What happens if you get a job while on unemployment in Washington?

So I should keep filing weekly claims even though I'm working? That seems weird to me.

Yes, as long as you're working part-time you might still be eligible for partial benefits. Washington ESD will calculate if you qualify based on your earnings that week.

Wait that math is confusing. Can you give an example?

Sure! If your weekly benefit is $400, and you earn $300 in a week, they subtract $225 (75% of $300) from your $400 benefit. You'd get $175 in unemployment that week.

That's actually really helpful, I had no idea you could still get partial benefits!

How do they know if you're working? Do employers report to Washington ESD automatically?

Yes, employers report wages to the state, so Washington ESD will eventually find out if you don't report work. It's not worth the risk - just be honest from the start.

Never heard of that service, is it legit?

Yeah it's real, they help you get through to actual Washington ESD agents instead of sitting on hold forever. Worked great for me when I needed to clarify some stuff about my claim.

That sounds helpful, the phone lines are always busy when I try to call.

Oh good point, I wouldn't have thought of that timing difference.

Yes and if you work on Sunday which is the last day of the benefit week, that work goes on the claim for that week ending Sunday, not the following week.

What if I quit because the job isn't a good fit? Would that disqualify me?

Quitting without good cause can disqualify you from benefits. Good cause includes things like unsafe working conditions, discrimination, or the job being substantially different from what was promised.

I quit a job and was able to get benefits again, but I had to go through an adjudication process where they determined I had good cause. It took a few weeks to resolve.

Really? I thought if I was working I didn't need to job search anymore.

Nope, if you're getting any unemployment benefits you still need to meet the work search requirements. Check your online account for the specific requirements.

Unless you're on standby with a definite return to work date, then the job search requirement is waived.

That's encouraging! I was worried taking part-time work would hurt me financially.

It's definitely worth doing the math. Even if your unemployment gets reduced, the total income is usually higher than just benefits alone.

I've tried that and still can't get through. The hold times are ridiculous.

That's why services like Claimyr exist - sometimes you need help getting through to an actual person at Washington ESD. I used them when I had an adjudication issue that needed explaining.

Yeah the phone situation is frustrating. I've also had luck with the online contact form but responses can take a while.

Good point about insurance, I hadn't thought about that aspect.

Yeah and if you end up losing unemployment benefits completely due to earnings, you might qualify for other assistance programs depending on your income level.

Thanks everyone, this has been super helpful. I feel much more confident about handling this situation now.

Good luck with the new job! Part-time work while on unemployment can be a great way to transition back to full-time employment.

Definitely keep filing those weekly claims and reporting everything accurately. Washington ESD is pretty good about calculating partial benefits if you do it right.

That's really smart advice about keeping detailed records! I'm starting to realize there's a lot more to track than I initially thought. Do you also keep records of your gross vs net pay, or just focus on the hours and gross earnings for reporting to Washington ESD?

For Washington ESD reporting, you only need to focus on gross earnings - that's what they use for their calculations. I keep track of both just for my own budgeting purposes, but when you file your weekly claim, they specifically ask for gross wages before any deductions. The hours are helpful to track too since sometimes they ask about hours worked, especially if you're working for multiple employers.

This is such practical advice! I'm definitely going to start keeping a work log like you suggested. One question though - if my part-time job has irregular hours (like some weeks 15 hours, other weeks 30 hours), should I still file my weekly claim even in weeks where I might earn too much to qualify for any benefits? Or can I skip those weeks and just resume filing when my hours drop again?