Washington ESD - can you still claim unemployment while working part-time?

Yes, you can absolutely work part-time and still collect unemployment benefits in Washington! You just need to report all your work and earnings when you file your weekly claim. Washington ESD will reduce your benefits based on how much you earn, but you might still get partial benefits.

Be super careful about reporting everything accurately. I know someone who got an overpayment notice because they didn't report some cash work they did. Washington ESD takes this stuff seriously.

Washington has what's called 'partial unemployment' benefits. Generally, if you work less than full-time hours and earn less than your weekly benefit amount plus $5, you can still receive some benefits. The exact calculation depends on your specific situation, but working 15 hours at $18/hour should still leave you eligible for partial benefits.

I was in a similar situation last year and had trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask questions about reporting my part-time work. The phone lines were always busy and I was getting stressed about filing correctly. Someone on here recommended Claimyr (claimyr.com) and they actually helped me get connected to an agent who walked me through the partial benefits process. There's even a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

MAKE SURE you keep detailed records of all your work hours and pay! I got audited by Washington ESD and had to provide documentation going back 6 months. Pay stubs, work schedules, everything.

You also still need to be available for full-time work and actively job searching. The part-time job can't interfere with your ability to accept full-time employment if it's offered.

wait so if I make like $200/week at a part time job I can still get unemployment? I thought it was all or nothing

The key thing is being honest on your weekly claims. Answer all the questions truthfully about work and earnings. Don't try to hide anything because they cross-reference with employer records.

I tried calling Washington ESD about this exact question and spent 3 hours on hold before getting disconnected. So frustrating when you just want to follow the rules correctly.

Don't forget you still need to file your weekly claim even if you work during that week. Some people think they skip weeks when they work but you have to file every week to maintain your claim.

I've been doing part-time work while on unemployment for 3 months now. It's actually helped me feel more productive and the extra income makes a big difference even if my UI benefits are reduced.

One thing to watch out for - if your part-time job offers you more hours that would make you full-time, you might have to accept it or risk losing your unemployment benefits for refusing suitable work.

Check if your part-time employer offers any benefits too. Sometimes even part-time positions have some perks that can help while you're between full-time jobs.

Just wanted to echo what others have said about keeping good records. I use a simple spreadsheet to track my work hours, pay, and unemployment claims. Makes it easy to reference if questions come up.

The partial benefits system in Washington is actually pretty fair compared to some other states. You get to keep a portion of what you earn before they start reducing your UI benefits significantly.

If you have any specific questions about how the earnings calculation works, you might want to speak with an actual Washington ESD representative. I found Claimyr really helpful for getting through to someone who could explain the details of my particular situation.

Good luck with the new job! Even if it's just part-time, it's great to have some income and work experience while you continue your full-time job search.