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Olivia Clark

Will ESD cancel my Training Benefits if I start working part-time?

I just got approved for ESD Training Benefits for a 9-month IT certification program starting next month. Super excited but now I got offered a part-time job (20hrs/week) that would help with bills while in school. Will taking this job make me lose my Training Benefits? The approval letter mentions something about 'availability for work' requirements being waived during approved training, but I'm confused if that means I CAN'T work or if I'm just not REQUIRED to look for work. Anyone know if working part-time is allowed while on Training Benefits? I really need both the income and the training!

Congrats on getting Training Benefits approved! That's not easy. You CAN work part-time while receiving Training Benefits - the 'availability for work' waiver just means you don't have to do the usual job search activities, not that you can't work. However, you need to report your earnings each week when you file your weekly claim. Your weekly benefit amount will be reduced based on how much you earn (after the first $5, they deduct 75% of your earnings from your weekly benefit). As long as you're still eligible for at least $1 in benefits each week, you'll remain in the program.

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Thank you so much! That makes me feel a lot better. So basically I need to make sure I don't earn too much or I could lose the benefits completely? Is there a specific earnings threshold I should stay under?

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i did this last yr but BE CAREFUL with ur hours!!! if u make too much money in a week they might not pay u for that week and it counts against ur total weeks of training benefits. the ESD online calculator thing never worked right for me so i just had to guess and pray lol

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Ugh that's what I'm worried about! Did you ever lose a week of benefits because you earned too much? How did you figure out the right balance?

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The key thing to understand is that Training Benefits modify your job search requirements, not your earning potential. You'll need to report all earnings, and ESD will calculate your partial benefit for each week. The formula they use: subtract $5 from your gross earnings, then multiply the remainder by 0.75. That amount is deducted from your weekly benefit. Example: If your weekly benefit amount is $500 and you earn $300 in a week: - Subtract $5 from $300 = $295 - Multiply $295 by 0.75 = $221.25 - Subtract $221.25 from $500 = $278.75 would be your benefit that week Just make sure your calculated benefit doesn't drop to $0 or you'll lose that week of benefits.

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This is super helpful, thank you! I think I'll be OK with the hours/pay at this job, but I'll definitely keep track carefully. Would hate to lose a week of benefits accidentally.

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DONT TRUST THE WEBSITE!!! i had training benefits approved then i started working part time and they CANCELED my whole training program saying i wasnt available for full time school suddenly. had to FIGHT to get it reinstated and missed 3 weeks of benefits. call them directly!!! the website says one thing but then they do another!!

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This is why I always tell people to use Claimyr when dealing with ESD. I was in the same situation last month and spent DAYS trying to get through to ESD directly with no luck. Then I found claimyr.com and had a callback from an actual ESD agent within an hour. They have a demo video here: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 that shows how it works. Saved me weeks of stress and clarified exactly how much I could work without losing my Training Benefits.

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Just wanted to add that Training Benefits are different from regular unemployment in a few important ways. Your approved training plan has a specific timeframe, and you get a set number of weeks for that program. If you start working and earn too much in some weeks (where your benefit calculates to $0), those weeks still count against your total allocation but you don't receive payment for them. So be strategic about when you work more hours if possible. Also, make sure your school/training provider continues to verify your attendance. Some people work part-time and think they don't need to have their attendance verified anymore, but you do!

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This is a really good point about the weeks still counting even if I don't get paid! I hadn't thought about that. And thanks for the reminder about attendance verification - definitely don't want to mess that up.

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just wondering did u apply for training benefits before or after u started the program? im thinking about doing something similar but haven't applied for the training benefit yet

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I applied about 6 weeks before my program starts. They recommend applying at least 4 weeks before because the approval process can take a while. Definitely don't wait until you've already started!

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One more thing to consider: if you're working part-time while in training, make sure it doesn't interfere with your approved training schedule. ESD can revoke Training Benefits if they determine your work schedule conflicts with your ability to complete the approved training program. So if your classes are during the day, try to find evening/weekend work, or vice versa.

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That's a good point - fortunately the job is evenings and my classes are daytime, so there shouldn't be a conflict. I'll make sure to mention that if ESD has questions about my availability for training.

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I'm glad you're getting good advice here. To summarize the key points: 1. Yes, you can work part-time while receiving Training Benefits 2. Report all earnings accurately on your weekly claims 3. Your benefits will be reduced based on earnings, but you remain in the program 4. Weeks where you earn too much (resulting in $0 benefit) still count against your total 5. Ensure work doesn't conflict with your training schedule 6. Keep up with attendance verification With proper planning, many people successfully combine part-time work with Training Benefits. Good luck with your IT certification program!

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Thank you for this perfect summary! I feel much more confident now about accepting the job while continuing with my training program. Really appreciate everyone's help!

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Great thread! I'm in a similar situation - just got approved for Training Benefits for a coding bootcamp and was wondering about work. One thing I learned from my ESD caseworker is that you should also keep documentation of your part-time work schedule and how it doesn't interfere with training. They might ask for this during reviews. Also, if your employer offers flexible scheduling, that can be really helpful for managing both work and school commitments. The income calculation formula mentioned earlier is spot on - I've been using it to plan my work hours each week to stay within the benefit threshold.

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