Washington ESD - how do you tell unemployment you went back to work properly?

Do I need to report the exact hours or just that I worked? And what if my first paycheck hasn't come through yet?

Report the actual hours worked and estimate your gross wages if you haven't been paid. Washington ESD will calculate any partial benefit amount you might be eligible for.

That's what I was hoping - that I could still get something if I'm only working 20 hours a week.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks to ask about partial benefits but their phone lines are always busy. It's so frustrating when you need answers.

I had the same problem until I found claimyr.com - they help you get through to actual Washington ESD agents. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

Really? I'll check that out, thanks! I need to talk to someone about my job search requirements too.

Oh wow, that's scary. I definitely don't want that to happen. Better to be overly cautious I guess.

That's exactly right - always err on the side of reporting too much rather than too little. Washington ESD would rather you over-report than under-report.

You report work for the actual week you performed it, regardless of when you get paid. So if you worked Wednesday through Friday, you report those days for that claim week.

Thanks, that makes sense. I was overthinking it I think.

Yes, you still need to meet the job search requirements unless you're working full-time or on standby with your employer. Part-time work doesn't exempt you from the 3 job contacts per week.

Ugh, that's what I was afraid of. Thanks for confirming though.

The idea is that you're still considered partially unemployed and actively seeking full-time work. The job search requirement ensures you're trying to become fully employed again.

i guess that makes sense when you put it that way

You should be fine if you stopped filing when you went back to work full-time. The issue would be if you continued filing claims while working full-time without reporting it.

Okay good, that's a relief. I was worried I missed some official step.

That's smart. I should start doing that too. Better to have documentation.

YES! Documentation saved me when they questioned something months later. Always keep records of what you submit.

Volunteering typically doesn't count as work you need to report unless you're receiving some form of compensation or stipend. But if you're unsure, it's better to ask Washington ESD directly.

That's another good question for when you can actually get through to them. Claimyr made it so much easier for me to talk to someone about these specific situations.

Good to know! I might have some occasional day work coming up so I'll make sure to report it all.

You should contact Washington ESD immediately to report the error. They can make corrections, and it's much better to self-report the mistake than have them discover it later.

This is exactly why I needed to talk to someone at Washington ESD but couldn't get through until I used that Claimyr service. Sometimes you just need to speak with a person about these situations.

EXACTLY! It's like they want you to make mistakes so they can claw back money later.

I understand the frustration, but the system needs to account for different types of work situations. The key is just being thorough and honest in your reporting.

That's encouraging! I'm hoping for something similar with my part-time situation.

This is really helpful detail. I start Monday so I'll report it for next week's claim even though I won't see a paycheck for a while.

You can definitely report work through your weekly claim filing online. That's actually the preferred method. Calling is only necessary if you have complex questions or need to make corrections.

The online system works well for straightforward reporting. I only needed to call through Claimyr when I had questions about whether certain types of contract work counted.

Exactly right. Honesty and thoroughness are the keys to staying out of trouble with Washington ESD.

Good to know for when I hopefully get more hours. Thanks everyone for all the advice!

Hope the new job works out well for you! It's always nice to see someone getting back to work.