thats great news!! hope it all works out for you - and i might try that service too since im still fighting with esd about some overpayment nonsense from 2 months ago ugh

Congrats on getting through to ESD! That's awesome that you were able to get clarity on both the partial unemployment AND the training benefits. For anyone else reading this thread - healthcare administration is definitely a smart choice since it's high-demand in WA. I went through a similar situation a few years back when I was in a medical coding program and my retail hours got slashed. The combination of partial UI + training benefits really helped me get through school without going into major debt. Make sure to keep copies of everything you submit to ESD - they sometimes "lose" paperwork and you'll want to have backups ready to resubmit if needed.

Thanks everyone for all this great information! I feel much more confident about applying now. It sounds like partial unemployment is exactly what I need to help with the reduced hours situation.

I'm in a similar situation but at a grocery store - went from 30 hours to about 15 due to "staffing adjustments." Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea partial unemployment was even a thing. One question I haven't seen addressed: if I pick up a few shifts at another part-time job to make ends meet while my main job's hours are reduced, does that affect my eligibility? Or do they just look at the total income from all sources?

Bottom line - file for your benefits! You've earned them by working and paying into the system. Don't let unfounded fears keep you from getting help you need and deserve.

I'm glad you asked this question because it shows how much misinformation is out there about unemployment benefits! As someone who's worked in both corporate finance and now as a freelance consultant, I can confirm that filing for UI benefits has absolutely zero impact on your employment prospects. I've filed twice - once after a merger eliminated my position and again during the pandemic - and it never came up in any interviews or background checks. The system is designed to be confidential for exactly this reason. Don't let stigma or fear keep you from accessing benefits you've literally paid for through your payroll deductions. File that claim and focus your energy on your job search instead of worrying about non-existent consequences!

Remember that the judge is supposed to be neutral. They're not on your employer's side or your side - they're just trying to determine what actually happened based on the evidence. Try to present facts rather than emotions, even though I know this situation is really stressful financially.

Dylan, I went through a similar situation about 8 months ago when my employer claimed I was terminated for misconduct but it was really just a disagreement over procedures. The most important thing I learned is to focus on the specific incident they're claiming as misconduct - don't let them bring up unrelated performance issues or personality conflicts. Take notes during the hearing because you might need to reference what was said if you decide to appeal further. Also, if your employer makes any statements that contradict what they told you when you were fired, point that out to the judge. Inconsistencies in their story can really help your case. The whole process took about 4 months total for me but I did eventually get my benefits restored with back pay.

One last thing - keep detailed records of everything related to your claim. Dates, times of calls, copies of all documents, weekly claim confirmations. If any issues come up later, having good records will save you a lot of headaches.

I'm in a very similar situation - just lost my weekend retail job but still have my weekday office job. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea partial unemployment was even an option. The earnings deduction formula that @Jasmine Hancock explained really helps me understand what to expect. I'm definitely going to file this week rather than continuing to stress about making ends meet with just one job. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's reassuring to know I'm not alone in navigating this complicated situation.