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Bottom line: plan for 26 weeks maximum, hope for less because he finds work sooner. That's the realistic approach in 2025 with no extensions available.
One more tip - if his claim gets complicated or goes into adjudication for any reason, consider using that Claimyr service to get through to an agent quickly. Adjudication can eat up weeks of your benefit time if you can't resolve issues fast.
Yeah, definitely bookmark claimyr.com just in case. It's a lifesaver when you actually need to talk to someone at Washington ESD.
Washington ESD's website has a tax information page that explains all this, but like everything else on their site, it's buried and hard to find. Wish they made important info like this more accessible.
Final thought: Keep good records of all your unemployment payments and any taxes withheld. Don't rely solely on the 1099-G in case there are discrepancies. Screenshot your payment history or print it out regularly.
The bottom line is that it's possible to get both, but you need to meet all the requirements for unemployment while being honest about your disability. The 'able and available' requirement is key - you have to genuinely be able to work within your restrictions.
One more thing - if you do get approved for both benefits, the unemployment office might periodically review your case to make sure you're still meeting the requirements. Don't be surprised if they ask for updated medical documentation.
Been helping people with unemployment claims for years. The Sunday rule is solid advice. File the Sunday of the week you become unemployed, have your employment history ready, and be honest about everything.
wish i had known about the sunday timing when i got laid off. waited almost a week to file and probably missed out on some benefits. dont make my mistake!
Emma Davis
Washington ESD also considers your availability when you're working part-time. You still need to be available for full-time work and able to accept a job if offered. If your part-time schedule conflicts with that, it could be an issue.
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Jamal Wilson
•The freelance work is flexible hours so that shouldn't be a problem. I can still interview and accept full-time work.
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CosmicCaptain
•That's perfect then. Flexible part-time work is ideal while you're job searching.
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Malik Johnson
Bottom line: report the income, keep looking for full-time work, and don't try to game the system. Washington ESD has gotten much better at catching people who don't follow the rules.
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Jamal Wilson
•Thanks everyone for all the advice. I feel much more confident about taking this freelance work now.
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Isabella Ferreira
•Good luck with the work! It's nice to have some income coming in while job searching.
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