Washington ESD unemployment benefits while attending school - does unemployment pay for school?

So part-time is fine? What about if I take evening classes?

Evening classes should be fine since they don't interfere with normal work hours. Just make sure you can still attend job interviews during the day if needed.

Did you have to tell Washington ESD that you were in school when you filed your weekly claims?

yeah i mentioned it when they asked about my availability but since it was just part time they said it was ok

Oh wow I had no idea about this program! How do I apply for it?

You need to contact Washington ESD and ask about Training Benefits eligibility. They'll evaluate if your chosen program qualifies and if you meet the requirements.

I tried calling Washington ESD about this exact thing but could never get through. Spent hours on hold and kept getting disconnected. Super frustrating when you need answers about important stuff like this.

That sounds too good to be true. Does it actually work?

Yeah it worked for me. Got connected to a Washington ESD rep within like 20 minutes instead of spending all day trying to call. They were able to explain the Training Benefits program requirements and help me start the application process.

I might try this. I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks about this school thing with no luck.

It's not automatic - you have to qualify and the training has to be approved. Not all schools or programs are eligible.

Still better than nothing! I'm definitely looking into this now.

Yikes that's scary! How much did she have to pay back?

I think it was like $2,800 in overpayment. She had to appeal it and eventually got it reduced but it was a whole mess.

This is why it's important to get approval beforehand if you're planning any kind of training program while on unemployment.

Online classes can work as long as they don't interfere with your job search activities and you remain available for work. Same rules apply whether it's online or in-person.

makes sense. probably easier to schedule around job interviews too

Trade schools can actually be better for the Training Benefits program since they're often shorter-term and more directly job-focused. Washington ESD likes programs that lead to in-demand careers.

Good to know! I was looking at HVAC certification.

That's awesome! I'm definitely going to try Claimyr too. Did they say anything about which schools are approved?

They have a list of approved training providers but community colleges are usually good options. The program has to lead to a job in a high-demand field.

Perfect timing then! The Training Benefits program can extend your benefits while you're in approved training, so you wouldn't lose income while learning new skills.

Wait it extends benefits too? This keeps getting better!

Good reminder! I almost forgot to file last week.

Yeah it's easy to get distracted when you're dealing with school stuff on top of job searching.

I believe it's mainly tuition support, but you'd need to ask Washington ESD directly about what expenses are covered for your specific program.

Another good question for when you call Washington ESD. If anyone else needs to get through to them, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really does work.

You can apply for Training Benefits at any point during your unemployment claim as long as you still have benefits remaining. The sooner the better though since the approval process takes time.

Thanks! I'm about halfway through my claim period so I should still have time.

That's actually a smart approach, especially if your industry has been struggling. The Training Benefits program is designed for exactly this situation.

Yeah I've been in retail for 10 years and those jobs are getting harder to find. Maybe time for a career change.

Good point. I need to make sure I can handle everything before committing.

Exactly. It's worth it in the long run but don't underestimate the workload.

Generally you're supposed to accept suitable work offers even if you're in training. But the definition of 'suitable' might be different if you're in an approved training program. You'd need to discuss this with Washington ESD.

Makes sense. I guess the whole point is to get back to work eventually.

My cousin did a medical assistant program through this and got hired right after finishing. Took about 9 months total including the training.

That's encouraging! Did she have trouble with the unemployment office during the training?

No major issues once she got approved. Had to check in regularly but they were pretty supportive of the program.

If you have trouble getting through, remember that Claimyr service can help you connect with an agent faster. Worth it when you need specific information like this.

I'll keep that in mind if I can't get through the regular way.

Agreed! I feel like I actually understand my options now instead of just guessing.

Exactly. Knowledge is power when dealing with the unemployment system.

This is exactly what I needed to hear! A real success story with actual numbers. $15k more is huge! Can you share what cybersecurity program you did? I'm interested in tech but wasn't sure which direction to go. Also, when you say "high-demand field" - did Washington ESD give you a list of approved career areas or did you have to research that yourself?