What counts as unemployment for Washington ESD benefits - confused about eligibility

You can still qualify for partial unemployment benefits even if you're working some hours. Washington ESD looks at your total weekly earnings compared to your weekly benefit amount. If you earn less than your weekly benefit amount plus $5, you'll still get some benefits. The key is to report ALL income when you file your weekly claim.

So I should still apply even though I'm getting some work? I was worried they'd reject me completely.

Yes definitely apply! Many people qualify for partial benefits. Just be honest about all your earnings on your weekly claims.

For freelance work you need to report that as self-employment income. Washington ESD has specific rules about how they calculate self-employment earnings. It's not just about the money you receive but when you performed the work.

How do they calculate self-employment? Like if I did design work last month but got paid this week, which week do I report it?

Report it the week you performed the work, not when you got paid. Keep detailed records of when you did the work and how much time you spent.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks to ask similar questions but their phone lines are always busy. Getting really frustrated with this whole process. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there?

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

Is that legit? Sounds too good to be true but I'm desperate at this point.

Yeah it's real. They basically handle the waiting on hold part for you. Much better than spending all day redialing.

Washington ESD considers you unemployed if you're totally unemployed OR working less than full-time and earning less than your weekly benefit amount. The important thing is you have to be able and available for work and actively seeking employment.

What does 'actively seeking work' actually mean though? Do I need to apply to a certain number of jobs?

Yes you need to complete 3 job search activities per week and log them in your WorkSourceWA account. This includes applying for jobs, networking, interviews, etc.

ugh the whole system is so confusing!! I'm in a similar boat - got cut from full time to part time and have no idea if I qualify or not. Makes my head spin trying to figure it all out

Right?? Why can't they just make it simple to understand

I know it seems overwhelming but the basic rule is: if your hours or pay got reduced through no fault of your own, you probably qualify for something. Best to apply and let them determine eligibility.

For your restaurant situation, getting laid off definitely counts as unemployment. The catering shifts would be considered partial employment. As long as you're earning less than your weekly benefit amount plus $5, you'll get partial benefits.

How do I know what my weekly benefit amount would be? Do I need to calculate that somehow?

Washington ESD calculates it based on your earnings in your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters). You'll find out the exact amount when you file your initial claim.

Been on unemployment twice and both times the hardest part was just getting through to talk to someone when I had questions. Second time around I used some service called Claimyr that got me connected to an agent in like 20 minutes instead of calling all day.

How much does something like that cost? Seems like we shouldn't have to pay extra just to reach our own unemployment office

I agree it's annoying we need it but honestly it was worth it to get my questions answered quickly instead of losing whole days trying to call.

The key things Washington ESD looks at: 1) You lost work through no fault of your own 2) You're able and available for work 3) You're actively looking for work 4) You meet the earnings requirements from your base period. Both total and partial unemployment can qualify.

What if you quit your job? Does that automatically disqualify you?

Usually yes, unless you quit for good cause like unsafe working conditions, harassment, or significant changes to your job. But you'd need to prove the good cause.

I think you're overthinking this. Just file the claim and report your earnings honestly each week. Let Washington ESD figure out if you qualify and for how much. That's literally their job.

You're probably right. I just don't want to mess something up and get in trouble.

As long as you're honest about your work and earnings you'll be fine. They'd rather you apply and be wrong than not apply when you should have.

For freelance work make sure you understand the difference between when you worked vs when you got paid. Washington ESD wants to know about work performed during each week, not payments received.

This is confusing for contractors. What if I did work over several weeks but invoiced it all at once?

You'd allocate the work hours to the actual weeks you performed the work, not when you sent the invoice or got paid.

Also remember that unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld or pay quarterly estimated taxes. Don't get surprised next tax season!

Good point, I hadn't thought about taxes. Can I change the withholding after I start getting benefits?

Yes you can change your tax withholding election anytime by logging into your Washington ESD account online.

The most important thing is to file your weekly claims on time every week, even if you worked some hours. Missing a week can cause delays in your benefits.

What happens if you forget to file one week? Can you go back and file it?

You can file a late claim but it may delay your payments. It's much better to file on time every week, even if you think you won't get benefits that week.

Something I learned the hard way - keep detailed records of all your work hours and earnings. Washington ESD can audit your claims and ask for documentation. Better to have too much info than not enough.

What kind of records do they want to see?

Timesheets, pay stubs, invoices, bank statements - anything that shows when you worked and how much you earned. I keep a simple spreadsheet with dates, hours, and earnings.

Don't stress too much about the partial unemployment calculations. Washington ESD's system will do the math automatically when you report your earnings. Just be accurate with your reported hours and gross earnings.

Is it gross or net earnings that you report?

Always report gross earnings before any deductions like taxes or benefits. That's what they use for calculations.

One more thing - if you're doing freelance work you might need to register with WorkSourceWA as self-employed for job search purposes. The requirements are a bit different than for regular job seekers.

How do I register as self-employed? Is that a separate process?

You'll need to contact WorkSourceWA directly to set up your self-employment job search plan. They'll explain what activities count toward your weekly job search requirement.

Bottom line: file the claim. You're clearly unemployed from your main job and just picking up occasional work. That's exactly what partial unemployment benefits are for. Washington ESD will sort out the details.

Thanks everyone, this has been really helpful. I think I'll file the claim tomorrow and just be super careful about reporting everything accurately.

Good choice! And remember, if you have specific questions about your claim, it's worth getting through to speak with an agent rather than guessing.