How much money can you make a week before losing Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

That's actually not too bad! So I'd still get something even if I work more hours. Do I report gross or net earnings?

Always report gross earnings, before taxes and deductions. And make sure to report it on your weekly claim filing.

Good to know! At $18/hour I'd have to work over 45 hours to hit that limit, which won't happen with this part-time job.

yeah but dont forget if you work full time hours even at lower pay they might say your not unemployed anymore

Did you have any issues with them questioning your part-time work? I'm worried they'll think I'm not looking for full-time employment.

As long as you're still actively searching for full-time work and meeting the job search requirements, part-time work is actually encouraged. Just keep documenting your job search activities.

Wait, you have to pay to talk to Washington ESD? That seems wrong.

Not to talk to them, but to actually get through their phone system. The service handles all the waiting and transfers, then connects you directly to an agent. Saved me literally hours of calling.

Honestly might be worth it, I've been trying to reach them for 2 weeks about my adjudication issue.

What happens if I forget to report earnings one week? Can I go back and fix it?

You should contact Washington ESD immediately to report the error. They prefer you fix it yourself rather than discover it later during an audit.

I agree the website could be clearer, but the earnings calculation is actually explained in their handbook if you dig around for it.

who has time to read a whole handbook when your trying to figure out if you can pay rent this month

This is super helpful! So at $300 earnings: $542 - ($300 - $5) = $247 in benefits. Makes sense now.

Exactly right. And you still get credit for that week toward your total benefit year.

Good point. Should I mention it in the interview or wait until I'm hired?

I'd wait until you're hired. No need to complicate the interview process, but definitely be upfront once you start.

Yes, same calculation applies to gig work. Just make sure to report your gross earnings, not what you get after gas and expenses.

That seems unfair since gas is a real cost for delivery work.

Washington ESD doesn't care about your business expenses for UI purposes. They only look at gross income received.

Final paychecks with vacation time usually count toward the week they're received, not when the vacation was earned. Report it when you get the check.

Ugh, that could mess up my benefits for that week then. Thanks for the heads up.

How detailed do the records need to be? Just pay stubs or something more?

Pay stubs are perfect. I also kept a simple spreadsheet tracking hours worked and earnings reported each week, just in case.

The point is gaining work experience, keeping your skills sharp, and potentially turning part-time into full-time. Plus you do come out ahead financially.

i guess but not by much. and then you gotta pay taxes on both the work and the UI

How much does it cost? Might be worth it for my adjudication issue.

It's reasonable considering how much time it saves. Check their website for current pricing. The video demo shows exactly how it works.

What counts as 'suitable work'? Is it just based on pay or other factors too?

It's based on your previous work experience, education, and local job market. Generally needs to pay at least 75% of your previous wage after a certain period.

Good advice! I've been filing on Sundays, so I'll track Monday to Sunday earnings for each claim.

Perfect. Consistency is key with Washington ESD record keeping.

If your weekly benefit amount is $542 like the OP, then yes - $651 would put you over the 1.5x limit and you'd get $0 that week.

But I'd still be eligible the following week if I work less hours?

Exactly. It's calculated week by week, not cumulatively.

Report earnings for the week you performed the work, not when you received payment. So if you worked Monday-Friday, report it on the claim for that same week period.

That makes sense. Thanks for clarifying!

Good to know it worked for you! I might try it if I run into issues with my part-time job reporting.

How long did it take them to get you connected?

About 15 minutes total. Way faster than my previous attempts calling directly.

Thanks! I was worried they'd see it as trying to game the system somehow.

Not at all. The partial benefit system exists specifically to encourage people to take available work while searching for better opportunities.

Glad we could help! Feel free to ask if you have more questions as you navigate the process.

Good luck with the new job! Part-time work often leads to full-time opportunities.