You would think that filing for unemployment would be a rather straightforward process. “Yes sir, I lost my job. Here is my contract termination”, “thank you sir, yes you do/or don’t qualify for unemployment benefits. You will receive $xxx for a maximum of xxx weeks or until you find work”. However, reality is much more complicated. Knowing whether you qualify for benefits, how much you will receive in benefits or what information you should report to the unemployment office is often difficult to know and usually involves enough clauses, exceptions and formulas to give a math major a headache.

Take for instance these questions:

- Can I collect unemployment benefits while I work part time?

- Do I have to report holiday or vacation pay?

Unless you’re an officer with the Washington Employment Security department you are unlikely to know the correct answers to these apparently straight forward questions. If you may be affected by these questions, read on. You may be surprised at the answers.

- Can I collect unemployment benefits in Washington State while working part time?

Yes, but you will have to pay for the privilege. Well, that is unfair. It would be more accurate to say the Washington ESD will reduce your employment benefits for the privilege. Your wallet, however, will not be able to tell the difference. The general formula to calculate how much the Washington unemployment office will reduce your benefits by is your gross earnings minus $5 multiplied by 0.75. For instance, if you earn $105 on any given week, your unemployment benefits will be reduced by $75. If this formula is to hard for you to follow, the Washington State Employment Security Department has prepared an earnings deduction chart you can use. Click here to view the earnings deduction chart.

On the positive side, taking on a part time job while you receive unemployment benefits can extend the number of weeks you are eligible for benefits. Also, you can use the income you receive from your part-time job to qualify for another benefits claim once the current benefits years ends.

Note that if you were working part time when you

- Do I have to report holiday or vacation pay?

Yes and no. See what I mean about unemployment benefits questions? Yes you do have to report holiday pay and you must do it on the week you took the holiday not when you received the holiday pay. However, if you receive accrued vacation pay when your employment is terminated and the vacation was not for any specific date, you do not need to report it. If the vacation was for a specific date, you must report it on the week the vacation occurred.

The Washington Employment Security Department offers workers the possibility of receiving their unemployment benefits by direct deposit. This means your weekly benefits will transfer directly to the bank account you choose. Direct deposit payments provide several benefits. For instance, direct deposit payments usually arrive earlier, you avoid check-cashing fees and don’t have to wait in long lines or spend money on gas or public transportation to get to a bank. This is particularly helpful for people with mobility and transportation issues.  It also simplifies matters when you move to another address because your payments will continue being deposited in your bank account without having to report your change of address to the Washington unemployment office.

However, direct deposit transfers are not an option for everyone. For starters, you need a bank account which not all unemployed workers have. It is also possible that workers who previously applied for a direct deposit payment option change their mind and want to return to traditional check payments. This articles provides a simple guide to help you take control of the payment method of your benefits, whether you prefer direct deposit or to receive checks by mail.

How to Apply for Direct Deposit Payments?

The only way to apply for a direct deposit payment option is online. Any written requests will be returned to the sender. Click here to start off your online application form for direct deposit payments. To complete the application you will need the following information:

1) Your Social Security Number

2) Your bank account’s routing number, account number and type (savings or checking). You can get all this information from your check book.  The first 9 numbers at the bottom of your checks are your bank’s routing number. The next 10 numbers are your bank account number. Notice that if you plan to use a savings account you will need to confirm your routing number with your bank as saving accounts often have internal codes included in the routing number that appears on the check that may cause problems with the direct deposit.

3) Your full name as it appears in the documents you filed with your bank or credit union.

How to Cancel Direct Deposit Payments?

Again, the only way to do this is online. Click here to start the process of cancelling your direct deposit payment option. Press continue at the bottom of the page. The form will then ask you for your Social Security Number and a security question to confirm your identity. Press on ‘I Agree’ and type in your PIN. Select ‘Continue’. Now you have the option of cancelling your direct deposit. Click on the option and confirm your selection.

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