How much money can you make and still collect Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

Thanks! My weekly benefit is $280 so I should be fine with $200 per week then.

Just make sure you report everything accurately on your weekly claims or you could face an overpayment later.

That makes sense, thanks! So as long as I don't go over $482 I'll still get some benefits?

Exactly! Just make sure to report all your earnings when you file your weekly claim. Don't try to hide anything or you'll get an overpayment notice later.

That's a relief! Do you know what the earnings disregard amount is? I want to make sure I'm calculating this right.

I think it's like $5 but don't quote me on that. The important thing is you have to report ALL your earnings when you file your weekly claim.

Wait so if I make $200 that week, I'd get $487 minus the amount over $121.75? So $487 - $78.25 = $408.75?

Exactly! You've got it right. Just make sure to report all your gross earnings when you file your weekly claim.

Are you reporting your gross earnings or net? You have to report gross earnings before taxes and deductions. That might be why it seems like they're taking more.

ohhhh that's probably it. I was reporting what I actually got paid after taxes

Thanks! Do you know what the exact formula is? I want to make sure I'm calculating this right.

Washington ESD subtracts your gross earnings from your weekly benefit amount, but there's usually a small earnings disregard. Check your benefit determination letter for the exact numbers.

This is so important! I tried to calculate it myself once and got it wrong. Now I just report everything and let ESD figure it out.

What happens if you get an overpayment notice? Can you appeal it?

Yes you can appeal overpayments within 30 days if you think it's wrong. But it's better to be accurate from the start.

How do they catch unreported income? Do they cross-check with employers?

yeah they get quarterly wage reports from all employers. better to report everything upfront than deal with an overpayment later

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that calls Washington ESD for you and gets you connected to an agent. I was able to talk to someone within a few hours instead of trying for weeks. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Perfect! So I'd actually make more money total than just unemployment alone. That makes the part-time work worth it.

Just make sure you report those earnings correctly on your weekly claim. Washington ESD will cross-check with employers.

This is the clearest explanation I've seen. So basically the $5 is like a work incentive?

Exactly. Washington ESD wants to encourage people to take any work available, even if it's just a few hours.

Wait, is that right? I thought any earnings would reduce your benefits.

There is a small earnings disregard in Washington, but it's not huge. The exact amount depends on your weekly benefit calculation.

This is so important! My friend got hit with a huge overpayment because she forgot to report some cash work she did.

Good point, I'll definitely report everything. Better safe than sorry.

Interesting, I've never heard of that. How does it work exactly?

Basically they handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent picks up. Saved me so much time and frustration.

Sounds too good to be true tbh. How much does something like that cost?

How much does that service cost? Seems like it might be worth it if you really need to talk to someone.

I'd rather pay something to get through than spend hours calling and getting hung up on. The peace of mind was worth it for me.

Never heard of this but I'm so frustrated trying to reach ESD I might try it.

Never heard of that service before. Does it actually work for getting through to Washington ESD?

Yeah it worked great for me. They handle all the calling and waiting, then connect you when an agent is available.

Sounds too good to be true but I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point. Been trying to reach them for weeks.

No, if your earnings exceed your weekly benefit amount plus $5, you get $0 in unemployment for that week. You don't owe them money.

Oh okay that makes more sense lol. I was confused for a minute there.

Oh no! What kind of mistake did you make? I'm scared I'll mess something up.

I reported the wrong week for when I worked. I worked Sunday but reported it for the wrong weekly claim period. Make sure you know which week your work belongs to!

Yes this is super important. The weekly claim period runs Sunday through Saturday, and you report earnings for the week you actually worked, not when you got paid.

How much does that service cost? I've been trying to call for weeks.

It was worth it for me since I was getting nowhere with the regular phone system. Much better than spending hours on hold.

How much did you have to pay back? Was it just the $150 or more?

Had to pay back the full weekly benefit amount plus penalties. Learned my lesson the hard way!

How do you track all that? Do they want receipts or anything?

I just keep track in a notebook. They've never asked for proof but I keep my records just in case.

I know right? Other states handle this better. Washington ESD makes everything so complicated.

The point of unemployment is to replace lost wages while you look for full-time work. If you could work unlimited hours and still get full benefits, that wouldn't make sense.

I guess but when you're barely making ends meet every dollar counts

Wait, really? I thought you just reported it when you file your weekly claim after the work week ends.

Actually you report it when you file your weekly claim for the week you worked. You don't need to report it in advance. Just be accurate about the dates and amounts.

You report gross earnings before taxes. Washington ESD wants to know your total wages before any deductions.

And make sure you're available for full-time work even with the gig stuff. That's part of the job search requirements.

Good point about the availability requirement. I always mark that I'm available for full-time work on my weekly claims.

What if you get paid every two weeks? Do you split the earnings between the weeks you worked?

Yes, exactly. You report earnings for the week you actually worked, regardless of when the paycheck comes.

There's no specific hour limit in Washington. It's based on your earnings. You could work 40 hours at minimum wage and still get partial benefits if your earnings are low enough.

oh ok good to know

Is this the same rule for standby benefits or just regular UI?

Same rules apply to standby as far as I know, but standby has other requirements about being attached to your employer.

That's a really specific situation. You might need to call Washington ESD directly to ask about interstate benefits.

I had a friend who used that Claimyr service to get through to ESD for a similar interstate question. Apparently the agents can look up your whole situation and give you the right answer.

That's the welfare cliff problem. The system penalizes you for working more sometimes.

But isn't the goal to get back to full time work? Seems like gaming the system

When you've got bills to pay you do what makes financial sense. I'm not gaming anything, just being smart about it.

I get the frustration but it's designed to encourage people to find full-time work rather than stay on benefits long-term.

Plus any work experience is better than none, even if it's part-time. And you're still getting some money from both sources.

True, I guess the work experience does matter for future job applications.

Yes, self-employment income counts the same way. You report your net earnings after business expenses.

Just make sure you can prove your business expenses if they ask. Keep all receipts.

If your earnings exceed your weekly benefit amount plus the earnings disregard, you typically get $0 for that week. But you can still file your claim to keep your claim active.

Ok that makes sense. At least the claim stays active.

You got it! And remember this is gross income before taxes, not take-home pay.

Perfect, that helps a lot. The job offer is looking more appealing now that I know the math.

Which service did you use? There are a few different ones out there

Claimyr - they handle all the calling and waiting for you. Worth every penny to not waste time on hold.

Agreed! Everything is written in legal jargon that's hard to understand.

They do have a calculator tool somewhere on the site but it's buried pretty deep.

I'll check their website. Thanks for the tip!

How many job searches do you need to do if you're working part-time?

I think it's still 3 job search activities per week in Washington, but double-check your requirements.

This is good advice. I accidentally reported wrong one week and called them immediately. They fixed it no problem.

How did you get through to call them? I can never reach anyone

I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Saved me so much frustration trying to get through myself.

How many job search activities do you need to do each week?

It depends on your situation but usually 3 per week. Check your requirements in your eServices account.

I've been doing my job searches but wasn't sure if I still needed to while working part-time. Good to know I should keep doing them.

Good point! I almost forgot about that requirement. Thanks for the reminder.

Yeah they'll audit your job search log randomly and if you don't have the required contacts you can get disqualified.

Good point! I've been doing 3 job search activities per week. Does that continue even with part-time work?

Yes, unless your part-time work meets certain criteria or you qualify for an exemption.

Wait I thought if you worked any hours that week you didn't have to do job searches? I've been skipping them...

No, that's not right. You still need to search unless you qualify for a specific exemption. Better check your requirements!

How much do you get in partial benefits with $300 earnings?

my weekly benefit is $520 so I get about $245 partial payment each week

I totally get that anxiety. Just be honest and report everything accurately. If you make a mistake, contact Washington ESD right away to fix it.

Yeah I guess that's all you can do. The system is just so complicated.

Good point! I'm still looking for full-time work so I'll keep doing my job searches.

Yeah, keep logging those contacts in your job search log. Washington ESD can audit that anytime.

That's exactly why I used Claimyr! I was so tired of wasting entire days trying to get through. Best decision I made during my unemployment.

I might have to look into that. This is getting ridiculous.

Ouch! How did they find out about the cash work?

The employer reported it to the state even though they paid me cash. I didn't know they had to do that.

This is exactly why I report everything, even small amounts. Not worth the risk of an overpayment.

Good luck with the new job! Just remember to report everything accurately and you'll be fine.

Thanks! I feel way more confident about this now. This community is amazing.

Good luck getting through! That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr - couldn't deal with the busy signals anymore.

Same here, been trying to call for weeks with no luck. Might have to try that service you mentioned.

That's smart! Do you track gross or net earnings?

Always gross - that's what Washington ESD cares about for the calculations.

Agreed! Their website is confusing for everything. Half the time I can't even log into my account.

Yeah the whole system needs an overhaul. At least the agents are helpful when you can actually reach them.

Should I tell them during the interview or wait until I'm hired?

I'd mention it once you're hired so they understand why accurate wage reporting matters.

Good to know! I was worried one bad week would end everything.

Yeah it's just that one week. The system is more flexible than people think.

How is vacation pay different? Does it count as earnings for that week?

It can be allocated differently depending on how your employer reports it. Better to ask Washington ESD directly about unusual pay situations.

That's exactly the kind of question I had to use Claimyr for. Too complicated to figure out from the website alone.

Thanks for the encouragement! I think I'm going to take the job offer.

Good for you! Having something is better than waiting around for the perfect full-time position.

Already have direct deposit set up. Usually get payments within 2 days of filing my weekly claim.

Lucky! Mine sometimes takes 3-4 days but still better than waiting for a check in the mail.

Glad it helped! The community here really knows their stuff.

Yeah this forum is way more helpful than trying to decode Washington ESD's official documentation.

How long did it take with Claimyr? I'm considering trying it.

They called me back within about an hour and had me connected to an agent within another 30 minutes. Way better than the hours I wasted on hold before.

Good luck with your job search! Hope you find something soon.

Same here - this thread cleared up a lot of confusion I had about working while on unemployment.

Yes, as long as you report the full-time work that week you won't get benefits, but you can continue filing weekly claims. If you're laid off again you should be able to resume getting benefits.

Just make sure you don't have a gap in filing your weekly claims or you might have issues restarting your benefits.

That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier. I was in the same boat spending forever trying to get through. It's frustrating when you just need a quick answer about your benefits.

I've heard good things about that service from other people on here. Might be worth trying if you're really stuck.

I'll look into it. Anything beats sitting on hold for hours just to get disconnected.

What does 'available for work' actually mean? Like if I'm working 2 days a week can I still say I'm available?

You have to be available for full-time work during normal business hours. So if your part-time job doesn't interfere with that, you should be fine.

Yeah $5 doesn't go very far these days. But at least it's something I guess.

Better than nothing! Some states don't have any disregard at all.

Good point! It's gross pay before any taxes or deductions. That tripped me up at first too.

The weekly claim form is pretty clear about this but I can see how people might get confused.

How is it different? I do some freelance work and I've been reporting it the same way.

With 1099 work you might need to report it differently since you're technically self-employed. I'd check with Washington ESD to be sure.

This is another situation where talking to an actual ESD agent would be helpful. These edge cases are confusing.

Glad it helped! I learned a lot too from everyone's responses.

This is why I love this community. So much good information shared by people who've been through it.

Yes, tips definitely count as earnings and must be reported on your weekly claim.

Even cash tips? How are they supposed to verify that?

You still have to report them honestly. Washington ESD can cross-reference with your employer's records.

Was it worth paying for? I'm desperate to talk to someone at this point.

For me it was, especially since I needed answers fast. Way better than the endless busy signals.

I think it's actually meant to encourage work by letting you keep some benefits while earning. But yeah, the rules are confusing.

Maybe, but it's so complicated that people are afraid to work at all.

Yes, when you file your weekly claim (usually on Sunday), you're reporting earnings for the week that just ended (Monday through Saturday).

If you start working full-time, you should stop filing claims. You can always reopen your claim later if the job doesn't work out.

Good to know, thanks!

Seriously! Washington ESD should make this way clearer on their website.

You got this! Just take it one week at a time and report honestly.

Right, gross earnings. I'll make sure to use the right number.

That's a good way to think about it. Honesty first, math second.

I'm going to look into this. The phone system is impossible.

Same here, thanks for mentioning it again.

Perfect summary. That's exactly what I'm going to do.

Yep, documentation is key with Washington ESD.

That's a good warning. I'll make sure to calculate it out each week before accepting extra shifts.

The key is total weekly earnings, not hours. If your earnings exceed your weekly benefit amount, you get zero UI that week.

Yes, all income including tips must be reported. Washington ESD considers tips as wages for UI purposes.

Ugh, that makes it so much harder to estimate. Tips vary so much day to day.

RIGHT? Like just give us a simple chart or something.

The calculation actually isn't that hard once you understand it. It's just poorly explained on their website.

Thanks for the tip! I would have definitely reported net earnings.

Another reason why having a way to actually reach Washington ESD agents is so valuable. Mistakes happen and you need to be able to fix them quickly.

You report earnings for the week you performed the work, not when you get paid. So if you work Monday-Friday, you report those earnings on the weekly claim for that week.

got it thanks

Same here! I was worried about the same thing. Glad we both learned something.

That's exactly what the partial benefit system is designed for - to encourage people to take available work even if it's not full-time.

As long as you're still doing your job searches and available for full-time work, you should be fine. Just document everything properly.

Ok good to know. I don't want to raise any red flags.

No, working part-time doesn't affect your able and available status as long as you're still genuinely seeking full-time work and available to accept it.

Perfect, that's what I was hoping to hear.

Live and learn! At least now you know for next time.

This is why it's so important for Washington ESD to make this information more accessible. People are making decisions based on incomplete information.

Good luck with the new job! Remember to keep looking for full-time work too.

And if you ever need to reach Washington ESD for any reason, definitely check out Claimyr. It's been a lifesaver for me and others dealing with the phone system.

Will do! This thread has been incredibly helpful. Thanks everyone!