Just wanted to add that you also need to keep track of your job search activities even while working part-time. Don't skip the work search requirements just because you have some income coming in.

Just want to emphasize how important it is to report your part-time earnings correctly from the very beginning. When you file your weekly claims, make sure to report the gross amount you earned for the week you actually worked (not when you received payment). Washington ESD's system will automatically calculate your partial benefit using their formula. I've seen people get confused about reporting timing, but it's always based on when you performed the work. Also keep all your pay stubs and records - you might need them later if ESD has any questions about your reported earnings.

Bottom line - don't expect unemployment to replace your full income. Plan for getting maybe 40-50% of what you were making and budget accordingly. And start looking for work immediately because the job search requirements are real.

Just wanted to add that the calculation can be even more confusing if you had multiple jobs or irregular hours. I was working two part-time jobs when I got laid off from one, and figuring out which quarters counted and how the wages were reported took forever. The ESD system doesn't always make it clear how they're counting wages from different employers. If you have a complex work history, definitely try to get someone on the phone to walk through it with you.

While you're working on your appeal, don't forget to keep applying for jobs and doing your job search activities. If you win the appeal, you'll need to show you were meeting the job search requirements for all those weeks to get paid for them. The system is definitely frustrating, but staying on top of all the requirements will help if you eventually win.

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this financial stress on top of an unfair decision. One thing I wanted to add - when you're writing your Petition for Review, make sure to cite specific WAC sections that support your case. For example, if this was a misconduct case, WAC 192-150-200 outlines what constitutes misconduct and the burden of proof requirements. Also, if your employer gave contradictory statements between what they told ESD initially versus their hearing testimony, that's a huge point in your favor. The Commissioner's office takes inconsistent employer testimony very seriously. Keep your chin up - the fact that you have documented evidence and clear employer contradictions gives you a much stronger case than many people who appeal. Focus on the legal errors and factual inconsistencies rather than the emotional impact (as hard as that is), and you'll have the best shot at success.

Update: I FINALLY got through to ESD this morning after trying for 4 days straight! Turns out I do have an overpayment from 2021. They said I reported my hours incorrectly for 8 weeks during the pandemic (although I'm positive I entered everything correctly). Total overpayment is $2,450 and they're taking 30% of each payment until it's paid off. They're supposed to be sending me the full documentation in the mail. At least now I know what I'm dealing with, though I'm definitely going to appeal this since I don't think I made any mistakes on my claims.

This is such a widespread issue right now! I'm a newcomer to this community but dealing with the exact same problem. ESD just took $380 from my benefits last week with zero explanation. I collected pandemic unemployment in 2020 when my restaurant job was eliminated, and I was so careful to report everything correctly because I was terrified of making mistakes. Now they're saying I owe money but won't tell me why or how much total. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring (I'm not alone) and terrifying (some of you owe thousands!). Going to try calling that collections number tomorrow and also look into the Claimyr service someone mentioned. Thanks for sharing your stories - it helps to know others are fighting this too.

Reading all this makes me realize how broken the system is. We shouldn't have to spend weeks of our lives just trying to talk to someone about our own benefits.

I'm dealing with the exact same nightmare - been calling for 3 weeks straight about my identity verification that's been stuck since March. The 3-hour automatic disconnect is the worst part because you invest all that time just to get cut off and have to start over. I've started using multiple phones to call simultaneously and keeping detailed logs of my attempts. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to treat getting basic government services like it's some kind of game show. The system is clearly not designed to actually help people who need it.