What happens if I claim Washington ESD unemployment while working - need advice

You absolutely NEED to report all work and earnings on your weekly claim. Working while on unemployment isn't fraud as long as you report it properly. Washington ESD has specific rules about how much you can earn before your benefits get reduced or stopped completely.

this is exactly why i stopped claiming when i found work, even part time. too confusing and scary to mess up

I was in a similar situation last year and couldn't get through to Washington ESD to ask about the reporting requirements. The phone system is impossible! I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real person at Washington ESD. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Worth checking out if you need to talk to someone about your specific situation.

Here's what actually happens if you claim unemployment while working: 1) If you report your work correctly, Washington ESD will reduce your benefits based on your earnings but you won't be in trouble. 2) If you DON'T report work and they find out later (which they will through wage records), they'll create an overpayment and you'll have to pay back everything plus penalties. That's when it becomes fraud.

THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO CATCH PEOPLE! They make the rules so confusing on purpose then hit you with penalties when you mess up. I know someone who got hit with a $4000 overpayment because they reported their hours wrong for like 3 weeks.

wait so can you work full time and still get unemployment? asking for a friend lol

Just to be super clear about the consequences: Reporting work = legal and proper, you might get reduced benefits. NOT reporting work = fraud, overpayment, penalties, possible criminal charges in severe cases. Always report everything, even if it's just a few hours of work.

I made this mistake early in my claim and panicked when I realized I hadn't been reporting some casual work. Called Washington ESD immediately to correct it and they just adjusted my benefits going forward. Being honest and proactive goes a long way.

My cousin got caught not reporting work and ended up owing like $3500 back to Washington ESD. They're garnishing his wages now. Don't mess around with this stuff.

The key thing people don't understand is that working while on unemployment isn't automatically bad - it's the NOT REPORTING that gets you in trouble. I've been working part-time throughout my entire claim and everything's been fine because I report every penny.

does anyone know if tips count as earnings that need to be reported? i picked up a few shifts waiting tables

I went through an overpayment situation and it was horrible. They wanted everything back immediately and wouldn't work with me on a payment plan. Took months to resolve and tons of stress. Just report everything from day one!

The reporting process is actually pretty straightforward once you understand it. On your weekly claim, there's a section asking about work and earnings. You enter the gross amount you earned that week, and the system automatically calculates how it affects your benefits.

been there done that with the overpayment thing. they found out about unreported work from 8 months earlier and hit me with penalties on top of having to pay it all back. not fun

If you're unsure about your specific situation, I'd really recommend trying to talk to someone at Washington ESD directly. I know the phones are terrible but there are services like Claimyr that can help you get through. Better to get official guidance than guess wrong.

Bottom line: Report ALL work, even if it's just one hour. Report it honestly and accurately. Let Washington ESD calculate how it affects your benefits. Don't try to hide anything because they WILL find out eventually.

Just want to add that if you realize you made a mistake in past claims, contact Washington ESD immediately to correct it. They're much more lenient if you self-report errors versus them discovering unreported work later.

The fraud consequences are serious but only apply if you intentionally try to hide work. Honest mistakes that you report and correct usually just result in benefit adjustments, not penalties.

For anyone reading this later - always keep good records of your work hours and earnings while on unemployment. Having documentation makes everything easier if questions come up later.

really helpful thread! i was confused about this too but now i understand the rules better. report everything and be honest = no problems