Washington ESD unemployment benefits with Earnin app - does earnin work with unemployment?

I looked into this when I was on unemployment last year. Earnin typically requires you to have a regular employer and direct deposit from that employer. Since unemployment benefits come from Washington ESD, not an employer, I don't think Earnin would work. Plus you'd need to be careful about reporting any income from cash advances on your weekly claims.

I tried signing up for Earnin while on unemployment and it wouldn't verify my 'employer' because obviously Washington ESD isn't my employer. The app kept asking for my company name and payroll info which I obviously don't have. Waste of time tbh

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD to ask about this directly, I had success using claimyr.com recently. They help you get through to an actual Washington ESD representative instead of waiting on hold forever. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Might be worth asking an agent directly about any restrictions on cash advance apps.

Even if Earnin did work somehow, you'd probably need to report any cash advances as income on your weekly claim. Washington ESD wants to know about all money you receive, and a cash advance might count even if you're paying it back later. Better to be safe than risk an overpayment situation.

Look into local food banks and assistance programs instead. Most counties in Washington have emergency assistance that doesn't affect your UI claim at all. King County, Pierce County, Snohomish County all have programs.

The whole point of Earnin is getting paid early from your employer. Since you don't have an employer right now, just Washington ESD benefits, there's nothing for Earnin to advance you against. It's designed for people with regular jobs who want to access their earned wages before payday.

I tried a bunch of cash advance apps when I was unemployed last year and none of them worked. Dave, Earnin, MoneyLion - they all need you to have a job with direct deposit. Unemployment benefits just don't qualify.

Just be careful with any financial apps while you're on unemployment. Washington ESD takes fraud seriously and they might question unusual transactions in your bank account if they ever audit your claim. Better to stick with legitimate assistance programs.

Have you looked into the emergency assistance programs through DSHS? They have cash assistance for utilities and rent that doesn't affect UI benefits. Might be more helpful than trying to get a cash advance.

Earnin specifically states on their website that they don't work with unemployment benefits or government assistance payments. I looked into this myself when I was between jobs. They need employer payroll verification which Washington ESD obviously can't provide.

I used that claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it really does work. Got through to Washington ESD in like 10 minutes instead of waiting hours on hold. They were able to answer a bunch of questions about my claim including some financial stuff I was worried about.

Instead of cash advance apps, look into your local churches and community organizations. Many of them have emergency assistance funds that can help with groceries or utilities without affecting your unemployment benefits at all.

The Washington 211 helpline is really good for finding local assistance. They have a database of all the programs available in your area and can help you figure out what you qualify for. Much better than trying to make cash advance apps work with unemployment.

I'm dealing with something similar and was wondering about these cash advance apps too. Sounds like they won't work but at least there are other options people have mentioned here. Thanks for asking this question!

One more suggestion - if you're having trouble making ends meet between UI payments, you might want to ask Washington ESD about getting your benefits paid more frequently. I think there might be options for people in financial hardship, though I'm not 100% sure about the details.

Bottom line: Earnin and similar apps won't work with unemployment benefits. But there are legitimate assistance programs that can help bridge the gap between payments without affecting your UI claim. Focus on those instead.

I went through this exact situation a few months ago. Earnin definitely won't work - they need employer verification and Washington ESD isn't considered an employer. I ended up calling 211 like others suggested and found several local programs that helped with groceries and utility bills. Pierce County has a good emergency assistance program too. The key thing is these legitimate assistance programs don't count as income so they won't mess up your weekly certifications. Way better than trying to figure out cash advance apps that don't work anyway.