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I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago when I got laid off from my retail job. I was so worried about losing my medicaid coverage because I really needed it for my medications. But like everyone else has said, you can definitely have both! The unemployment payments do count as income for medicaid purposes, but since my UI was only about $350 a week (way less than my job was paying), I had no problem keeping my medicaid coverage. The most important thing is to call your medicaid caseworker as soon as you get that first unemployment payment - don't wait. I made that mistake and waited almost a month to report it, and they weren't happy about that. But once I explained the situation and provided the documentation, everything was fine. Also, keep all your paperwork from both agencies organized because sometimes they'll ask for proof of your unemployment amount. It's actually kind of nice having both programs working together - gives you a safety net while you're job hunting. Hope this helps and good luck with your search!
This is really helpful - thank you for sharing your experience! I'm glad to hear it worked out for you. I was wondering about the paperwork aspect too. Do you remember what specific documents they asked for when you reported your unemployment income? I want to make sure I have everything ready when I call my caseworker. Also, $350 a week sounds like it's in the ballpark of what I might get, so it's reassuring to know that amount still kept you eligible for medicaid.
They mainly wanted to see my unemployment determination letter from Washington ESD (the one that shows your weekly benefit amount) and copies of my first few payment stubs. I think I also had to provide a printout from my online unemployment account showing my claim status. It wasn't too complicated - just basic proof that I was actually receiving the benefits and how much. The caseworker was actually pretty understanding once I explained that I had been nervous about reporting it right away. One tip: when you call, have your unemployment claim number handy because they'll probably ask for it to put in their notes. And definitely keep copies of everything for your own records!
I'm currently going through this same situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I got laid off from my job about three weeks ago and was really stressed about potentially losing my medicaid coverage when I started receiving unemployment benefits. Reading everyone's experiences here has given me so much peace of mind. I've been putting off calling my medicaid caseworker because I was worried they'd immediately cancel my coverage, but now I understand that being upfront about the income change is actually the best approach. My unemployment weekly amount will probably be around $450, which is still way less than what I was making at my job, so hopefully I'll continue to qualify. I'm planning to call my caseworker this week as soon as my first unemployment payment comes through. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - it really helps to know that other people have successfully navigated this process!
You're doing the right thing by calling them proactively! I was in almost the exact same situation last year - got laid off and was terrified about losing my medicaid. But honestly, the caseworkers deal with this all the time and they're usually pretty helpful. With your unemployment at $450/week, you should definitely still qualify since that's way below the medicaid income limits. Just make sure you have your unemployment determination letter ready when you call - they'll probably want to see that to update your file. The whole process was way less scary than I thought it would be. You've got this!
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I'm so relieved I found this thread before making the same mistake! I was planning to start doing Instacart this week and almost called ESD first - thank goodness I searched here instead. The fact that so many people have gotten wrong information from ESD agents about gig work classification is really alarming. It sounds like there's a serious training gap on their end when it comes to understanding the difference between independent contractors and employees. From everything I've read here, the consensus is crystal clear: - Instacart = independent contractor = self-employment for ESD purposes - Report gross earnings including tips and bonuses - Report for the week worked, not when paid - Keep detailed records with app screenshots I'm definitely going to bookmark this thread and refer back to it when I start filing my weekly claims. This community has been way more helpful and consistent than trying to navigate ESD's phone system. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - you've probably saved me from weeks of headaches trying to fix incorrect reporting! Has anyone put together a simple template or checklist for tracking gig work income that they'd be willing to share? I want to make sure I'm capturing all the right details from day one.
I don't have a formal template to share, but I can tell you what I wish I had tracked from the beginning! I keep a simple spreadsheet with columns for: Date, Platform (Instacart/DoorDash/etc), Hours Worked, Gross Earnings, Tips Received, Total for Week, and Notes. The Notes section is helpful for tracking things like "heavy order bonus" or if there were any app issues that affected pay. For screenshots, I take one every Sunday night showing my weekly earnings summary from each app I used that week. I also save them with descriptive filenames like "Instacart_Week_03-23-2025_$127.50" so I can find them easily later. The key thing I learned is consistency - pick whatever tracking method works for you and stick with it religiously. It's so much easier to stay on top of it weekly than trying to reconstruct everything later if ESD asks questions. You're definitely being smart by planning this out before you start!
I just wanted to jump in and say thank you to everyone who's shared their experiences here! I'm actually in a very similar situation - I've been on unemployment for about two months and was considering starting some gig work to supplement my benefits. I was planning to call ESD first to ask about reporting requirements, but after reading this thread I'm so glad I found this information first. It's honestly shocking how many people have gotten incorrect information from ESD agents about gig work classification. The fact that multiple people were told Instacart drivers are "employees" instead of independent contractors is really concerning - that kind of misinformation could seriously mess up someone's benefits if they follow it. I'm definitely going to treat any gig work as self-employment when I start, and I'm going to implement the tracking strategies everyone has mentioned here. The screenshot method and keeping detailed weekly records seems like the way to go. One thing I'm curious about - for those of you who've been doing this successfully for months, have you noticed any patterns in terms of which ESD agents seem more knowledgeable about gig work? Or is it pretty much a lottery every time you call? I'm hoping to avoid getting bad advice if I ever do need to contact them about this topic. Thanks again for sharing all your real-world experience. This thread should honestly be pinned somewhere as a resource for other people dealing with the same confusion!
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I'm seeing this happen to so many people lately! Just wanted to add that you should also check if there are any "alerts" or "to-do" items in your account that might not be showing up in the obvious places. Sometimes ESD creates these tasks that need to be completed before they'll process your weekly claims, but they don't always make them easy to find. Also, when you do get through to someone (and you will!), ask them to walk you through each question on your weekly claim to make sure you understand exactly what they're asking for. I've found that ESD agents are usually pretty helpful once you actually reach them - the hard part is just getting through the phone system. One more tip: if you have a smartphone, you can try calling from different numbers (like a family member's phone) if you keep getting disconnected. Sometimes their system gets overwhelmed from certain area codes or carriers. Don't lose hope - based on all these success stories, it sounds like your situation is totally fixable!
Great point about checking for hidden alerts or to-do items! I actually just went back through my account after reading your suggestion and found there was a small notification icon I had missed before. It wasn't anything urgent, but it's a good reminder to really dig through every section of the eServices portal. Your tip about calling from different phone numbers is really clever too - I never would have thought that the system might handle different area codes or carriers differently. I'm going to try calling from both my cell and my landline tomorrow morning. Thanks for all the practical advice and for the encouragement that this is fixable!
I'm a new member here and stumbled across this thread while dealing with my own unemployment issues. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly helpful and reassuring! I wanted to add something that might help - if you're having trouble getting through to ESD by phone, you can also try reaching out to your local WorkSource office. They often have direct lines to ESD representatives and can sometimes help troubleshoot these kinds of weekly claim issues. When I had a similar problem last month, the WorkSource counselor was able to look at my claim and immediately spot that I had entered my job search activities in the wrong format. Also, I noticed several people mentioned checking physical mail - this is SO important! ESD sent me a notice about needing to verify my identity, but it only came by regular mail, not through the online system. I almost missed it completely. @Isabella Tucker - your situation sounds exactly like what happened to me initially. The good news is that "disqualified" for a weekly claim really doesn't mean your entire claim is denied, especially if your overall claim status is still active. Keep filing those weekly claims and don't give up on reaching ESD. Based on all the success stories here, it sounds like you'll get this resolved soon!
@Leo McDonald - Thank you so much for the WorkSource tip! I had completely forgotten about them as a resource. That s'brilliant that they have direct lines to ESD representatives - definitely worth trying if I can t'get through on the main number tomorrow. Your point about the identity verification notice only coming by mail is really important too. I ve'been so focused on checking my online account that I haven t'been watching my physical mailbox as carefully as I should. I m'going to make sure to check it daily from now on. It s'really encouraging to hear from someone else who had the exact same issue and got it resolved. All these success stories are giving me so much hope that this really is just a temporary glitch that can be fixed once I reach the right person. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience and for the encouragement!
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This is exactly what happened to me last month! Got my approval letter but was stuck in processing for 5 weeks. Turns out ESD had flagged my claim for additional documentation that I never received notice about. The system glitch that prevents them from sending proper notifications is apparently a known issue but they haven't fixed it yet. I ended up having to physically go to the WorkSource office in my area - they were able to see the hold on my account immediately and help me submit what was needed. If calling doesn't work, that might be another option. The in-person staff can often see issues that don't show up in your online account. Really hope you get this sorted out soon - the stress of waiting for benefits you've already been approved for is awful!
That's really helpful to know about the WorkSource office option! I didn't even think about going in person. The system glitch preventing proper notifications is such a huge problem - how many people are probably stuck waiting without knowing there's additional documentation needed? It's good that you mentioned this because calling might not work for everyone (like when the phone lines are constantly busy). Having a backup plan to visit WorkSource could save people weeks of frustration. Thanks for sharing that alternative solution!
This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with something similar - got my approval letter 4 weeks ago but payments are still stuck in processing. After reading everyone's experiences here, it's clear that identity verification issues are way more common than ESD communicates. I've been calling for weeks with no luck getting through, but now I have a better strategy: call right at 8am and specifically ask about identity verification holds. I also didn't know about the WorkSource office option - that could be a lifesaver if the phone lines stay jammed. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions. It's frustrating that we have to crowdsource this information because ESD's communication is so poor, but at least we can help each other navigate this broken system!
Jamal Wilson
I'm new to unemployment benefits and this whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I just lost my job at a marketing firm where I was making about $75k annually. Based on what everyone's explained about the base period calculations, it sounds like I might not qualify for the full $999 maximum since my earnings weren't quite high enough in any single quarter. But even getting something in the $700-800 range would be a huge help while I search for a new position. One question I still have - does anyone know if freelance work I did on the side affects the benefit calculation at all? I did some consulting work that was reported on 1099s, but I'm not sure if that counts toward the base period wages or if it's only W-2 income that matters. Also, thanks to everyone who mentioned Claimyr - I'm definitely going to keep that in mind if I run into issues getting through to Washington ESD. The phone system sounds like a nightmare based on all your experiences!
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Kai Rivera
•Welcome to the community, Jamal! Your $75k salary should definitely put you in a good position for benefits - you're right that you'll probably land somewhere in that $700-800 range rather than the full maximum. Just to add to what others have said about the 1099 work - it won't help your benefit calculation, but make sure you understand the reporting requirements if you continue doing any freelance work while collecting. You'll need to report all earnings on your weekly claims, and there's a specific formula they use to reduce your benefits based on what you earn. One thing I'd suggest is creating an account on the Washington ESD website before you actually need to file - it can save time later and you can access tools like the wage history lookup to double-check what earnings they have on file for you. Sometimes employers make reporting errors that can affect your benefit amount. The Claimyr recommendation is solid - I used it myself when I had questions about my base period calculation and it was worth every penny to actually talk to someone who could explain the specifics of my situation. Way better than the endless busy signals! Best of luck with both the claim process and your job search in marketing. The benefits should definitely help take some pressure off while you find your next role.
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Zoe Papadopoulos
•Welcome to the community, Jamal! Your situation sounds very similar to what I went through recently. With a $75k salary, you should definitely qualify for a solid benefit amount - probably right in that range you estimated. Just to add some practical advice - when you file your claim, make sure you have your most recent pay stubs handy. Sometimes there can be delays if Washington ESD needs to verify your wages with your employer, so having documentation ready can help speed things up. Regarding the 1099 consulting work, unfortunately that won't boost your benefit calculation since only W-2 wages count toward your base period. But definitely keep track of any ongoing freelance income because you'll need to report it on your weekly claims if you continue doing consulting work while collecting benefits. One thing I learned from this thread is to really pay attention to your monetary determination letter when you get it. It will show exactly which quarters they used and how they calculated your benefit amount. If something looks off, you can appeal within 30 days. Hope your job search in marketing goes well! The benefits should definitely help take some of the stress off while you're looking for the right opportunity.
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Muhammad Hobbs
Hey everyone! I'm also new to this whole unemployment system after being laid off from my tech job last month. This thread has been incredibly helpful - way better than trying to decipher the Washington ESD website on my own! I was making about $92k annually, so based on all the explanations here about quarterly earnings and base periods, I'm hoping I might qualify for something close to the maximum. My biggest concern is that I got a significant raise in October, so I'm not sure if those higher earnings will be included in my base period calculation or not. Has anyone dealt with a situation where most of your higher earnings were in recent quarters that might not count? I'm wondering if I should request the alternate base period that someone mentioned earlier, or if Washington ESD automatically uses whichever calculation gives you the higher benefit amount. Also wanted to say thanks to everyone who shared their experiences with Claimyr - definitely bookmarking that for later if I run into the phone system issues everyone's describing. Sounds like it could save a lot of headache! The job search requirements seem pretty manageable compared to what I was worried about. Three activities per week doesn't sound too bad, especially since networking and updating LinkedIn apparently count. Really appreciate everyone sharing their knowledge here. Makes the whole process feel way less intimidating!
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Camila Jordan
•Hey Muhammad! Welcome to the community! Your $92k salary should definitely put you in a great position for benefits - you'll likely qualify for very close to the maximum $999 weekly amount. The good news about your October raise is that Washington ESD automatically evaluates both the standard and alternate base periods and uses whichever calculation gives you the higher benefit. Since your raise was so recent, there's a really strong chance they'll use the alternate base period to capture those higher quarterly earnings, which should work in your favor. I actually went through something similar when I filed - got a promotion with a significant salary bump partway through the year and was worried the timing would hurt my calculation. Turns out they automatically used the alternate base period and I ended up with a much higher weekly benefit than I initially expected. When you get your monetary determination letter, just double-check that the quarterly earnings match up with your actual pay history. If something looks off or if they didn't capture your higher recent earnings, that's definitely when Claimyr becomes worth it to actually talk to someone who can walk through your specific situation. The job search requirements really aren't too intimidating once you get into a routine - networking calls, LinkedIn updates, and actual applications all count toward your three weekly activities. With the tech market being so challenging right now, having solid unemployment benefits should give you the financial cushion to be strategic about your next role instead of feeling pressured to take the first offer that comes along. Best of luck with your claim process and job search!
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Lourdes Fox
•Hey Muhammad! Welcome to the community! Your $92k salary should definitely put you very close to that maximum $999 weekly benefit. The timing of your October raise actually works in your favor - Washington ESD automatically evaluates both the standard and alternate base periods and will use whichever gives you the higher amount. Since your raise was so recent, they'll almost certainly use the alternate base period to capture those higher quarterly earnings. I was in a similar situation with a mid-year promotion and ended up getting much more than I initially calculated because they used the more recent quarters. The system is designed to give you the best possible outcome automatically - you don't need to request anything special. Just make sure to review your monetary determination letter carefully when it arrives to confirm the quarterly wages match your actual pay history. If anything looks off, that's when Claimyr becomes really valuable for getting through to discuss your specific wage calculation with an agent. The tech layoffs have been brutal lately, but having solid unemployment benefits should give you breathing room to be selective about your next opportunity instead of feeling pressured to jump at the first offer. The three weekly job search activities are totally manageable - networking and LinkedIn updates count, so it's stuff you'd probably be doing anyway while job hunting. Good luck with your claim and job search!
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