How much can I work while on unemployment with Washington ESD?

Yes you absolutely need to report ALL work and earnings when you file your weekly claim. Washington ESD has specific rules about part-time work while on unemployment. Generally you can work part-time and still collect some benefits, but your weekly benefit amount will be reduced based on how much you earn.

be careful with this stuff... i worked like 10 hours one week and forgot to report it and they hit me with an overpayment notice months later. now i owe them back like $800

Here's the deal with working while on unemployment in Washington: You can work part-time and still receive partial benefits. Washington ESD uses what's called an 'earnings deduction' formula. For every dollar you earn over 1/4 of your weekly benefit amount, they reduce your benefits by that amount. So if your weekly benefit is $400, you can earn up to $100 without any reduction. After that, it's dollar-for-dollar.

I've been dealing with Washington ESD for months trying to get through to someone about my claim status. If you need to talk to an actual person about the work rules, good luck getting through on the phone. I've called probably 50+ times and either get busy signals or sit on hold for hours before getting disconnected. Recently found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to an agent in like 20 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Might be worth checking out if you need to verify the work rules with an actual Washington ESD rep.

Make sure you're still meeting the job search requirements too! Just because you have part-time work doesn't mean you can stop looking for full-time employment. You still need to do your 3 job search activities per week and log them in WorkSourceWA.

also dont forget you still have to be available for full time work. if the part time job makes you unavailable for other work opportunities they might question your eligibility

I've been working part-time while on unemployment for about 6 weeks now. The key is being completely honest on your weekly claims. I work about 25 hours a week at $14/hour and still get partial benefits. It actually works out better than just sitting at home collecting full benefits because I'm earning more total money.

THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO TRAP PEOPLE! They make the rules so confusing on purpose. I worked 12 hours one week and they reduced my benefits by like 80%. It's basically punishment for trying to work!

Just want to echo what others said about reporting everything. I know someone who got caught not reporting cash work and Washington ESD made them pay back benefits plus penalties. Not worth the risk.

One thing nobody mentioned - if you end up earning more than your weekly benefit amount, you won't get any unemployment that week but your claim stays active. So if you have a really good week at the part-time job, don't panic if your benefit is $0.

Quick question - does anyone know if delivery work through apps like DoorDash counts as employment for this? Or is that considered self-employment?

Been there! Working part-time while on UI was actually what got me back into the workforce full-time. The partial benefits helped bridge the gap until I found something permanent. Just stay honest with your reporting and you'll be fine.

wait so if i make like $50 in a week do i still report that? seems like such a small amount

I used Claimyr a few weeks ago when I needed to clarify some questions about working while on benefits. The agent I spoke with was really helpful in explaining the earnings deduction formula and confirmed I was reporting everything correctly. Worth the peace of mind if you have specific questions about your situation.

Don't forget about the 'able and available' requirement too. Working part-time is fine as long as you're still able and available for full-time work. If the part-time schedule conflicts with your availability for other jobs, that could be a problem.

Pro tip: keep detailed records of your hours and earnings separate from what you report to Washington ESD. If there's ever a discrepancy or audit, having your own documentation will save you a lot of headaches.

honestly the whole system is confusing but props to everyone here for explaining it clearly. i was scared to work at all while on unemployment but sounds like part time is totally doable

Just remember that working while on unemployment can actually help your job search in the long run. It keeps you active in the workforce, maintains your work schedule, and shows potential employers that you're motivated. Plus the extra income helps with bills.

One last thing - make sure you understand when your weekly claim period runs. If you work Monday-Sunday but your claim week is Sunday-Saturday, you need to make sure you're reporting earnings in the correct week. The dates matter for accurate reporting.