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Bottom line for OP - you can make up to $482 per week without losing any benefits. Anything over that reduces your UI payment dollar for dollar. Just report everything honestly and you'll be fine!
One last thing - keep good records of your earnings in case Washington ESD ever asks for documentation. I keep screenshots of my paystubs and a simple spreadsheet.
Just want to add that if you do end up approved for both, make sure you understand the reporting requirements. You'll likely need to report any disability income to Washington ESD and vice versa.
Thanks everyone for all the responses. This has been really helpful in understanding the complexity of the situation. I think I have a better idea now of what questions to ask when I contact Washington ESD.
Based on what you've described, you should definitely apply. Having your hours cut that dramatically is exactly the kind of situation unemployment is designed to help with. The worst they can do is say no, but you might be surprised and qualify.
If you do run into issues getting through to Washington ESD for questions, that Claimyr service mentioned earlier is actually pretty solid. I used it last month when I needed to clarify something about my claim status and they got me connected in like 2 hours instead of me wasting the whole day calling.
One more thing - if you worked in multiple states during your base year, Washington might need to request wage information from other states. That can delay your benefit calculation by several weeks.
The whole UI system is designed to be confusing on purpose I swear. They don't want people to know exactly what they're entitled to. But at least with services like Claimyr you can get through to actual humans who can explain your specific situation.
I used to think that way too but honestly most Washington ESD agents are pretty helpful once you actually reach them. The problem is just getting through their phone system.
Mateo Gonzalez
Bottom line - quitting for good cause is possible but you need solid documentation and a strong case. Don't quit impulsively. Plan it out, gather your evidence, and be prepared for the adjudication process.
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Oliver Schulz
•Thanks everyone. This has been really helpful. I'm going to continue documenting everything and maybe talk to an attorney before I make any decisions.
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Mateo Gonzalez
•Smart approach. Take your time and make sure you have all your ducks in a row before you quit.
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Aisha Ali
One more thing - if you do quit and file for benefits, be prepared to explain your situation clearly and concisely. The adjudicator will want to understand exactly what happened and why quitting was your only option.
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Oliver Schulz
•I'll make sure to organize my thoughts and evidence before filing. Thanks for all the advice everyone!
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Aisha Ali
•You're welcome. Good luck with whatever you decide to do. The system can be challenging but it's there to help when you truly need it.
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