This whole conversation has been incredibly reassuring! I'm actually in a very similar situation to the original poster - been collecting for about 5 weeks and just got offered a part-time retail position. What really stands out to me from reading everyone's experiences is how the system is actually designed to encourage part-time work rather than penalize it. The formula seems straightforward once you understand it, and the key theme I'm seeing is just being completely transparent about everything. I'm feeling much more confident about accepting this job offer now. One small thing I wanted to add that I learned from my own research - make sure you save copies of your weekly claim confirmations that show you reported work. I read somewhere that having that documentation can be helpful if there are ever any questions down the road about what you reported and when. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences here - it's so much more helpful than trying to decipher the official ESD website!

As someone who just went through this exact process, I can confirm that Washington ESD actually makes it pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it. I was terrified at first too, but after working part-time for the last 8 weeks while collecting, I've learned it's really not as scary as it seems. The key things that helped me: 1) Set up a simple spreadsheet to track every shift - date, hours, gross pay before taxes, 2) Report everything on the week you actually worked (not when you got paid), 3) Don't stress about small calculation errors - just be honest and ESD will figure out the math. The partial benefit reduction actually worked out better than I expected financially. My weekly benefit is $380, and when I work about 12-15 hours and earn around $200, I still get about $180 in unemployment benefits. So I'm actually bringing in more total income than just unemployment alone. Just take that part-time job and be meticulous about reporting - you've got this!

UPDATE: After trying everything suggested here, I finally got through to ESD using the Claimyr service. The agent confirmed my ID docs were fine and just needed review. She expedited my case and THREE HOURS LATER my account updated to "paid"! All 4 weeks of backpay should hit my account tomorrow. For anyone dealing with this - keep filing weekly claims, be persistent about calling, and document everything. Thanks everyone for your help and advice during this stressful time.

Wow, Carmen, congratulations on getting your claim resolved! Your experience gives me hope. I'm currently on week 3 of ID verification adjudication and getting really anxious about my finances. It's reassuring to hear that the agent was able to expedite your case once you actually got through to them. I've been hesitant to try third-party services but seeing your success story makes me think it might be worth it. Did the Claimyr service cost anything? And for others still waiting - Carmen's story proves that sometimes the documents are just sitting there waiting for review, not because there's actually an issue with them. Keep pushing!

Glad we could help. Remember, the work search requirement is there to support your job hunting efforts, not make your life harder.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm also new to the unemployment work search requirements and was feeling overwhelmed. One thing I wanted to add - I've found that creating a simple spreadsheet with columns for date, company name, position applied for, method (online, email, in-person), and any follow-up actions has been really helpful for staying organized. It makes it so much easier when I'm filling out my weekly claim and I don't have to try to remember what I did earlier in the week. Plus having everything in one place helps me track which applications I should follow up on.

I'm a benefits counselor who works with displaced workers, and I see this confusion all the time. Let me give you some clarity on your situation. Based on what you've described - a one-time $8,500 withdrawal from your 401k for emergency medical bills after being laid off from construction - this should NOT be considered reportable income for unemployment purposes in Washington state. Here's why: 1. It's a one-time withdrawal, not regular pension payments 2. It's from YOUR own contributions (construction jobs rarely have significant employer matching) 3. It's not "new income" - it's your own previously-earned money accessed early due to emergency The 6 weeks you've already claimed without reporting it shouldn't be a problem since you weren't intentionally hiding anything - you were just confused by unclear guidance (which happens to almost everyone). I strongly recommend calling ESD to get official confirmation. Use this exact phrasing: "This is a one-time early withdrawal of my own 401k contributions due to emergency medical expenses - not regular pension payments." Ask for a supervisor if the first agent seems uncertain, as they have better training on these distinctions. Don't second-guess the medical emergency withdrawal - that's exactly what these funds are for when facing urgent situations with no other viable options. Focus on getting the ESD question resolved so you can have peace of mind moving forward. You're going to be fine - this is a common situation with a clear resolution once you get the right ESD representative on the phone.

I just wanted to follow up and say THANK YOU to everyone who shared their experiences and advice in this thread! As a newcomer to this whole unemployment process, I was really overwhelmed and scared about potentially messing up my benefits over something I didn't understand. After reading through all your responses, I finally worked up the courage to call ESD this morning. I used the exact phrasing several of you recommended: "This is a one-time early withdrawal of my own 401k contributions due to emergency medical expenses - not regular pension payments." The first agent I spoke with seemed uncertain, so I politely asked to speak with a supervisor (thanks for that tip!). The supervisor was incredibly knowledgeable and confirmed that my $8,500 withdrawal should NOT be reported as income for unemployment purposes since it was my own contributions from previous paychecks, not new income. She also assured me that the 6 weeks I'd already claimed without reporting it was completely fine since I wasn't trying to hide anything - just genuinely confused by the rules (which she said happens all the time). I documented everything - got her name, ID number, date and time of the call - so I have it all on record now. This community is amazing! The fact that so many people took time to share their personal experiences and professional expertise really made all the difference. I went from panicking about potential fraud accusations to having complete peace of mind. You all are lifesavers! 🙏

I went through something similar a few years ago. One thing that really helped me was creating a detailed budget to figure out exactly how much I needed vs how much I wanted to withdraw. I ended up taking out just $3,000 instead of the $8,000 I originally planned, and it was enough to bridge me until I found work. Also look into whether your 401k provider offers any hardship withdrawal options - some have reduced penalties for unemployment situations. The regular early withdrawal penalty is brutal but every little bit helps when you're already in a tough spot.

Hey, I'm in a similar boat - been unemployed for about 4 months now and had to make this exact decision. I ended up withdrawing $5,000 from my 401k last month and it didn't affect my Washington ESD benefits at all. The tax hit was painful though - about 32% total between federal taxes, state taxes, and the 10% early withdrawal penalty. What I wish I had done differently was withdrawing smaller amounts as needed rather than one lump sum, because once you withdraw it, you can't put it back and the compound interest you lose over time is significant. Also, definitely exhaust other options first if you haven't already - I found some local emergency assistance programs through United Way that helped with utilities, which let me stretch my UI benefits further. The 211 number that someone mentioned earlier is legit - they connected me to resources I didn't even know existed.