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

So if my weekly benefit is $400, I can earn up to $400 without any reduction?

Exactly. Anything over $400 in gross wages would reduce your benefit payment by the same amount.

That's a common misconception. Washington ESD doesn't have an hour limit. You just need to be available for full-time work and actively seeking employment.

Oh man, I've been missing out on income for no reason then!

Interesting, I've never heard of that service. Did it actually work?

Yeah, got me through to an agent in about 20 minutes instead of spending hours trying to call. Worth it when you need specific answers about your claim.

Good point. Do I still need to do 3 job search activities per week if I'm working part-time?

Yes, the job search requirements don't change just because you're working some hours.

That's reassuring. How much do your benefits get reduced?

depends on how much i make that week, some weeks its like $100 less, other weeks more

What happens if you forget to report some wages? I made $50 one week and totally forgot about it.

You should report it as soon as you remember. Call Washington ESD or report it on your next weekly claim. Small oversights like that usually aren't a big deal if you correct them quickly.

That sounds perfect for my situation. The part-time work I'm being offered has variable hours too.

Just make sure you're available to work more hours if they offer them to you. That's part of the 'able and available' requirement.

Actually, the earnings disregard is designed to encourage work. You get to keep your full benefit amount plus earnings up to your weekly benefit amount.

I guess that's better than nothing but it's still frustrating when you're trying to get back on your feet

Yes, all income needs to be reported regardless of whether it's W-2 or 1099 work. The earnings calculation is the same.

good to know, thanks

How much does that service cost? I'm struggling to get answers too.

I don't remember the exact amount but it was worth it to get real answers instead of guessing. Check out their demo video to see how it works.

This is exactly the kind of clear answer I was looking for. Thank you!

Agree with all of this. I worked 30+ hours some weeks and still got partial benefits.

If he worked 45 hours in one week, he probably wasn't 'available' for other full-time work that week, which could affect eligibility. It's not just about the hours - it's about availability.

oh that makes sense, he was working crazy overtime that week

That's similar to what I'm considering. Good to know it works with gig work too.

Just keep track of your earnings carefully. Gig work can be harder to calculate sometimes.

Training programs approved by Washington ESD usually don't count as work hours and may actually waive your job search requirements. Check with them about your specific program.

thanks, I'll look into that

Perfect summary. I feel much more confident about taking this part-time job now.

Exactly right. I wish more people understood this instead of turning down work opportunities.

Seems like that service really helps people get clear answers. I might try it if I have more questions.

Yeah, definitely beats spending hours on hold or getting conflicting information online.