time meant I didn't have to do job searches.

What does that mean exactly? Like I have to be willing to quit my part-time job if I get a full-time offer?

yeah basically, you cant restrict your availability just because you have a part time gig

Never heard of that service before. Did it actually work for you?

Yeah it worked great. Got through to someone at Washington ESD within like 20 minutes instead of the usual hours of busy signals. Worth it when you need actual answers about your specific situation.

It's not about hours, it's about earnings. You could theoretically work 40 hours at minimum wage and still get partial benefits if your total earnings are low enough.

ohhhh that makes more sense. so its all about the money not the time

There's no specific hour limit in Washington state. The confusion comes from the 'able and available' requirement - you have to be available for full-time work. Working too many hours could affect that status.

Good to know! Do you report gross or net wages?

gross wages before taxes. and report the hours you actually worked, not scheduled hours

The warehouse job is flexible scheduling, so I think I'd still be available for full-time work. Should I mention that when I report the hours?

Yes, definitely mention the flexible nature of the work. Washington ESD wants to see that you're not turning down better opportunities because of the part-time job.

How do you handle weeks when your schedule varies a lot? Like if you work 10 hours one week and 25 the next?

Just report exactly what you worked each week. Washington ESD recalculates your benefits every week based on that week's earnings. It's actually pretty straightforward once you get used to it.

Never heard of Claimyr before. Does it actually work for getting through to Washington ESD?

Yeah, it really does work. I was skeptical at first but it saved me so much time and frustration. The agent was able to answer all my questions about working while on unemployment.

That sounds about right if you earned a decent amount. The formula reduces benefits pretty significantly once you go over that $5 threshold.

wish they made this clearer upfront instead of having to figure it out as you go

Yeah, variable hours make it complicated. Just keep reporting accurately and your benefits will adjust automatically each week.

thanks, i was worried i was doing something wrong

Freelance is trickier because you have to report income when you earn it, not when you get paid. Make sure you're tracking when you actually do the work.

Good point, I've been reporting based on when I invoice, not when I do the work. I should probably call and clarify this.

Definitely call them about freelance rules. It's different from regular employment and they're pretty strict about reporting timing.

Same here! That's why I'm asking on forums instead of calling.

That's exactly why I ended up trying Claimyr - got tired of wasting hours calling and never getting through.

Wait, you still have to job search if you're already working? That seems weird.

Yes because you're still collecting unemployment benefits. The part-time work doesn't eliminate the requirement to actively seek full-time employment.

Good point, I didn't think about that. So I'd still need to apply to 3 jobs per week even while working the warehouse job?

Good point about availability. My part-time job is flexible with scheduling so I can interview and would be able to start full-time work if I found something.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents without the endless busy signals. Check out claimyr.com and they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

That actually sounds really helpful. I've been trying to get through to ask about my job search requirements too.

wait is that legit? sounds too good to be true

That makes sense! So I could potentially work quite a bit and still get some benefits. What does 'able and available' mean exactly?

It means you're physically able to work full-time and actively seeking full-time employment. You can't be working so many part-time hours that you're unavailable for full-time work.

Wait, I thought it was dollar for dollar reduction? Are you sure about the 75% thing?

That's really encouraging! Do you have any issues with the job search requirements while working part-time?

You still have to do job searches but I think it's reduced to 2 per week instead of 3 when you're working part-time. Double check that though.

Oh no! What happened exactly? I want to make sure I don't make the same mistake.

I was reporting my gross earnings instead of net earnings for several weeks. Totally screwed up my benefit calculations and now I owe them money.

This is super helpful! I didn't know about the 75% rule.

Wait, so if I make too much at my part-time job, I could lose benefits completely?

Yes, if your weekly earnings exceed your weekly benefit amount plus $5, you won't get any unemployment benefits that week. But your claim stays active.

This math is confusing me. Can you give me an example with real numbers?

Sure! Let's say your weekly benefit is $350 and you earn $150 working part-time. $150 minus $5 = $145. 75% of $145 = $108.75. So $350 minus $108.75 = $241.25 would be your new weekly benefit amount.

Wait, I thought it was different than that. Are you sure about the 75% part?

How do they know if you turn down a job offer? Do employers report that to Washington ESD?

Some employers do report it, especially if they're hiring through WorkSource. It's risky to turn down suitable work offers.

The earnings-based system actually helps more people. Someone working minimum wage 25 hours might earn less than someone working $30/hour for 15 hours, so hours alone wouldn't be fair.

i guess that makes sense when you put it that way

How much does that service cost though? I'm already tight on money.

Worth every penny when you consider how much time you save not sitting on hold for hours. Plus you get to talk to an actual Washington ESD agent who can look at your specific claim.

I'm skeptical of services that charge to help with government benefits...

That's exactly what I was hoping to hear! How much do your benefits usually get reduced?

depends on how much i make that week but usually i still get like 60-70% of my full benefit amount

What about if you work 40 hours but at really low pay? Like minimum wage?

Even at minimum wage, 40 hours would likely disqualify you for that week. The full-time hours rule generally overrides the earnings calculation.

Yes, you still need to complete your required job search activities. Working part-time doesn't exempt you from the job search requirements.

Make sure you're logging those job searches properly in WorkSourceWA too!

Thank you! This makes it much clearer. So I just need to keep looking for full-time work and report everything honestly.

This is the correct answer. The key is being available for full-time work while you're working part-time.

So if my weekly benefit is $400 and I earn $200 in a week, what would I get?

Using that example: $400 - ($200 - $100 - $5) = $400 - $95 = $305 in unemployment benefits for that week.

How did you handle the job search requirement while working? Did employers think it was weird that you were still applying places?

I was honest that I was looking for full-time work and the part-time job was temporary. Most places understood, especially in this job market.

What kind of records should I keep? Just pay stubs?

Pay stubs, work schedules, any documentation of hours worked. I keep a simple spreadsheet with dates, hours, and gross pay for each week.

Never heard of that service before. Did they actually get you through to someone at Washington ESD?

Yeah, got connected within like 20 minutes. The agent was able to explain exactly how the partial benefits calculation works for my specific situation.

It's a bit confusing but here's how it works: (Weekly Benefit Amount) - (Gross Earnings) - (25% of Gross Earnings) = Partial Benefit. So for OP making $280 with a $467 benefit: $467 - $280 - $70 = $117 partial benefit.

Ohhh okay that makes more sense. So you still get something, just reduced.

This is so important! I know someone who didn't report their part-time work and got hit with an overpayment notice for thousands of dollars.

Yikes, that's scary. I definitely don't want to deal with overpayment issues.

Exactly. It's much better to be completely honest and get reduced benefits than to risk fraud charges.

How do you report it exactly? Do you put the gross amount or after taxes?

Always report gross earnings - before any taxes or deductions. And make sure to report it for the week you actually worked, not when you got paid.

This is exactly what I needed to know. Thank you for the clear explanation!

Is this the same for temporary work too? Like if I pick up a few shifts here and there?

Yes, all work must be reported regardless of whether it's regular part-time, temporary, or even just a one-day gig.

I know it's frustrating! The reason there's no simple chart is because everyone's weekly benefit amount is different, so the calculation varies for each person. Your benefit amount depends on your previous earnings history.

ugh makes sense i guess but still annoying when ur trying to figure out if taking a job is worth it

My part-time job is pretty flexible with scheduling, so I should be able to handle interviews. Thanks for the reminder about the job search requirements.

Oh wow, I was planning to report my take-home pay. Thanks for the heads up!

Yes, always gross earnings! This trips up a lot of people.

Oh no! How did they find out about the unreported income?

They cross-reference with tax records and employer reports. It might take months but they will find out. My employer reported my wages to the state and it flagged my claim.

This happened to my sister too. She thought working just one day a week wouldn't matter. Wrong! They wanted back like $600.

That's really helpful! Do you report the earnings for the week you worked or the week you got paid?

You report for the week you worked, not when you got paid. So if you work Monday-Friday, you report those earnings on your Sunday claim for that week.

I tried looking for that but couldn't find it. Do you have a direct link?

It's somewhere in the SecureAccess Washington portal when you log in. Look under tools or calculators.

Yes, you can still get partial benefits! Just make sure to report your hours and earnings when you file your weekly claim.

wow this changes everything... i turned down a part time job last month thinking id lose my benefits

This is super helpful! So I basically get to keep $5 of my earnings without it affecting my benefits at all?

Exactly. It's designed to encourage people to take part-time work while job searching. Better than sitting around doing nothing.

That's normal with variable hours. Your unemployment benefit changes each week based on what you earn. Keep detailed records of your hours and wages.

I guess I should probably call them to make sure I'm doing this right...

Save yourself the headache and use Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD. Trust me on this one.

That's exactly what the system is designed for - to bridge you to full-time employment. Part-time work is encouraged!

Same here! I turned down a part-time job last month because I was scared. Now I'm kicking myself.

You still need to do your 3 activities per week. The part-time work doesn't count toward that requirement because you're supposed to be looking for full-time employment.

Got it, thanks. I was hoping the part-time job would reduce the requirement but that makes sense.

This is another reason why I need to call Washington ESD - I have questions about my job search log too.

It's designed to encourage people to take full-time work instead of staying on benefits long-term. The partial benefit thing is supposed to be a bridge, not a permanent solution.

Yeah I get that, just frustrating when you're trying to make ends meet and the math doesn't work out great

Yeah I'm still applying to full-time positions. The job search requirement is 3 applications per week right?

It's actually a minimum of 3 job search activities per week, not necessarily applications. Can include networking, attending job fairs, etc. But applications are the most common.

It depends on your situation though. Some income is better than no income, especially if unemployment might run out soon.

true but the hassle of reporting everything and doing the math every week was annoying

Never heard of that service before. Did it actually work for you?

Yeah, I was skeptical too but it really did work. The agent was able to explain exactly how partial benefits work and even looked at my specific claim to make sure I was reporting correctly.

How much does Claimyr cost? I'm already struggling financially

It's worth checking their website for current info. For me, getting through to an actual person was worth it after weeks of trying to call on my own.

That's terrifying! I definitely don't want to end up owing money back. I'll make sure to report everything.

Yeah, Washington ESD doesn't mess around with unreported income. They cross-reference with employers and will catch it eventually.

Good point! I'm still required to apply for jobs even though I'll be working some hours?

Yes, unless your part-time work qualifies as standby status, you still need to meet the job search requirements.

What's standby status? I keep seeing that term but don't really understand it.

The part-time work I'm considering is pretty flexible, mostly weekends. Should be okay for the able and available requirement.

Weekend work is usually fine. It's things like overnight shifts or jobs that require you to be on-call that can cause problems.

That's why it's important to understand the 'able and available' requirement. Working excessive hours can trigger a review of your availability status, even if your earnings are under the limit.

That's good to know! Were you still looking for full-time work that week?

Yeah I had to keep doing job searches and be available for full-time positions.

Good point. The job is pretty flexible so I think I could make appointments work. Do they give you much notice for those things?

Usually a few days to a week, but it varies. Just make sure your employer knows you might need time off for unemployment-related appointments.

I've been doing my job searches but wasn't sure if I had to keep doing them while working. Thanks for clarifying!

What counts as a job search activity? I've been mostly just applying online.

That's awesome! I'm definitely going to try it. Did they give you any info that wasn't covered here?

They confirmed everything people said here about the earnings calculation. The agent was really helpful and patient with my questions.

I'm still skeptical about paying for something like this, but if it actually works it might be worth it.

How much did that cost you?

Worth it for me since I was losing my mind trying to get through on my own. The peace of mind was worth it.

I might try this too. I've been calling Washington ESD for two weeks about my adjudication status with no luck.

That's good to know about the preview feature. I was worried I'd submit something wrong and not know until later.

Yeah, the system is pretty user-friendly once you figure it out. You can see exactly how your earnings affect your benefits before confirming.

This is exactly what I needed to know. Thank you for breaking it down so clearly!

Just to add - you still need to be actively looking for full-time work even if you're working part-time. The job search requirements don't change.

Ah okay, that doesn't apply to my situation then. Thanks for clarifying.

Oh no! How long did it take to resolve the overpayment issue?

About 6 weeks total. They suspended my benefits until I paid back what I owed. It was a nightmare.

This is exactly why I'm paranoid about reporting everything correctly. The penalties seem harsh.

8 months?? I thought there was a time limit on how long you could collect benefits while working part-time.

nah the time limit is the same whether youre working part time or not. in washington its usually 26 weeks but can be extended sometimes

That's the second recommendation for that service. Might be worth checking out since I really can't get through on the phone.