How much can you work and still get unemployment benefits in Washington?

Thanks! Do you know if there's a maximum amount I can earn before I lose benefits completely?

I thought there was like a 1.5 times rule or something? Like if you make more than 1.5 times your weekly benefit you don't get anything that week?

That's really helpful! So the $5 disregard means I basically get to keep the first $5 I earn without it affecting my benefits at all?

Exactly right. The $5 disregard is designed to encourage people to take some part-time work while they're looking for full-time employment.

OMG yes the phone situation is terrible! I spent literally hours trying to get through last week.

I actually found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to ESD agents. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Basically they handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when they get an agent on the line.

Interesting, have you actually used it? I'm at the point where I'd try anything to get some real answers about my specific situation.

Good point. I've been reporting everything, even small amounts. Better safe than sorry with these things.

Yeah my cousin got hit with a huge overpayment bill because she didn't report some babysitting income. Not worth the risk.

Oh wow, I hadn't thought about that. I've been doing some DoorDash on weekends. Does that disqualify me from benefits?

Not necessarily, but you need to make sure you're still actively seeking full-time employment and available to start a full-time job if offered. The gig work should be supplemental, not your primary focus.

Right, and you still have to do your job search activities and log them in WorkSourceWA like everyone else.

I know right? And every state has different rules too which makes it even more confusing when you're looking stuff up online.

The Washington ESD website actually does have a calculator tool somewhere, but good luck finding it. Their website navigation is terrible.

How did you handle weeks where your hours varied a lot? Some weeks I might work 10 hours, others maybe 25.

Just report exactly what you earned that specific week. The system adjusts your benefit automatically based on what you input. Some weeks you'll get more UI, some weeks less.

What's standby status? Is that different from regular unemployment?

Standby is when your employer gives you a specific return-to-work date within 10 weeks. You don't have to do job search activities but you still have to file weekly claims.

That's awesome! I'm definitely going to check that out. Did they charge you a lot for the service?

It was reasonable considering how much time and frustration it saved me. Plus I got actual answers instead of just getting disconnected.

Good catch! I was wondering about that. So if I made $300 but only took home $250 after taxes, I report the $300?

Correct - always report the gross amount. ESD will do their own calculations from there.

Seasonal work follows the same rules - report your earnings and your benefits will be adjusted accordingly. When the seasonal work ends, your unemployment benefits should resume at the full amount.

I did holiday retail work last year while on unemployment. Worked out fine, just had to stay on top of reporting everything correctly.

That's a good point but you also have to consider the long-term career implications and keeping your skills current.

True, plus there are probably requirements about accepting suitable work offers when you're on unemployment.

That makes sense. So it's really about managing your weekly earnings to maximize your total income.

Exactly! Some weeks you might want to turn down extra shifts if it would put you over the threshold.

Good to hear another success story. I'm getting tired of the endless busy signals when I try to call ESD directly.

Same here. The fact that we even need a service like this shows how broken the ESD phone system is, but at least there's a solution that works.

That's really smart. I should start doing that too. Do you track anything else besides the basics?

I also note the employer name and type of work, just in case. The more documentation you have, the better if there are ever any issues with your claim.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I feel much more confident about handling my part-time work while collecting benefits now.

This has been really informative. Glad you asked the question OP, I was wondering about the same thing.