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

It's not about hours worked, it's about how much you earn. Washington ESD has a formula where they reduce your weekly benefit amount based on your earnings. You can earn up to a certain amount before they start deducting from your unemployment check. The exact amount depends on your weekly benefit amount.

I've been working part-time while on unemployment for 3 months now. You have to report ALL earnings when you file your weekly claim, even if it's just $10. The system automatically calculates if your benefits get reduced. Don't try to hide any income - they'll find out eventually.

I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask about this same question. Spent hours calling and kept getting disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. The agent was able to explain the exact earnings formula for my situation.

The key thing is you must be able and available for full-time work. If you take a part-time job, you still need to be actively seeking full-time employment and available to accept it. Working 15 hours at $18/hour would be $270 gross per week, which would definitely reduce your unemployment benefits significantly.

just take the job and report it honestly. better to have some income than none. i worked 20 hrs/week and still got partial unemployment for months

Make sure you understand the difference between working part-time and being on standby. If you're on standby with an employer, different rules apply. But for regular UI with part-time work, you report earnings on your weekly claim and they calculate the reduction automatically.

I'm so confused by all this!! I got a job offer for 12 hours a week but I'm terrified of messing up my claim. The Washington ESD website is so confusing and I can never get through on the phone. What if I report it wrong and get disqualified?

Pro tip: keep detailed records of all your work hours and earnings. Take photos of your paystubs. If there's ever a question about what you reported, you'll have documentation. I learned this the hard way when they audited my claim last year.

The Washington ESD system is so frustrating! I've been trying to get clarification on this for my situation and can't reach anyone. Every time I call I get 'high call volume' and then disconnected.

Just to be clear on the math: Washington ESD allows you to earn 25% of your weekly benefit amount without any reduction. Beyond that, they reduce your benefit by $1 for every $1 you earn over that threshold. So plan accordingly when considering part-time work.

Remember that you still need to meet all other eligibility requirements while working part-time. You must remain able and available for full-time work, continue your job search activities, and be ready to accept suitable full-time employment if offered.

I worked 25 hours one week and reported it honestly. My benefits got reduced but I didn't get disqualified. The key is being truthful on your weekly claim. Don't try to hide income or fudge the numbers.

This whole system is so stressful! I just want to work and not worry about messing up my unemployment. Why can't they make it simpler?

Can someone explain what happens if you work full-time hours one week? Do you lose benefits permanently or just for that week?

I had a weird situation where I worked different hours each week - sometimes 10 hours, sometimes 25. The Washington ESD system handled it fine as long as I reported accurately each week. Your benefits just adjust based on what you earned that specific week.

Don't forget about the job search log in WorkSourceWA. Even if you're working part-time, you still need to document your job search activities. I almost got in trouble for not keeping up with that.

Final advice: take the job if you want it. Working part-time while on unemployment is completely legal and expected. Just report everything honestly, keep good records, and don't stress about the system. It's designed to handle this situation.

If you ever need to talk to Washington ESD directly about your specific situation, I really recommend checking out Claimyr. Saved me so much frustration trying to get through on my own.

Just remember that earning something is better than earning nothing. Even if your unemployment gets reduced, you're still bringing in more total income than just sitting on benefits alone. Plus you're gaining work experience.

Make sure your part-time employer knows you're on unemployment. Some employers are understanding and might be flexible with scheduling while you continue job searching for full-time work.