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Bottom line - document everything, try to resolve issues with employer first, give proper notice, and be prepared for the adjudication process to take time.
Good luck! Remember you can always contact Washington ESD with questions about your specific situation before making any final decisions.
And if you can't get through on the phone, definitely check out that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. Makes the whole process much less frustrating.
One more thing - if your employer calls you back to full-time hours, make sure you report that on your weekly claim right away. Don't wait until the next week or you might get an overpayment notice.
Just to summarize for the OP - file the same way as regular unemployment, report your wages and hours on weekly claims, do your job searches, and keep good records. The system is confusing but the benefits can really help when you're dealing with reduced hours.
honestly the hardest part was just getting started. once you file that first claim and get into the routine it's not too bad
Based on everything you've described, you should definitely qualify for partial unemployment benefits. 8 months of work history should meet the earnings requirement, and hour reduction due to lack of work (not your fault) makes you eligible. I'd recommend filing your initial claim online this week.
Isla Fischer
For what it's worth, I finally got through yesterday after calling at exactly 11:47am. Seems like there might be a brief window when agents come back from breaks or something.
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Chad Winthrope
•Interesting timing. I'll try calling around that time tomorrow.
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Nina Fitzgerald
•Could be a shift change or break time. Good observation!
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Miles Hammonds
The whole system needs an overhaul. It shouldn't take 20+ phone calls just to ask a simple question about your own unemployment claim. Glad there are services like Claimyr helping people navigate this mess.
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Nina Fitzgerald
•Hopefully they'll invest in more staff and better phone systems soon. This can't continue indefinitely.
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Chad Winthrope
•Thanks everyone for all the suggestions! Going to try the 8am calling strategy and also check out Claimyr. Will update if I have any success.
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