What is unemployment earnings allowance - Washington ESD partial benefits?

Oh that's helpful! My weekly benefit is $285 so I can earn up to $280 without any reduction? That's actually more than I thought.

Yeah that's right. Just make sure you report ALL earnings when you file your weekly claim, even if it's under the allowance amount.

You're thinking of the work search requirement modification. If you work 3+ days in a week, you don't have to do job search activities for that week. But it doesn't affect your benefit calculation - that's still based purely on earnings.

ok thanks for clarifying that

Never heard of Claimyr before but I've been having the same phone problems. How does it work exactly?

It's basically a service that helps you get connected to actual Washington ESD agents without waiting on hold forever. Check out claimyr.com - it was a lifesaver when I needed to sort out my partial benefit questions.

Interesting, might have to try that. I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks about my earnings reporting.

Actually Washington's system is pretty generous compared to most states. The dollar-for-dollar deduction after the allowance is pretty standard, and having any allowance at all is better than some places.

I guess that makes sense. I just wish they explained it better on their website. Had to dig through like 5 different pages to find any mention of the $5 deduction.

Good point! I was wondering about that. So if I made $250 gross but only took home $200 after taxes, I report the $250?

Exactly. Always report the gross amount. Washington ESD calculates everything based on what you earned before any deductions.

Yes, tips absolutely count as earnings. You need to report both your hourly wage and any tips you received. Washington ESD considers tips as part of your total gross earnings for the week.

Ugh, that's what I was afraid of. Guess I need to keep better track of my daily tips then.

yeah i learned that the hard way last year when i was bartending part time

That's confusing. So if I worked last week but don't get paid until this Friday, I should have reported it on last week's claim?

Exactly! It's based on when you performed the work, not when you received payment. This trips up a lot of people.

That's encouraging! I was worried about taking any work at all. How do you track everything for reporting?

I just keep a simple spreadsheet with dates, hours worked, and gross pay. Makes it easy when I file my weekly claim. The key is being consistent and honest about everything.

Yes, that's exactly right! As long as you stay under your weekly benefit amount minus $5, you get your full benefit plus your earnings. It's designed to encourage people to take part-time work.

Wow, I had no idea. I've been turning down small jobs thinking it would hurt my benefits. This changes everything!

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr - their agents actually take the time to explain these things properly instead of rushing you off the phone.

I might have to look into that. Getting through to Washington ESD is such a nightmare these days.

Really? So even if I earn like $500 in a week and my benefit is $285, I should still file?

Absolutely! You won't get a payment for that week, but you need to keep filing to maintain your claim. If you skip filing, it can cause issues with your claim status.

It's never too late to start! Just make sure you understand the rules and report everything accurately going forward.

Definitely. I'm already looking into some part-time opportunities now that I understand how it works.

Good point. You still need to be actively seeking full-time employment and be available for work. Part-time earnings shouldn't interfere with your availability for suitable full-time positions.

Exactly. The earnings allowance is meant to help while you're job searching, not as a way to avoid looking for full-time work.

Yes, self-employment income counts too. Whether it's Uber, DoorDash, selling items online, freelance work - all of it needs to be reported as earnings and counts toward your allowance.

ok good to know. i was thinking about doing some food delivery to make extra money

When would your weekly benefit amount change? I thought that was set when your claim was approved.

It can change during certain circumstances like if you have a new claim year or if there are corrections to your wage records. The agent walked me through all the scenarios.

This is so important. I've seen people get in serious trouble for not reporting earnings, even small amounts. Washington ESD takes it very seriously.

Exactly. The penalties for not reporting can include paying back benefits plus fines. Just be honest and report everything.

Same here! It's nice to have some extra income without completely losing benefits. Makes the job search less stressful when you're not worried about money.

Absolutely. And the work experience helps too - keeps your skills sharp while you're looking for something permanent.

Glad we could help! Just remember to keep good records and report everything accurately. Good luck with your job search and part-time work!

Same here - this thread has been super helpful. I'm going to look into that Claimyr service too if I need to call Washington ESD about anything else.