What do I do if I get a job while on unemployment - Washington ESD reporting requirements?

Congratulations on the job! You need to report your return to work immediately, don't wait for your next weekly claim. You can do this through your SecureAccess Washington account online or call the claims center. The key is to report the first day you're scheduled to work, not your first day of actual work.

Make sure you file your weekly claim for this week if you haven't already, but mark that you're returning to work. You'll probably get paid for this week since you were still unemployed, but next week's claim should show you're working full-time.

i had trouble getting through to washington esd when i got my job back, kept getting busy signals for days. ended up using claimyr.com to get connected - they have this system that calls for you and gets you through to an actual person. there's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. made reporting my return to work so much easier than trying to call myself.

The most important thing is accuracy with your dates. If you report your return to work date incorrectly, it can cause overpayment issues later. Washington ESD considers you 'returned to work' on the first day you're scheduled to work, even if that's a future date from when you report it.

Don't forget to keep track of your earnings if this is temporary work or if there's any chance you might become unemployed again. Washington ESD has rules about how much you can earn and still collect partial unemployment benefits if your hours get cut later.

MAKE SURE YOU REPORT THIS IMMEDIATELY! I waited a few days to report my new job and ended up with an overpayment of $800 that I had to pay back. Washington ESD doesn't mess around with this stuff.

You can report return to work online through the 'Report Return to Work' option in your eServices account. It's pretty straightforward - just need your employer info and start date. Way easier than calling if you can avoid it.

Just went through this last month. Reported my return to work on a Friday, got one more unemployment payment for that week, then everything stopped automatically. No issues or overpayments. The system works pretty well once you report it correctly.

wait do you have to pay taxes on unemployment benefits? just realized i might owe money come tax time...

Pro tip: screenshot or save confirmation of when you reported your return to work. If there are any questions later, you'll have proof of when you notified Washington ESD.

The washington esd phone system is absolutely terrible. I've been trying to call them for 2 weeks about a different issue and can never get through. Saw someone mention claimyr earlier - might have to try that myself.

Make sure your new employer knows you were collecting unemployment. Some employers want documentation of when you stopped receiving benefits for their records.

If you're starting a new job, don't forget to update your job search activities too. You won't need to keep doing work searches once you're employed full-time, but make sure your final weekly claim reflects that.

Been collecting unemployment for 8 months now and still no luck finding work. Congrats on getting a job so quickly! Must be nice...

One thing to watch out for - if your new job doesn't work out and you need to file for unemployment again, there might be a waiting period depending on why you left. Just something to keep in mind.

The key is just being honest and reporting everything correctly. Washington ESD has access to wage records from employers anyway, so they'll find out if you're working. Better to report it yourself than have them discover it later.

does anyone know if part time jobs have to be reported differently? asking because i might get some side work soon

I'm glad I found this thread because I start a new job next week too and wasn't sure about the reporting process. Sounds like I need to report it right away when I accept the offer, not wait until I actually start working.

Final tip: keep all your documentation from Washington ESD even after you stop collecting. You never know when you might need to reference your claim history or benefit amounts for tax purposes or future applications.

This thread has been super helpful. I had no idea about some of these requirements when I got my last job. Luckily nothing went wrong but now I know what to do if it happens again.

Just wanted to add that if you're nervous about reporting online, you can also visit a WorkSource office in person. The staff there can help you report your return to work and make sure everything is filed correctly. Sometimes having someone walk you through it face-to-face can be less stressful than trying to navigate the website or phone system on your own. Plus they can answer any specific questions about your situation right on the spot.