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

So if my weekly benefit is $350 and I earn $270 gross, I'd still get some unemployment? That's a relief!

Exactly! You'd get $350 minus $270 = $80 in unemployment benefits plus your $270 in wages. Just make sure to report it accurately.

That makes sense! So it's really about the money, not the hours. My weekly benefit is $380, so I could theoretically work 25-30 hours at minimum wage and still get partial benefits?

Exactly! Just make sure you report all earnings accurately on your weekly claim. Washington ESD will calculate the deduction automatically based on what you report.

Thanks! So if my weekly benefit amount is $400, I can earn up to $600 and still get some benefits?

Exactly. They'll reduce your benefit amount based on what you earn, but you can still receive partial benefits. Just make sure to report everything accurately.

Have you tried using Claimyr? I discovered it last month when I was having similar issues getting through to Washington ESD. It's at claimyr.com and they actually get you connected to an agent. There's even a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Thanks! So I should definitely report the 20 hours even if it reduces my benefits? I don't want to get in trouble for not reporting it.

Yes, absolutely report every hour. Not reporting work is considered fraud and can result in overpayment notices and penalties.

Thanks! Do you know what the earnings disregard amount is? I want to make sure I'm calculating this right.

I believe it's around $5 or 25% of your weekly benefit amount, whichever is greater. But don't quote me on the exact numbers - you should verify this on the Washington ESD website.

How do they catch unreported income? I'm just curious about the process.

They cross-reference with employer wage reports and tax records. It might not happen immediately but when it does, you'll owe back all the benefits plus penalties.

How long does it take for them to process the partial benefit calculation? I'm worried about delays.

Usually processes the same as regular claims if you report everything correctly. Problems only happen if you make mistakes or leave things out.

What happened when you didn't report? Did they make you pay everything back?

Yeah, they wanted me to pay back $1,200 in benefits I received while working. Had to appeal it and show it was an honest mistake. Took months to resolve.

You'd get nothing that week. Since you earned $360 and your benefit is $320, you're over the threshold. You can earn up to $325 ($320 + $5) before losing benefits entirely.

Never heard of that service. Sounds too good to be true honestly.

I was skeptical too but it actually worked. Just helps you get through the phone system faster instead of redialing constantly.

Might have to try that if I can't figure this out on my own. The phone system is impossible.

Yes, you still need to complete your required job search activities unless you're on standby with your employer. The job search requirement doesn't change just because you're working reduced hours.

There's no specific hour limit like that. It's based on your earnings compared to your weekly benefit amount. If you earn more than your WBA plus $5, you get zero benefits for that week.

oh ok that makes more sense. I was just guessing based on what happened to me lol

THIS! I've been trying to call them for weeks about a similar question. Their phone lines are always busy or I get disconnected after waiting for hours.

I actually found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual Washington ESD agent. They have this system that calls for you and connects you when someone picks up. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Oh no! How did they find out about the cash work?

The person who paid me reported it on their taxes. Washington ESD cross-references with other agencies. It's not worth the risk.

I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com. They got me through to an actual Washington ESD agent in like 20 minutes. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration!

Really? That sounds too good to be true. The phone system is such a nightmare.

I was skeptical too but it actually worked. They handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent picks up.

That's not accurate. It's based on earnings, not hours. You could work 40 hours at minimum wage and still qualify for partial benefits depending on your benefit amount.

oh ok thanks for clarifying. i just remembered hearing something about hour limits somewhere

What do you mean by 'too much'? Is there a cutoff point where you lose benefits completely?

If you earn more than your weekly benefit amount plus $5, you won't get any unemployment for that week. But you can still file your weekly claim and benefits will resume if your earnings drop.

You have to report all income including tips, even if they're cash. Washington ESD considers your total gross earnings for the week, not just your base wage.

Wait, so they ADD $5 back? I thought they subtracted everything you earned.

No, they disregard the first $5 you earn. So if you make $5 or less, it doesn't affect your benefits at all. Anything over $5 gets deducted from your WBA.

No, it's not all or nothing. Washington has partial unemployment benefits specifically for situations like this. You just need to report everything accurately.

ok cool thats actually really helpful to know. i was turning down shifts because i thought id lose everything

Yes, you should still file your weekly claim even if you work full-time that week. It keeps your claim active and shows Washington ESD you're still looking for permanent work.

ok thanks that makes sense i guess. better safe than sorry

Yes, all earnings must be reported including gig work. Report your gross earnings for the week when you file your weekly claim.

Thanks, I wasn't sure if gig work counted differently since it's 1099 income.

Never heard of Claimyr before. Does it actually work? I've been trying to call ESD for weeks.

Yeah it worked for me. They basically call on your behalf and get you connected to an actual agent. Saved me hours of trying to get through myself.

How much does something like that cost? Seems too good to be true.

The rules are actually pretty clear - it's earnings-based. The confusion comes from people mixing up federal and state rules, or old information from other states.

Maybe I should try that Claimyr thing someone mentioned to get a consistent answer directly from ESD.

Let me calculate for you: 20 hours x $15 = $300 weekly earnings. Since your benefit is $350, and the threshold is 1.5 x $350 = $525, you're well under the limit. You'll get partial benefits.

Thank you so much! That helps a lot. I was afraid to take the job.

Definitely take the job. Part-time work while on unemployment is encouraged and you'll still have some benefit cushion.

This is super helpful! So with my $216 weekly earnings, I should still get most of my unemployment benefits?

Depends on your weekly benefit amount, but yes, you should still receive a significant portion. Just make sure to report those earnings on your weekly claim.

What's considered 'too many hours' for the able and available requirement?

There's no exact number, but if you're working close to full-time hours or your schedule prevents you from accepting full-time work, that could be an issue.

Oh yeah, I've been keeping track of my job applications. Thanks for the reminder!

Actually, I think the job search requirement varies based on your individual circumstances. Some people need more than 3 activities per week.

You can't collect unemployment from multiple states simultaneously. You need to file in one state only - typically where you worked most recently or earned the most wages during your base period.

Tell me about it! Their whole system is so confusing. I've made mistakes on my weekly claims just because the instructions aren't clear.

That Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier might be worth it just to get someone to explain the rules clearly. I'm so tired of guessing about this stuff.

Really? That's amazing. I might have to try that myself. The hold times with Washington ESD are absolutely ridiculous.

That's encouraging! Has Washington ESD ever questioned your part-time work arrangement?

No issues so far. I think as long as you're honest and report everything, they don't really care about the specifics of your part-time situation.

The basic earnings calculation is the same for everyone, but some industries have special considerations. Construction workers might have union-specific rules or shared work programs that affect their benefits.

Good point. I'm definitely still looking for full-time work. The part-time job is just to help pay bills while I search.

Exactly right. You have to maintain your job search activities and be able to accept full-time work if offered. The part-time work can't interfere with your availability.

Overtime is just regular wages for unemployment purposes. Report the total hours worked and total gross pay including overtime premiums.

Got it, thanks. Wasn't sure if the overtime rate affected the calculation somehow.

I looked for that calculator but couldn't find it either. Their website is so confusing.

I found it once but it was buried like 5 clicks deep. Easier to just do the math yourself - weekly benefit amount minus gross earnings.

That's reassuring to hear from someone who's been doing it successfully. Thanks!

You should contact Washington ESD immediately to correct it. Small honest mistakes can usually be fixed without penalties, but it's better to address it proactively than wait for them to discover the discrepancy.

That's because it's based on dollar amounts, not hours. If you worked 30 hours at minimum wage, you probably earned more than your weekly benefit amount.

ohhhh that makes sense now. I was making like $18/hour so 30 hours was way more than my weekly benefit.

You still need to meet the job search requirements unless you're on standby with your employer. Part-time work doesn't exempt you from looking for full-time employment.

Yeah, you still need to log your job search activities. The requirement is about actively seeking full-time work to get off unemployment completely.

Makes sense. I'll keep track of my job searches along with reporting my part-time hours.

You report GROSS earnings - before taxes and deductions. This is really important because Washington ESD needs to see your full earnings.

Oh no, I've been doing it wrong for weeks. Do I need to call and correct this?

Yes, you should contact Washington ESD to correct those weekly claims. Better to fix it now than deal with an overpayment later.

How would they find out about cash work though? Just curious about their monitoring systems.

Bank deposits, lifestyle changes, tips from employers or coworkers, random audits. It's not worth the risk of fraud charges.

This is exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. Instead of wasting weeks trying to get through, I got connected to an agent the same day and got my questions answered in 10 minutes.

Is that service legit? I'm always skeptical of third-party services for government stuff.

Yeah it's legit. They just help you get through the phone system - you still talk directly to Washington ESD agents. Check out their demo video if you're curious.

Great advice! I've been taking screenshots but I should probably start a spreadsheet too.

Yes! I learned this after having to reconstruct months of work history for an audit. Documentation is everything with Washington ESD.

They actually do have calculators on the Washington ESD website, but they're buried pretty deep in the site. Most people never find them.

Good point! I hadn't thought about that aspect. So if someone offers me full-time work, I have to take it even if the partial unemployment plus part-time work pays better?

Generally yes, if it's suitable work. Refusing suitable full-time employment can disqualify you from future benefits.

Where do I find the handbook? I've been looking on their website but there's so much information.

It's on the Washington ESD website under 'Claimant Handbook' or something like that. Has all the rules explained in detail.

Yeah I've been doing my job search activities. It's actually harder now because I have less time with the part-time job.

The job search requirement is typically 3 activities per week, but it can vary based on your situation. Check your WorkSourceWA account for your specific requirements.

If it's an honest mistake, you can usually correct it by calling ESD or filing a correction. They're more concerned about intentional fraud than genuine errors.

That's somewhat reassuring. I just want to do everything right.

I'm convinced. Going to try it tomorrow. Tired of the runaround on the regular phone line.

How much does it cost? Is it worth it for just one question?

Check their website for details. For me it was worth it just to get accurate information without the frustration.

Same experience here. I used Claimyr to actually get through to someone at Washington ESD. Worth checking out if you need to talk to an agent about your specific situation.

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

It's way cheaper than the stress and potential overpayment issues from guessing. They focus on getting you connected quickly rather than making it expensive.

That's encouraging to hear. How much did your benefit get reduced by?

Depends on how much you earn. There's a deduction formula but I don't remember the exact calculation. Just report accurately and let ESD do the math.

Good advice. I'll start keeping a spreadsheet with all my hours and wages.

Absolutely. Documentation is your best friend with any government benefit program.

Agreed. The partial benefit system really helps bridge the gap when you're transitioning back to full-time work.

Same here! I was avoiding picking up extra shifts because I thought it would mess up my unemployment, but now I know the exact limits.

That's a really important point that people often overlook. Your benefit amount is based on your earnings history, not your current needs.

Good point! I'm still doing 3 job search activities per week. Don't want to mess up my claim.

Actually, there's also that $5 buffer. So it's Weekly Benefit Amount + $5 - Gross Earnings = Partial Benefit.

You're right, I forgot about the $5 earnings disregard. Thanks for the correction!

That's exactly my situation with the part-time work being inconsistent. Thanks for sharing your experience!

Yes, all self-employment income including gig work must be reported. Keep track of your net earnings after expenses.

Thanks, I'll make sure to track everything carefully if I start driving.

That's a good way to think about it. I was worried they'd penalize me for working, but it sounds like it's actually supported.

Exactly. The system is designed to encourage work, not punish it.

I know it's frustrating but it actually makes sense once you understand it. They want to encourage people to work but not penalize them for taking part-time jobs while job searching.

I guess that makes sense... still wish it was simpler though!

That's exactly what I needed to know! I think my part-time job will keep me under that threshold. Might try Claimyr myself if I need to call ESD again.

Wait how does Claimyr work exactly? Do they just call for you or what?

They basically handle the calling process and get you connected to an actual ESD agent. Check out their demo video to see how it works.

Definitely planning to report everything accurately. Don't want any problems with ESD.

That's reassuring. I was worried I'd lose all my benefits if I took any work at all.

Nope, they actually encourage part-time work while job searching. It's called 'partial unemployment' and it's designed to help people transition back to full-time employment.

Good point. My part-time job is evenings and weekends, so I should be okay for availability during normal business hours.

That's perfect. As long as you can accept full-time work during normal hours, you should be fine with evening/weekend part-time work.

Oh wow, thanks for the warning! I would have definitely reported my net pay instead of gross. That could have been a big problem.

Yes, always report gross earnings before any deductions. ESD is very clear about this in their instructions.

My part-time job is regular W-2 employment, but that's good to know for future reference.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I feel much more confident about taking this part-time job now. I'll make sure to report everything properly and keep up with my job search requirements.

Good luck with the new job! Remember, you can always contact Washington ESD if you have specific questions about your situation.

And if you need to reach them by phone, Claimyr is always an option to avoid the long wait times. Really made a difference for me when I needed answers quickly.

I'm going to bookmark their site. The regular phone system is such a nightmare.

Yeah, check out their demo video first so you know what to expect. Pretty straightforward process.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information. I feel much more confident about taking this part-time job now.

You're welcome! Just remember to be accurate and honest with your reporting and you'll be fine.

You can work any number of hours, but if you work full-time for several weeks, Washington ESD might question if you're truly available for work. Just be prepared to explain your situation.

That makes sense. I'll keep track of my hours and earnings carefully.

That's encouraging to hear! I feel much better about taking this part-time job now.

The information is there but it's scattered across different pages. Really frustrating when you're trying to do the right thing.

Great advice! I'll start keeping a spreadsheet of my hours and earnings.

Smart move. Also save your pay stubs and any work schedules. Documentation is your friend with Washington ESD.

Glad we could help! Remember to report your earnings honestly and you'll be fine. Good luck with the new job!