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This whole conversation makes me glad I'm just focusing on my job search instead of trying to juggle gig work too. Seems like a lot of extra complications.
I hear you, but sometimes you need the extra income to get by. As long as you report everything properly, it's manageable.
True, everyone's situation is different. Good luck with everything!
One last thing - make sure your gig work doesn't put you over the maximum earnings threshold for the week. If you earn too much, you might lose your entire UI benefit for that week.
Generally if your earnings exceed your weekly benefit amount, you won't receive any UI for that week. But there might be some allowances built in.
I've been doing some research on this and from what I can find on the Washington ESD website, there's actually a partial earnings disregard. It's not a simple dollar-for-dollar reduction. I believe you can earn up to 25% of your weekly benefit amount before any deduction, then they subtract the remaining earnings from your benefit. But the exact calculation is complex and I'd recommend calling to confirm your specific situation.
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Just want to add that I did something similar in 2024 and my experience was actually pretty smooth. I think it depends a lot on which field you're going into and whether ESD considers it "in demand." I got approved for retraining in healthcare IT after about 4 weeks. Make sure ALL your documentation is perfect - I included labor market info from WorkSource showing the job growth in my new field compared to my old one. Also found it helpful to meet with a WorkSource counselor first who helped me prepare my application. They know exactly what ESD is looking for!
worksorce helped me too theyre actually really nice in person not like the website that never works lol
As someone who just went through this process last year, I'd strongly recommend getting your application in ASAP! I was in a similar situation - laid off from manufacturing and wanted to switch to cybersecurity. The whole process took about 5 weeks for approval, but it was totally worth it. One tip that really helped me: when you fill out the application, be super specific about why warehouse jobs are declining in your area. I included actual statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showing job losses in my old field vs. projected growth in IT. Also, make sure your chosen program leads to industry-recognized certifications - ESD loves that because it shows clear employability. Once approved, you're golden - no more job searches while in training, and you can focus 100% on your studies. The relief was incredible! IT is definitely considered "in demand" so you should have a good shot at approval. Best of luck!
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The anxiety around job search documentation is real but try not to let it consume you. Focus your energy on actually finding work rather than stressing about perfect record keeping. Document what you can and keep applying for jobs.
You're right, I need to focus on the job search itself rather than just the paperwork. Thanks for the perspective.
This is good advice. The whole point is to find employment, not to become a professional record keeper.
I completely understand the anxiety around documentation - I went through the same thing when I first started claiming. Here's what has worked for me: I created a simple Google Sheet with columns for date, company name, position title, how I applied (Indeed, company website, etc.), and any confirmation info. For applications without confirmation emails, I take a screenshot of the "application submitted" page or the job posting itself. I also save job postings as PDFs in case they get removed later. The key is consistency - do it right after each application while it's fresh in your mind. You're already doing great by being proactive about this!
This is such a helpful system! I love the idea of using Google Sheets - that way I can access it from anywhere and it's automatically backed up. The PDF saving tip is brilliant too, I never thought about job postings getting removed. I'm definitely going to set this up today. Thanks for sharing what works for you!
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This is really helpful info everyone! I'm new to the unemployment system and had no idea about reporting work hours vs payment timing. Quick question - when you estimate the hourly rate for reporting purposes, do you include things like potential tips or just the base wage? I have another interview coming up at a restaurant where they mentioned tips are part of the compensation but obviously I won't know that amount beforehand.
For restaurant work, you should only report the base hourly wage when estimating earnings - don't try to guess tip amounts since those are completely unpredictable and vary by shift. Tips get reported separately when you actually receive them (usually when you file your claim for the week you worked). So if they say the base wage is $15/hour plus tips, just use the $15 for your estimate. You can always update ESD later once you know the actual total compensation including tips.
Just wanted to add my experience here - I was in a very similar situation about 6 months ago with a working interview at a tech startup. I reported the hours worked (8 hours over 2 days) and estimated the earnings based on what they told me the hourly rate would be during the interview process. When I actually got hired and received my first paycheck, the rate was slightly different than what I had estimated, so I called ESD to let them know. They were able to adjust my claim retroactively without any issues. The key thing is being proactive about reporting - ESD really does appreciate when you're transparent about work performed, even if the payment details aren't 100% certain yet. Good luck with the job!
Kara Yoshida
Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I feel much more prepared to handle the tax situation now. At least I know what to expect and how to set up withholding if I ever need unemployment benefits again.
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Angel Campbell
•Same here! This thread has been super helpful. Wish I had known all this when I first started receiving benefits.
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Philip Cowan
•Glad this helped! Tax season is stressful enough without surprises about unemployment benefits being taxable.
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Brooklyn Foley
Just wanted to add that if you're using tax software like TurboTax or H&R Block, they usually have specific sections for unemployment income that make it pretty straightforward. You just enter the info from your 1099-G form and it calculates everything automatically. I was worried it would be complicated but it was actually one of the easier parts of my tax return.
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