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

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.

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

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.

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!!

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!

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

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.

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!

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.

Just wanted to share my recent experience with this exact situation! I was on Training Benefits for a dental assistant program and started working 15 hours/week at a retail job. The key is being super transparent with ESD from day one. When I started working, I called them directly to let them know and they actually appreciated the heads up. They walked me through exactly how to report my earnings and even helped me calculate what my weekly benefits would look like. One tip: keep a simple spreadsheet tracking your weekly hours and gross pay - it makes filling out the weekly claims so much easier and helps you plan ahead to make sure you don't accidentally earn too much in any given week. The combination of Training Benefits plus part-time income actually worked out great financially and I was able to complete my program without any issues!

I'm in a similar boat - just got approved for Training Benefits for a cybersecurity program and was offered a part-time remote job. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! One thing I wanted to add is that if you're doing an online/hybrid program like mine, make sure ESD knows your exact class schedule including any virtual components. I had to submit my detailed course schedule as part of my approval process, and I think having that documentation upfront will help if there are any questions later about work conflicts. Also, for anyone else reading this - the ESD website has a benefit calculator tool, but as others mentioned, it doesn't always work perfectly. I've found it helpful to do the math manually using the formula Connor shared (subtract $5, multiply remainder by 0.75, subtract from weekly benefit amount) and then double-check with the online tool if it's working. Planning to start my part-time work next week and feeling much more confident after reading everyone's experiences here!