Washington ESD unemployment - when on unemployment how much can i earn without losing benefits?

Wait, so if I earn $496 they'd reduce my $500 benefit by $1? That seems pretty reasonable actually.

Exactly! But you still have to report ALL earnings, even if it's just $10. They need to know about any work you do during your claim week.

No, that's not right for Washington state. The previous poster was correct - it's your weekly benefit amount minus $5. Some other states have percentage-based systems but Washington uses the dollar amount method.

oh ok thanks for clearing that up, i was thinking of my friend in oregon maybe

How much does that cost? I'm barely getting by on my unemployment as it is.

It's worth it when you need actual answers from Washington ESD instead of guessing. Way better than spending entire days trying to get through on your own.

I've heard of that service too. My sister used it when she had an adjudication issue. She said it was pretty straightforward to use.

What about things like cash tips that don't show up on a paycheck? Do I really need to report those too?

Yes, absolutely. All income must be reported, including cash tips. Washington ESD can audit your claim and if they find unreported income, you could face an overpayment determination and penalties.

No, you wouldn't lose all of it. You'd get $180 - $5 = $175 as your earnings threshold. Since you're earning $200, that's $25 over the threshold, so your benefit would be reduced by $25. You'd get $180 - $25 = $155 in unemployment benefits plus your $200 in wages.

oh wow that actually works out better than i thought! so i'd have $355 total instead of just $180 from unemployment

exactly! thats why part time work can actually be worth it while on unemployment

How did they find out? I'm not trying to hide anything but I'm curious how they track that stuff.

They do cross-matching with other state databases and the IRS. If someone reports paying you as a contractor or if you file taxes with income you didn't report to ESD, they'll catch it eventually.

I know right? Other states have way better online tools. Washington's unemployment system feels like it's from the 1990s.

They actually do have a basic calculator buried somewhere on their site but it's hard to find. Still doesn't answer all the questions though.

This is really helpful, thank you! One more question - when do I report the earnings? The week I work or the week I get paid?

Report it for the week you actually performed the work, not when you get paid. So if you work on Monday but don't get paid until the following week, report it for the week you worked.

The phone system is absolutely terrible. I've given up trying to call them directly.

Yeah I used Claimyr a couple months ago for a different issue. Way easier than trying to get through on my own.

Yes, unemployment benefits are considered income for most other assistance programs. You'll need to report your UI benefits when applying for SNAP, housing assistance, etc.

thanks, that's what i was afraid of but good to know for sure

Good point! A lot of people don't realize gig work counts. Do you report gross earnings or net after expenses?

You report gross earnings. Don't subtract gas, car maintenance, etc. Just report what you actually earned before any deductions.

Got it - better safe than sorry. Thanks everyone for all the helpful info!

Exactly right. I tell everyone the same thing - just be honest and report everything. It's not worth the risk of getting caught later.

That's actually how it's designed to encourage people to take full-time work rather than just supplementing unemployment indefinitely. The system wants to get people back to steady employment.

i guess that makes sense from their perspective but it still sucks when you're trying to make ends meet

That's a really clear way to think about it. Makes the math much easier to understand.

Yeah that helps a lot actually. I was making it way more complicated in my head.

Good reminder! I almost messed this up when I started doing some weekend work.

Yes! And if you work on Saturday, that counts for the week ending that Saturday, not the following week.

So true. I've learned more from random forum posts than from any official Washington ESD communication.

That's why I ended up trying Claimyr when I had questions. Sometimes you just need to talk to an actual person who knows the system.

This thread has been super helpful. Thanks to everyone who shared their experience!