How many hours to claim unemployment - Washington ESD work hour limits?

In Washington, you can work part-time and still collect unemployment benefits as long as you earn less than your weekly benefit amount plus $5. It's not really about hours specifically - it's about your earnings. You need to report all work and earnings on your weekly claim.

You also have to be available for full-time work. If you're working too many hours, even if you're under the earnings limit, Washington ESD might question if you're truly available for work.

I had issues with this exact thing last year. I was working 25 hours a week and Washington ESD said I wasn't available for work. Had to go through adjudication and everything. If you're having trouble getting through to ask questions, I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual person at Washington ESD. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

The general rule is you can work part-time but you have to report EVERYTHING. Even if you work one hour, report it. Washington ESD will reduce your benefits dollar for dollar after the first $5 you earn.

I think there's also something about not being able to work more than 32 hours in a week? Or maybe that's just for standby status. These rules are so confusing.

Just be careful about working too many hours even if you're under the earnings limit. I know someone who got disqualified because Washington ESD said they weren't genuinely looking for full-time work.

The job search requirement is huge too. Make sure you're applying to at least 3 jobs per week and keeping track in WorkSourceWA. That's just as important as the hour limits.

ugh the washington esd system is such a pain. i've been trying to get clarification on this for months and can never get through on the phone.

Pro tip: always err on the side of reporting more rather than less. Washington ESD gets really mad if they think you're hiding work, but they're usually understanding if you report everything honestly.

I worked 15 hours last week and still got my full benefit amount minus what I earned. As long as you're under your weekly benefit amount in earnings, you should be fine.

The key thing is being "able and available" for work. If your part-time job interferes with your ability to accept full-time work, that's when you might have problems.

I had to explain my work situation during a phone interview with Washington ESD. They asked detailed questions about my schedule and availability. Be prepared to explain how your part-time work doesn't prevent you from accepting full-time employment.

Don't forget about the waiting week too. If you're just starting your claim, you won't get paid for the first week regardless of hours worked.

The earnings limit changes based on your weekly benefit amount, so what works for one person might not work for another. Make sure you know your specific benefit amount.

I've been working part-time for months while on unemployment and haven't had any issues. Just be honest on your weekly claims and keep looking for full-time work.

If you ever need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about your specific situation, I had good luck with Claimyr too. Much easier than trying to call directly.

The bottom line is that Washington ESD wants you to work if you can find work. Part-time work while collecting benefits is totally normal and expected.