How much can you make while on unemployment in Washington ESD without losing benefits?

Wait so if I make $515 I still get my full $520? That seems too good to be true.

Yes, that's correct. It's to encourage people to take part-time work while job searching. Just make sure you report ALL earnings when you file your weekly claim.

Oh no! How did they find out?

They cross-reference with employment records and tax filings. Even cash jobs can show up eventually if the employer reports it.

I actually found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. They handle the calling for you and get you connected. Check out claimyr.com - there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

Really? That sounds almost too good to be true. Does it actually work?

Yeah it worked for me. I was able to get my adjudication issue resolved after being stuck for a month. Way better than calling hundreds of times myself.

That's terrible advice. Washington ESD has ways of finding unreported income and the penalties are severe. Not worth the risk.

Seriously don't do this. My friend got caught and had to pay back everything plus penalties. Just report your earnings properly.

What was your weekly benefit amount? Trying to figure out if it's worth taking this job.

My WBA was $480, so I could earn up to $475 without any reduction. Since I was only making $300, I lost nothing.

That's actually really helpful, thanks!

Good point! I definitely would have reported net earnings if you hadn't mentioned this.

There actually is a calculator if you log into your account, but it's buried pretty deep in the menus. Look under 'Benefit Information' then 'Earnings Calculator'.

I had no idea that existed! Thanks, going to check it out now.

How many jobs are you supposed to apply to each week?

Three job search activities per week. Can be applications, interviews, networking events, etc. Keep detailed records of everything.

With those numbers, you'd lose your entire unemployment benefit since you'd be earning more than your WBA. But $600 is still more than $420, so financially it makes sense.

True, but what happens when the temp job ends? Do I have to reapply for unemployment?

No, you can usually reopen your existing claim as long as it's within the benefit year. Just file a new claim when the temp job ends.

Yes, all self-employment income counts and needs to be reported. Keep track of your gross earnings from all gig work.

What about expenses like gas and car maintenance? Can I deduct those?

For unemployment purposes, you report gross earnings. Tax deductions are separate and handled on your tax return.

That's exactly why I used Claimyr. They handle all the calling and waiting for you. I was able to get my questions answered without spending my whole day on hold.

Is Claimyr expensive? I'm already struggling financially and can't afford to pay a lot for help.

It's worth checking out their website. The time saved alone made it worth it for me, especially when I was trying to resolve an urgent issue with my claim.

That's reassuring to hear! Did you have to provide any documentation or proof of your part-time work?

Not initially, but I kept all my pay stubs just in case. Good thing too because they did ask for them during a random audit about 6 months later.

If you catch the mistake quickly, you can usually call to correct it. If they catch it later, you might have to pay back any overpayment, but they're usually understanding about honest mistakes.

Good to know. I'd rather be safe than sorry with something this important.

Working part-time can actually extend your benefit period since you're not using your full weekly benefit amount. Each partial week counts as less than a full week of benefits used.

That's actually really good news! So I could potentially stretch my benefits longer by working part-time?

Exactly. It's one of the benefits of the part-time work provisions - encourages people to take any work available.

The basic rule is: Weekly Benefit Amount minus $5 = maximum you can earn without reduction. Over that amount, benefits are reduced dollar for dollar.

So if my WBA is $300, I can earn up to $295 without losing anything?

Correct! And if you earn $300, you'd get $295 in unemployment benefits instead of the full $300.

Thanks for all the advice everyone! I feel much more confident about taking this part-time job now.

Good luck! Just remember to report everything accurately and you should be fine.

That's a good point. I almost forgot about that requirement. Thanks for the reminder!