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!

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.

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 the helpful information. I'm going to file for unemployment tomorrow and just be completely honest about my situation. Fingers crossed it works out!

I just wanted to chime in as someone who successfully navigated this exact situation last year. I was receiving partial disability through L&I after a back injury and my employer cut my hours from 40 to about 12 per week. The key things that helped me get approved for both benefits were: 1) Having clear medical documentation that I could work with restrictions (not that I couldn't work at all), 2) Being very specific in my UI application about my work limitations but emphasizing my availability within those limits, and 3) reporting my L&I payments accurately on every weekly claim. Yes, they did reduce my UI benefits dollar-for-dollar, but I still ended up with more total income than just the disability alone. The adjudication process took about 6 weeks, which was stressful, but it was worth it in the end. Make sure you register with WorkSource right away and keep up with your job search requirements - that's something they really scrutinize. Happy to answer any specific questions if it would help!

Bottom line - job abandonment doesn't automatically disqualify you if you had good cause. File your claim, be honest about the circumstances, and don't be afraid to appeal if you get denied initially. You might be surprised by the outcome.

I went through something similar about 6 months ago. The key thing to remember is that Washington state recognizes "constructive dismissal" - basically when working conditions are so bad that any reasonable person would have to quit. Mental health impacts from a hostile work environment absolutely count as good cause. When you file your claim, focus on specific incidents and how they affected your ability to do your job safely. Even without formal HR complaints, you can still build a strong case. Document everything you can remember now - dates, what was said, how it made you feel, any physical symptoms like anxiety or insomnia. I ended up getting approved after initially being denied, and the back pay helped a lot during my job search.