How to work on unemployment while receiving Washington ESD benefits?

So if my weekly benefit is $350, I can earn up to $350 without any reduction?

Not exactly. Washington ESD uses a formula - they reduce your benefit by 75% of what you earn over $5. So if you earn $100, they subtract $71.25 from your weekly benefit.

What kind of mistake did you make? I'm worried about doing something wrong.

I forgot to report some cash work I did one week. They found out during an audit and said I owed back benefits plus penalties.

How much does that cost? I'm already broke, that's why I need to work part-time lol

I think it's pretty reasonable considering how impossible it is to get through otherwise. Definitely worth it if you need quick answers about your claim.

Correct. You still need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep your WorkSourceWA profile updated, even if you're working part-time.

Wait, I thought if you were working part-time you didn't have to do job searches? This is confusing.

No, the job search requirement continues as long as you're receiving any UI benefits, even partial benefits.

That's good to know about reporting gross earnings. Do you report the hours worked too or just the dollar amount?

Both. You report hours worked and gross earnings. The weekly claim form asks for both pieces of information.

I definitely won't try to hide anything. Just want to make sure I report everything correctly.

Smart approach. Better to be overly cautious with reporting than deal with overpayment issues later.

Yes, all self-employment income including gig work must be reported. You'll need to track your earnings carefully since you won't get a regular paycheck.

Thanks! Do I report it based on when I earned it or when I get paid by the app?

Report it for the week you actually performed the work, regardless of when you get paid.

That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier. Their service gets you connected to an actual person instead of dealing with the busy signals and disconnects.

I might have to try that. I can't afford to make a mistake with my claim because I don't understand the rules.

What happens if I don't qualify for benefits one week but then work less the next week?

You'd be eligible for benefits again the following week as long as you meet the requirements. Each week is calculated separately.

What kind of questions did they ask during the interview?

They wanted documentation of my work hours and pay, and asked detailed questions about exactly what work I did and when.

I'll check that out, thanks! It would be nice to know ahead of time how much my benefit will be reduced.

That calculator is really helpful. I use it every week to double-check my expected benefit amount.

Good advice. I'll start keeping a spreadsheet with all my work hours and earnings.

Screenshots of pay stubs or bank deposits are good backup too, especially for gig work where the documentation might be less formal.

Did the temporary work affect your standby status?

No, as long as I was still available to return to my regular job when called back, the standby status remained valid.

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I feel much more confident about working part-time while on unemployment now.

Good luck! Just remember to file your weekly claims on time and report accurately. You'll be fine.

That's good to hear! I might need to use that if I have more questions about my specific situation.

Same here. The regular phone system is basically useless with how busy they are.