Washington ESD partial credit unemployment - can I still get benefits while working part-time?

That's such a relief to hear! Do you know how they calculate how much I'd still get? I'm worried it might not be worth it if they reduce my benefits too much.

The formula is a bit complex but basically Washington ESD subtracts 75% of your weekly earnings from your regular benefit amount. So if you normally get $400/week and earn $200 part-time, they'd subtract $150 (75% of $200) leaving you with $250 in benefits.

Thanks for the warning! I definitely want to do this right. Do I report the hours I worked or just the money I earned?

Report both! When you file your weekly claim, there are specific questions about hours worked and gross earnings. Be precise with both numbers.

Oh that's a good point about job searching. Do I still need to do the same number of job contacts even though I'm working part-time?

Yes, you still need to meet the job search requirements unless your part-time job has the potential to become full-time. Keep documenting your job search activities in WorkSourceWA.

How does that work exactly? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for days about my own issues.

They basically handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an actual agent is available. Way better than sitting on hold for hours or getting hung up on.

It only affects the weeks you actually work and earn money. If the part-time job ends, you'd go back to receiving your full benefit amount as long as you're still eligible.

And remember, taking part-time work actually looks good if you ever need to appeal anything with Washington ESD. Shows you're actively trying to get back to full employment.

I know it's frustrating but the rules are actually pretty straightforward once you understand them. The key is just being honest about your earnings and hours.

I guess I just wish there was a simple calculator or something to figure out exactly what I'd get.

What kind of records should I keep? Pay stubs obviously, but anything else?

Pay stubs, work schedules, and screenshots of your weekly claim submissions. I also kept a simple spreadsheet tracking my hours and earnings each week.

Exactly! Washington ESD wants to help people transition back to full employment. Partial unemployment benefits are designed to make part-time work financially viable while you search for full-time positions.

This is news to me too. I've been afraid to take any part-time work thinking I'd lose all my benefits.

Good to know! I'll make sure to ask about that threshold when I report my earnings.

That's correct - if you earn more than 1.5 times your weekly benefit amount, you won't receive any unemployment benefits for that week.

Really? That sounds too good to be true. How much does it cost?

I'd rather not get into pricing details, but for me it was worth it just to get actual answers instead of guessing about my benefits.

What do you mean by the correct week? Do I report when I worked or when I got paid?

You report for the week you actually worked, not when you received the paycheck. So if you worked Monday-Friday, report those earnings on the weekly claim for that same week.

I understand the frustration, but the rules really are consistent. The confusion often comes from people having different individual circumstances that affect their benefits.

Same here! I gave up trying to figure it out perfectly and just report honestly. Haven't had any problems so far.

That's a great point about networking. This part-time position could potentially lead to something full-time down the road.

Exactly! And employers often prefer candidates who have been working, even part-time, rather than just collecting benefits.

Yes, gig work earnings need to be reported too. You'll report your net earnings after expenses, but make sure you keep detailed records since gig work can be more complex to document.

I do Instacart and report my earnings weekly. Just keep track of your mileage and other business expenses to calculate your net income properly.

There's no specific time limit for partial unemployment as long as you're still actively searching for full-time work and meeting all other eligibility requirements.

Just remember your total benefit year is still limited to 26 weeks (or whatever you're eligible for), whether you're working part-time or not.

Great decision! Just remember to report everything accurately and keep up with your job search requirements. Good luck with the new position!

You got this! Partial unemployment really is a helpful program when you need it.

I'm definitely going to check that out if I run into any issues. Thanks for the recommendation!

Yeah, beats trying to call Washington ESD directly and getting nowhere. Their phone system is impossible sometimes.

Will do! I start the part-time job next week so I'll report back after I file my first weekly claim with earnings.

Same! I've been way too picky about only considering full-time positions. Part-time work + partial benefits might actually work better for my situation right now.