When do I stop collecting unemployment benefits in Washington ESD?

You stop filing weekly claims the week you start working full-time (30+ hours) or when your gross weekly earnings exceed your weekly benefit amount plus $5. Part-time work is fine - you can still collect partial benefits as long as you report your earnings on your weekly claim.

Whatever you do, DON'T stop filing before you actually start work! I made that mistake once and lost 2 weeks of benefits because I thought accepting the job meant I had to stop immediately.

I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks about this exact question but can never get through. Their phone lines are always busy and when I do get in the queue, I get disconnected after waiting forever. Has anyone found a better way to reach them?

The key thing is ALWAYS report your work and earnings honestly on your weekly claims. Washington ESD will figure out if you still qualify for benefits. Better to over-report than under-report.

ugh this system is so confusing!! why cant they just make it simple - work = no benefits, no work = benefits. all these partial benefit calculations make my head spin

Don't forget about the job search requirements too. Even if you're working part-time and collecting partial benefits, you still need to do your 3 job search activities per week unless you're on standby with your employer.

I had a similar situation last year. Worked 25 hours one week and still got about $150 in unemployment benefits after they did their calculation. Just make sure you report everything accurately on your weekly claim.

Be careful about orientation days and training! Some people think those don't count as 'work' but they do. If you're getting paid for orientation, report it.

The Washington ESD website has a pretty good explanation of when to stop filing, but honestly their phone agents give better specific advice for your situation. Problem is getting through to them...

Whatever you do, don't just stop filing without checking first. I know someone who stopped filing when they got a job offer, then the job fell through a week later and they had to restart their whole claim process.

Important note: if you're going back to work for your previous employer (like being recalled from layoff), that might affect your benefits differently than starting a new job. Check with Washington ESD about your specific situation.

I've been dealing with this stuff for months and honestly the best advice is to call Washington ESD directly for your specific situation. Every case is a little different.

Also remember that temp work counts too! If you take temporary assignments, you need to report those earnings even if the assignment only lasts a few days.

The bottom line is you can work part-time and still collect some unemployment benefits in Washington, but you have to report everything honestly. Once you're working full-time (usually 30+ hours) or earning more than your weekly benefit amount, that's when you stop filing claims.