What happens if you file unemployment while working - Washington ESD consequences?

You can absolutely file for partial unemployment benefits if your hours were reduced! Washington ESD allows this - it's called "working and claiming." You just need to report your earnings when you file your weekly claim. As long as you're honest about your work and wages, you're not doing anything wrong.

Been there! I was doing partial UI for months when my restaurant cut everyone's shifts during slow season. The key is being totally upfront about everything. You'll still get some benefits as long as your weekly earnings are below a certain threshold.

The problems come when people try to hide their work or underreport their earnings. THAT'S when Washington ESD considers it fraud. If you file while working but don't report the work, you could face overpayment notices, penalties, or even criminal charges in severe cases. But partial unemployment is completely legal and encouraged!

I was in a similar situation and had such a hard time getting through to Washington ESD to ask about this. Spent hours on hold trying to talk to someone about partial benefits. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to an agent in like 10 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works. Saved me so much frustration!

ugh the phone system is THE WORST. I've been calling for three weeks trying to get answers about my partial claim and either get disconnected or the line is busy. So frustrating when you just need someone to explain the rules!

Just to be super clear on the rules: you can earn up to a certain amount each week and still receive partial benefits. Washington ESD will reduce your benefit amount based on your earnings, but you won't lose benefits entirely unless you earn too much. There's a formula they use to calculate this.

The most important thing is just being honest on your weekly claims. When it asks if you worked and how much you earned, tell the truth! Even if you worked one day or made $20, report it. Washington ESD would rather have accurate information than find out later you didn't report something.

I want to add that this also applies to ANY work you do, not just your main job. If you do gig work, freelancing, sell stuff online, whatever - it all needs to be reported when you file your weekly claim. Some people think only "regular" jobs count but that's not true.

Can I ask how long the partial unemployment process takes? Like once I file, how long before I start getting benefits? My hours got cut last month and I'm really struggling financially.

One more thing to keep in mind - you still have to meet all the other UI requirements even with partial benefits. That means you need to be available for full-time work, actively looking for jobs, and meeting your job search requirements unless you're on standby status.

This is all super helpful! I was so worried about filing while working but it sounds like it's totally normal and legal as long as you're honest about everything. Thanks everyone!

Just wanted to mention that Washington ESD does audit claims sometimes, so keep good records of your work hours and pay stubs. If they ever question your earnings, you'll want documentation to back up what you reported.

Does anyone know if there's a limit to how long you can collect partial unemployment? Like if my hours stay reduced for months, can I keep filing?

I just want to emphasize again how much easier it is to get answers about this stuff when you can actually talk to a Washington ESD agent. If anyone else is struggling with the phone system, definitely check out that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. Made such a difference in getting my questions answered quickly.

One last thing - make sure your employer knows you're filing for partial UI. Some employers get weird about it but they can't retaliate against you for filing a legitimate claim. It's your right to collect benefits when your hours are reduced.

This thread has been so helpful! I was in the exact same situation and was scared to file. Now I feel confident that I can do this the right way. Thanks everyone for all the great advice!

Quick question - do I need to file a new claim if I'm already on regular UI and then start working part-time? Or do I just start reporting the earnings on my weekly claims?

I wish I had known about partial unemployment sooner! I turned down a part-time job last year because I thought it would disqualify me from benefits. Could have really used that extra income.

For anyone reading this later - the Washington ESD website has a good calculator tool where you can estimate how working part-time will affect your benefits. Helps you plan out whether taking a job makes financial sense.

Bottom line: filing unemployment while working is totally legal and normal IF you report your work honestly. The only time you get in trouble is if you try to hide it or lie about your earnings. Washington ESD actually encourages people to work while claiming because it helps you transition back to full employment.