Washington ESD requirements if I get a job while on unemployment - how to report correctly?

You absolutely need to report any work when you file your weekly claim. Don't wait - report it on the week you start working. Washington ESD will calculate your partial benefits based on your earnings. As long as you're working less than full-time and earning below a certain threshold, you can still receive reduced unemployment benefits.

I went through this exact same thing last year. You can definitely still get partial benefits with part-time work. Just make sure you report your gross earnings (before taxes) when you file your weekly claim. Washington ESD has a formula they use to calculate how much you can still receive.

Make sure you're still doing your job search activities too! Just because you have part-time work doesn't mean you can stop looking for full-time employment. You still need to log your job contacts in WorkSourceWA unless your claim specifically says otherwise.

I had so much trouble getting through to Washington ESD when I had questions about reporting part-time work. Spent hours on hold trying to get clarification. Finally found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual agent who explained everything. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's even a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Made such a difference being able to talk to someone who could walk me through the reporting process.

UGH the whole system is so confusing! I started a temp job while on benefits and accidentally reported my hours wrong the first week. Got a scary letter from Washington ESD about potential overpayment but luckily it got sorted out. Just be super careful about reporting gross vs net pay - they want GROSS earnings before any deductions.

Been there! The key thing is to always err on the side of reporting MORE rather than less. If you're not sure about something, report it anyway. It's much easier to correct an over-report than to deal with an overpayment notice later.

Also remember that your benefit year clock is still ticking even while you're working part-time. So if you're planning to look for full-time work, don't let your remaining benefit weeks run out while you're just collecting partial payments. Sometimes it makes sense to focus harder on finding full-time work rather than staying on partial benefits too long.

Wait so if I work one day a week can I still get most of my unemployment? Like if my weekly benefit is $400 and I only work one 8-hour shift?

Just started a new part-time gig myself and the Washington ESD website actually has a pretty good calculator to estimate what your partial benefits would be. Saved me from having to guess or call them.

Pro tip: keep detailed records of everything! Screenshot your weekly claims showing what you reported for work and earnings. I had an issue months later where Washington ESD questioned something and having those screenshots saved me a huge headache.

The most important thing is to be honest and report everything accurately. Washington ESD cross-references with employers so they'll find out about unreported work eventually anyway. Better to be upfront from the start.

I was so paranoid about reporting my part-time work correctly that I actually used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier just to double-check I was doing everything right. Worth every penny to have an expert walk me through it.

One thing to watch out for - if your part-time job becomes full-time, you need to close your unemployment claim completely. Don't keep filing weekly claims once you're working 40+ hours or earning your full weekly benefit amount.

Also make sure your new employer knows you're on unemployment! Some employers have reporting requirements too, and it's better to be transparent about your situation.

The whole partial benefits thing is actually pretty fair once you understand how it works. It gives you an incentive to take part-time work while still providing some support as you look for full-time employment.

Just wanted to circle back - if anyone else is struggling to get through to Washington ESD about work reporting questions, that Claimyr service I mentioned really was a game-changer. Saved me so much stress and time compared to trying to call on my own.

Bottom line - report all work honestly and accurately when you file your weekly claims, keep good records, and don't stress too much about the math. Washington ESD's system will calculate your partial benefits automatically based on what you report.

Congrats on the job! Even if it's just part-time, it's a step in the right direction. Hope it leads to something full-time soon!

One last tip - if your earnings vary week to week (like if you work different hours), make sure you report the correct amount for each specific week. Don't average it out or anything like that.

This thread has been super helpful! I'm in a similar situation and was confused about the same things. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!