How many hours can you work while on unemployment Washington ESD benefits?

It's not really about the hours - it's about your earnings. You can work and still get partial benefits as long as you don't earn more than 1.5 times your weekly benefit amount. So with $487, you could earn up to about $730 per week and still get some benefits. But you have to report ALL work and earnings when you file your weekly claim.

The key thing is being honest about your work when you file weekly claims. You have to report ANY work, even if it's just a few hours. Washington ESD will find out eventually through employer reports and you'll face overpayment issues if you don't report correctly. I learned this the hard way.

I've been dealing with this exact situation and honestly calling Washington ESD about work reporting questions is impossible. I tried for weeks to get clarification on my specific case. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to a real person at Washington ESD. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. The agent explained my work reporting requirements perfectly.

Just remember you also have to be actively seeking full-time work even if you're doing part-time hours. The job search requirements don't change just because you're working some. You still need to apply for jobs and keep your WorkSourceWA profile updated.

ugh the whole system is so confusing! I worked 15 hours last week and earned $180 but I have no idea if I calculated my benefits right when I filed my weekly claim. Washington ESD makes everything so complicated.

I work seasonal construction and this comes up every winter for me. The trick is understanding that Washington ESD looks at your gross earnings before taxes. Don't report your take-home pay - report what you actually earned before deductions.

Does anyone know if freelance work counts the same way? I've been doing some graphic design gigs while on unemployment and I'm not sure how to report that income.

The Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator but it's buried in their site somewhere. Might be worth finding if you want to see exactly how your benefits would be affected by different earning amounts.

Just want to add that if you work too many hours or earn too much, you might lose your benefits entirely for that week. But you can still file the next week if your situation changes. It's not like you're permanently cut off.

I've been on standby status through my union and the work rules are a bit different. If you're in a union situation, definitely check with your local about how temporary work affects your unemployment claim.

Whatever you do, don't just guess about your earnings when filing weekly claims. I made that mistake and ended up with an overpayment notice for $1,200 that I'm still trying to appeal. Washington ESD doesn't mess around with incorrect reporting.

Pro tip: keep detailed records of all your work hours and pay. Screenshots of your timesheets, copies of pay stubs, everything. If Washington ESD ever questions your reporting, you'll have documentation to back up what you filed.

Has anyone used that Claimyr thing mentioned earlier? I'm getting desperate trying to reach Washington ESD about my claim issues and regular calling isn't working.

One thing I learned is that temporary work through staffing agencies can be tricky to report correctly. Make sure you understand whether you're an employee or contractor because it affects how you report the income.

Bottom line: you can work while on unemployment but you have to report everything honestly and understand how it affects your benefits. The 1.5x your weekly benefit amount rule is key to remember.