Washington ESD - how long can you collect unemployment after finding a job?

You need to report ANY work immediately on your weekly claim. Washington ESD requires you to report all earnings the week you perform the work, not when you get paid. If you work part-time, you might still qualify for partial benefits depending on how much you earn.

Don't try to hide the job! Washington ESD has access to employment records and will eventually find out. If they discover unreported work, you could face an overpayment demand plus penalties. It's not worth the risk.

I was in your exact situation last year. Had a part-time job paying about $400/week and still collected partial unemployment. The key is being completely honest on your weekly claims. Washington ESD has a formula - they subtract your earnings from your weekly benefit amount after allowing for a small work deduction.

I struggled with this same issue trying to reach Washington ESD to get clear answers about partial benefits. Kept getting busy signals and hold times over an hour. Finally found out about Claimyr.com - they actually got me through to a real person at Washington ESD in under 10 minutes. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Totally worth it when you need actual answers about your specific situation.

The general rule is you can work part-time and collect partial benefits as long as your total earnings don't exceed your weekly benefit amount plus the work deduction. But every situation is different based on your wages and benefit calculation.

whatever you do dont lie about it. my cousin got caught not reporting work and had to pay back like $3000 in overpayments plus penalties. washington esd doesnt mess around with fraud.

Just to clarify the timeline - you report work the week you perform it, but Washington ESD typically processes partial benefit payments based on their calculation. If you earn too much in a week, you might get zero benefits for that week but can still file claims for future weeks if your earnings drop.

I'm dealing with something similar but my situation is more complicated because I'm on standby with my regular employer. Part-time work affects standby status differently than regular unemployment. Has anyone dealt with both situations?

The work deduction amount changes periodically so don't rely on old information. When I was collecting partial benefits in 2023 it was different than what people are saying now. Always verify current rates with Washington ESD.

One thing to remember is that your job search requirements might change once you start working. If you're working a certain number of hours per week, Washington ESD might modify how many job contacts you need to make.

been there! started a part time gig last summer while collecting. just be super detailed in your weekly claims about hours worked and estimated pay. washington esd is pretty good about calculating partial benefits automatically once you give them accurate info

Another plug for that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier - after using it to get through to Washington ESD, I learned there are specific thresholds for partial benefits that aren't clearly explained on their website. Getting that personalized explanation saved me from making costly mistakes with my claim.

Make sure you understand the difference between gross and net earnings when reporting. Washington ESD wants gross earnings (before taxes) when you file your weekly claim.

The system is honestly pretty forgiving if you make honest mistakes and correct them quickly. I once forgot to report some work and called Washington ESD as soon as I realized. They helped me file an amended claim and there were no penalties since I was proactive about fixing it.

Don't forget that your benefit year has limits too. Even with partial benefits, you're still using up weeks of eligibility. Make sure you understand how part-time work affects your remaining benefit balance.

WASHINGTON ESD MAKES THIS WAY TOO COMPLICATED! Why can't they just have a simple calculator on their website that tells you exactly what you'll get based on your work hours? Instead we're all here guessing and hoping we don't mess up.

Pro tip: keep detailed records of everything - your work schedules, pay stubs, weekly claim confirmations, any communication with Washington ESD. If there are ever questions about your partial benefit claims, having documentation makes everything easier.

I used Claimyr last month when I had questions about seasonal work affecting my unemployment. Got through immediately and the Washington ESD rep explained exactly how my seasonal job would impact my benefits. Worth every penny to avoid the guesswork.

Bottom line - report the work, be honest about your earnings, and keep filing your weekly claims. Washington ESD will calculate your partial benefits automatically. If you have specific questions about your situation, don't guess - contact them directly for clarification.