In our case, WorkShare paid about 62% of our lost wages (we had a 25% hour reduction). So if someone normally made $1000/week and was reduced to $750, the $250 loss would get about $155 from WorkShare. Not perfect but WAY better than nothing, and we kept our health insurance. The exact percentage depends on your regular wages since there are minimum and maximum benefit amounts.

Just went through this exact situation 6 months ago! My employer reduced hours by 30% and put us on WorkShare. I had 4 weeks of vacation saved up and was worried I'd lose it all. Good news - you absolutely do NOT need to burn through your vacation time first with WorkShare. That's only a requirement for regular unemployment benefits. One tip though: when you do use vacation time later, make sure your payroll department understands how to report it properly to ESD. My company initially reported my vacation pay wrong during a week I took off in July, which caused a temporary hold on my benefits. Had to get HR and ESD on a three-way call to sort it out. But once they understood the process, everything went smoothly. The WorkShare program is honestly pretty great compared to regular UI - you keep your job, benefits, and can plan your time off normally. Just document everything and keep good records of your hours worked vs. paid vacation days.

This is a classic case of an employer not reporting wages to ESD! Since your warehouse job from January-March 2025 isn't showing up at all on your wage verification, that employer definitely failed to report your employment. This happens more often than you'd think, especially with smaller companies or those that don't handle payroll properly. Here's what I'd do in your situation: 1. Contact your warehouse employer ASAP and ask them to verify they reported your wages to the state 2. If they didn't report (which seems likely), they need to file a corrected report immediately 3. File your appeal within the 30-day deadline regardless - don't wait for the employer to fix their mistake 4. Include copies of all your warehouse paystubs, W-2, and any other proof of employment with your appeal The missing 30 hours from your restaurant job could be a reporting error too, or maybe they miscounted hours vs. different pay periods. Bring that up in your appeal as well. Since you have 791 hours total and only need 680, even if the restaurant discrepancy doesn't get fixed, getting your warehouse job properly reported should put you well over the minimum. Good luck with Claimyr - that tool really does help cut through ESD's phone system!

I went through something very similar last year! My second employer (a small retail shop) never reported any of my wages to ESD despite me working there for 4 months. Like others have said, this is unfortunately pretty common. Here's what worked for me: - Filed the appeal immediately with ALL my documentation (paystubs, W-2, hiring paperwork, etc.) - Called my employer and they admitted they "forgot" to submit the quarterly wage reports to the state - Sent ESD a letter explaining the situation along with my appeal documents - It took about 8 weeks total but I eventually got approved retroactively The key is having solid documentation. Since you have W-2s and paystubs from both jobs, you're in good shape. ESD will also do their own investigation once you file the appeal - they can contact employers directly to verify unreported wages. One thing that helped me was organizing all my documents chronologically and calculating my total hours clearly in a cover letter. Make it as easy as possible for the appeals officer to see you meet the requirements. Don't stress too much - if you have the proof, you'll get approved. It's just frustrating that it takes so long when you need the benefits now.

Thanks for all this helpful info everyone! I just tried calling the number and got through right away. The automated system was really straightforward - just had to enter my SSN, PIN, and answer the standard questions about work availability and job search activities. Got my confirmation number and it only took about 4 minutes total. Much easier than I expected!

I've been filing by phone for about 6 months now and it's become my preferred method. One tip I'd add - if you have any earnings to report, have the exact dollar amounts ready before you call. The system won't let you estimate or round up/down, it needs the precise amount. Also, if you're reporting multiple employers for the same week, you'll need to enter each one separately with their specific earnings. Takes a bit longer but ensures everything is accurate for your claim.

This conversation has covered most of the important points. The main thing is to be honest and timely with all your reporting. Washington ESD can be difficult to deal with but they're usually fair if you follow the rules correctly.

Just to add one more important point - if you're getting close to your 26 week limit and haven't found work yet, start looking into SNAP (food assistance) and other support programs early. There's often a waiting period or application process, so don't wait until your last unemployment check to apply. The transition period can be really tough financially and these programs can help bridge the gap while you continue job searching.

Make sure to keep your job offer letter or any documentation about your start date handy when you file that final weekly claim. Washington ESD sometimes asks for proof of employment dates if there are any questions later. Also, don't forget to update your address or contact info in the system if your new job requires you to move or change your phone number - you'll want to receive any final correspondence at the right address.

Also remember that Washington ESD may send you a final determination letter after you report returning to work - don't panic if you get mail from them a few weeks later. It's usually just confirming your claim closure and final benefit amount. Keep that letter for your records in case you ever need to reference your unemployment history for tax purposes or future claims.