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If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD to clarify any of this, I had success with Claimyr recently. They got me through to an agent in about 20 minutes when I'd been trying to call for days.
It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents by phone. Check out their demo video to see how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ
Bottom line - yes you can work part-time and collect unemployment in Washington. Just be honest, report everything accurately, and keep looking for full-time work. It's actually a great way to bridge the gap while job hunting.
Good luck OP. The system is frustrating but don't give up. Your claim will get resolved eventually, just keep pushing. We're all rooting for you!
The most important thing is to file your claim as soon as possible after becoming unemployed. Don't wait thinking you might find a job quickly - you can always stop filing weekly claims if you find work, but you can't backdate your claim to get benefits for weeks you didn't file.
That's really good advice. I was thinking about waiting a week or two to see if I heard back from any applications, but I'll file right away instead.
Hope this thread helped! The unemployment system seems complicated at first but once you get into the routine it becomes pretty automatic. File your initial claim, file weekly claims every Sunday, do your job search, and keep good records. You've got this!
OP, based on everything you've described, it really sounds like you need to speak with someone at Washington ESD to clarify your benefit type and resolve whatever's holding up your payments. Don't let this drag on for weeks.
Final thought - if you do end up needing to use something like Claimyr to get through, just make sure you have all your questions ready. When you finally reach someone, you want to make the most of that call.
Lena Kowalski
The bottom line is yes, unemployment counts as income for most purposes. Better to over-report than under-report when you're filling out applications or tax forms.
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Lydia Santiago
•Thanks everyone! This has been really helpful. I feel much more confident about handling this correctly now.
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Romeo Quest
•Good luck with everything! Don't hesitate to ask if you have more questions when tax time comes around.
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DeShawn Washington
saved this thread because i know im going to need this info soon. thanks for asking the question OP!
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Lydia Santiago
•Glad it helped someone else too! I was worried I was asking a dumb question.
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Romeo Quest
•Not a dumb question at all. This stuff is confusing and it's better to ask than to guess wrong.
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