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Thanks everyone for all the responses! Sounds like the consensus is that selling personal belongings isn't income I need to report, as long as I'm not running a business. I'll keep records just in case but I feel much better about selling some stuff now. Really appreciate all the help!
Glad we could help! And if you ever need to talk to Washington ESD directly about anything, definitely check out that Claimyr service. Made my life so much easier.
Hope you get some good money for your stuff! Every little bit helps when you're on unemployment.
I went through this same situation a few months ago. I was decluttering my place and sold about $600 worth of furniture, old electronics, and clothes over a couple months on Facebook Marketplace. I kept detailed records with photos and sale prices, but never reported it on my weekly claims since it was all personal property I'd owned for years. Never had any issues with ESD. The key is making sure you're truly selling your own belongings and not buying things to resell - that would cross into business territory. Keep good documentation and you should be fine!
This is really helpful to hear from someone who actually went through it! I'm in a similar situation - need to sell some furniture and electronics to help with bills while I'm job hunting. Did you find Facebook Marketplace worked well for furniture sales? I've been hesitant to list my bigger items because I wasn't sure if there would be much interest.
@Amina Toure This is exactly the kind of real experience I needed to hear! $600 over a couple months from personal belongings sounds very reasonable and it s'great that you had no issues with ESD. I m'planning to sell some similar items - old laptop, dresser, some clothes - so this gives me confidence to move forward. Did you happen to mention to ESD that you were doing this when you talked to them, or did you just handle it on your own since it was personal property?
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Thanks everyone for explaining this! I was totally lost when I first got my determination letter but this thread cleared up a lot of my confusion. The quarter-based calculation makes more sense now.
Glad this helped! Unemployment can be so confusing when you're dealing with it for the first time.
Definitely! This community is great for breaking down complex Washington ESD stuff into understandable terms.
This is such a helpful thread! I'm a newcomer here and just filed my first unemployment claim last week. I was completely confused by all the base period terminology and quarterly calculations, but reading through everyone's explanations really cleared things up. It's reassuring to know that the formula is actually pretty straightforward - highest quarter divided by 26 weeks. I was overthinking it and trying to factor in all kinds of complicated percentages I found on various websites. Now I just need to wait for my monetary determination to see what my actual benefit amount will be. Thanks to everyone who took the time to explain this stuff in plain English!
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I'm going through this exact same process right now - filed my initial claim last week and have been checking my account obsessively every day! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. The one-week waiting period was news to me, and I definitely wasn't aware that job search activities needed to start immediately. I've been hesitating to start applying places thinking I should wait for my claim to be approved first, but clearly I need to get moving on that right away. It's also good to know that 2-3 weeks is a normal timeline even for straightforward cases - I was getting worried that something was wrong since it's been over a week with no payment yet. Going to double-check my direct deposit info and make sure I'm staying on top of those weekly claims. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences and timelines - this has been way more informative than the official Washington ESD resources!
You're definitely not alone in feeling anxious about checking your account constantly! I went through the same thing when I filed. One thing that really helped me was understanding that the system updates aren't always immediate - sometimes status changes happen overnight or during business hours, so checking multiple times a day doesn't necessarily give you new info. The job search requirement definitely catches people off guard since it's not super prominent when you're filing. I'd recommend getting started on WorkSourceWA right away and logging any networking, resume updates, or job applications you do. Even informal job search activities count, so don't feel like you need to be applying to 10 jobs a day immediately. The weekly claims are definitely your lifeline though - keep filing those religiously even if your main claim is still pending. Hang in there, the waiting period is tough but most people do get through it!
I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now - filed my initial claim last Tuesday and have been anxiously waiting to see when I'll actually receive money. It's such a relief to read through everyone's experiences and realize that the 2-3 week timeline is pretty normal, even for straightforward layoffs like mine. I had been getting really stressed thinking something was wrong since it's been over a week with no movement. The one-week waiting period definitely wasn't clearly explained when I filed, so I was confused about why I wouldn't get paid for that first week. I've been keeping up with my weekly claims and just started logging job search activities after reading this thread - wish I had known that needed to start immediately! Going to double-check my direct deposit information tonight and try to be more patient with the process. Thanks everyone for sharing your real timelines and experiences - this has been way more helpful than anything on the official Washington ESD website.
I totally understand that anxiety! I went through the same exact thing when I filed - constantly refreshing my account and wondering if I did something wrong. It's so frustrating that Washington ESD doesn't make the timeline clearer upfront. The one-week waiting period really should be explained more prominently during the application process. You're doing all the right things by keeping up with weekly claims and getting started on job search activities. I learned the hard way that staying consistent with those weekly filings is crucial, even when nothing seems to be happening with your main claim. The direct deposit double-check is smart too - I've heard too many stories about people having delays just because of outdated bank info. Try to hang in there, I know the waiting is nerve-wracking when you're counting on that income, but it sounds like you're on the right track!
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If you're still having trouble reaching someone at Washington ESD about how your benefits might affect your school enrollment, you might want to check out claimyr.com. I used their service to actually get through to a real person at Washington ESD when I couldn't get through on my own. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really helped me get the answers I needed about my specific situation.
Oh interesting, I hadn't heard of that service before. Did it actually work to get you through to Washington ESD?
Yeah, it saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals. I was able to talk to someone about my school enrollment and get everything straightened out with my claim.
I went through this exact situation two years ago when I was laid off from my job at Boeing and had to navigate both Washington ESD benefits and FAFSA applications. Here's what I learned: Yes, your unemployment benefits absolutely count as income on the FAFSA, but don't let that discourage you from applying for aid. The key things to remember are: 1) Get your 1099-G form from Washington ESD as soon as it's available (usually in January), 2) File your taxes early so you can use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool on your FAFSA, and 3) Be completely honest about all income sources. I ended up qualifying for both federal and state aid even with my UI benefits reported. Also, once you start school, make sure to update Washington ESD about your class schedule - they have specific rules about students collecting benefits. The financial aid office at your school will be your best resource for navigating any complications. Don't give up on your education goals because of this temporary income situation!
This is incredibly detailed and helpful - thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who actually went through this with Boeing layoffs and Washington ESD. I'm definitely going to follow your advice about getting the 1099-G early and filing taxes ASAP so I can use that data retrieval tool. Quick question - when you updated Washington ESD about your class schedule, did they reduce your benefits or were you able to keep collecting while in school?
Mateo Gonzalez
Update: Just had my WorkSource appointment this morning and wanted to share for others in my situation. It was much better than expected! The counselor was actually close to retirement herself and totally understood my challenges. We talked about age-friendly employers in my area and she connected me with their 55+ program coordinator. They're helping me apply for a part-time bookkeeping position with a non-profit that specifically values experienced workers. She also explained exactly how to handle my job search requirements when I start receiving Social Security next month. Thanks everyone for the advice and support!
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Aisha Ali
•That's wonderful news! I'm so glad it went well and that you got some concrete leads. The non-profit sector is often much more welcoming to older workers in my experience. Keep us posted on how the application goes!
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Ethan Moore
•Lucky you got someone who understood! Hope that job works out - but don't get your hopes up TOO much. I've applied to 6 non-profits and still nothing after 4 months...
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Eduardo Silva
Congratulations on having such a positive experience, Mateo! Your update gives me hope as someone who's been dreading my own upcoming WorkSource appointment. I'm 63 and was laid off from my HR position three weeks ago after 20 years with the same company. Like you, I've been getting the "overqualified" response from employers, which is really just code for "too old" in my experience. It's encouraging to hear they have dedicated programs for our age group and that some counselors really do understand our unique challenges. I'm definitely going to ask about the 55+ program coordinator when I go in next week. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience - it really helps to know what to expect!
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Connor Richards
•@Eduardo Silva I m'so glad my experience could help ease your nerves! The HR background you have should actually be a real asset - when you meet with the counselor, definitely mention your experience with hiring practices because they might be able to connect you with companies that specifically value that expertise. Twenty years with one company shows incredible loyalty and stability, which some employers really appreciate even if others see it as overqualified. "Don" t'be discouraged by those responses - the right opportunity is out there. Make sure to ask about any local companies or organizations that have partnerships with WorkSource for experienced workers. Best of luck with your appointment next week!
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