How many hours can you work while collecting unemployment benefits in Washington?

That's really helpful! My weekly benefit amount is $385, so I think I should be okay with part-time work. Do I report the hours on the same weekly claim I file every Sunday?

Yes, exactly! When you file your weekly claim, there's a section asking about work and earnings. Be very accurate with both hours and gross pay - Washington ESD cross-references with employer wage reports.

You need to report the gross earnings before any deductions like gas or expenses. If you made a mistake, you should call Washington ESD to correct it before it becomes an overpayment issue.

oh crap... how do i even get through to them? ive been trying to call for days

I actually found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

Wait, so you could theoretically work full-time and still get some unemployment? That doesn't seem right...

If you're working full-time hours but earning very little (like unpaid internship plus small stipend), technically yes, though you'd still need to be available for other work and actively job searching.

You also have to be able and available for full-time work. If you're working a regular 40-hour schedule, even at low pay, you probably wouldn't meet the availability requirement.

How do you prove you're still looking for full-time work? Do you have to apply to a certain number of jobs each week?

Yes, you still need to meet the job search requirements - 3 job search activities per week unless you're in certain programs. I keep a log of applications, networking events, and job fairs I attend.

What kind of investigation? That sounds scary...

They wanted documentation for every hour I worked, bank statements, proof of job search activities. Took 3 weeks to resolve and I almost lost my benefits entirely!

That sounds like standard adjudication if there were discrepancies in your reporting. It's actually good that they investigate to prevent fraud, but I agree the process can be stressful.

Report it for the week you actually performed the work, not when you got paid. So if you worked Monday-Wednesday, report it on that week's claim even if the paycheck comes later.

Thanks! That makes sense. I was overthinking it.

You should report the actual hours worked and gross earnings for that specific week when you file your claim. If your consulting payment structure makes this difficult, you might want to speak with Washington ESD about how to handle irregular income.

Good point. I've been trying to get through to them but the phone lines are always busy. Might try that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier.

Same here! I thought any work would disqualify me completely. Wish they explained this better in the initial orientation.

Right? The online handbook mentions it but it's not super clear. I only figured it out after talking to someone at WorkSource.

Oh that's a great point! I was planning to just report what hits my bank account. So if I bill $500 but only get $450 after fees, I should report the full $500?

Exactly! Report the $500. The platform fees are considered a business expense on your end, but Washington ESD wants to know your gross earnings from the work performed.

What do you mean by 'too much'? Is there a specific threshold where they get suspicious?

not sure of exact amount but she was making like 80% of her previous full time salary with part time gigs and they said she wasnt actively seeking full time work

Smart approach! Would you be willing to share that spreadsheet template?

Sure! It's just basic columns: Date, Hours Worked, Gross Pay, Weekly Benefit Amount, Calculated UI Payment. Nothing fancy but it helps me stay organized.

This is confusing - I thought the pandemic programs for gig workers ended?

They did end. Now gig workers have to qualify for regular UI, which means you need traditional W-2 employment history in your base period.

Correct - PUA ended in 2021. Current gig workers need qualifying wages from traditional employment to be eligible for regular unemployment insurance.

I had the same problem! Spent forever trying to get through. Someone on here mentioned Claimyr though - used it yesterday and actually got connected to an agent in like 10 minutes. Game changer!

Really? I'll have to check that out. Is it expensive?

Check out claimyr.com - they have all the info there. Way cheaper than taking time off work to sit on hold all day.

Yes! I made this mistake early on. Worked a lot one week, figured I wouldn't get any UI payment, so I didn't file. Created a whole mess that took weeks to sort out.

Good to know! So I should file every week regardless of how much I work, and let Washington ESD calculate whether I get any benefits for that week?

Exactly! Always file your weekly claim by the deadline. Better to file and get $0 than to skip filing and mess up your claim entirely.