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.

Final update for anyone finding this thread later: I got my closure form submitted and received confirmation 5 weeks later. The process worked exactly like everyone described. Thanks for all the help!

Thanks for all the detailed info everyone! I'm in a similar situation - closing my small consulting firm and need to shut down the employer account. Sounds like the key steps are: 1) Make sure all quarterly reports are filed and current, 2) Pay any outstanding UI taxes, 3) File Form EMS-8050 through SecureAccess Washington, and 4) Keep confirmation documentation. Going to start gathering everything this week. Really appreciate this thread - saved me a lot of confusion!

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! Sounds like I need to be really careful about tracking and reporting everything. Better to be safe than sorry with Washington ESD.

I was in a similar situation a few months ago and ended up doing DoorDash on weekends. Here's what I learned: 1) You absolutely must report ALL earnings as gross income before any fees or deductions, 2) Keep a spreadsheet with dates, hours worked, and earnings for each week - it makes reporting so much easier, 3) The partial benefit formula actually isn't too bad if you stay strategic about your hours. I found that working Friday and Saturday nights for about 4-5 hours each gave me around $80-90 per week, which kept me under my benefit threshold. Just make sure you're still doing your required job search activities - gig work doesn't count toward those requirements. The extra income really helped with groceries and gas money while I was looking for full-time work.

When my unemployment was ending last year I was panicking too. My brother told me his friend got an extension but that turned out to be from 2021 during covid which doesn't help now lol. I ended up taking a part-time job at Starbucks while I kept looking for something in my field. You might qualify for partial unemployment if you work part-time but don't earn too much. Just sharing what worked for me while I was transitioning!

One more thing to consider - if you've worked ANY job (even part-time or temporary) during your current benefit year and earned enough hours, you might be eligible to file a new claim rather than seeking an extension. The threshold is 680 hours of work since your last valid claim. This creates a new benefit year rather than extending the current one. Worth checking your work history to see if this might apply to you.

I used to work for an employment law firm and saw this constantly. Employers contest claims even when they know they'll lose because the delay saves them money in the short term. It's a calculated business decision that unfortunately hurts workers.

Update on my situation - I finally got through to Washington ESD using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. The agent explained exactly where my case stands in the adjudication process and what to expect next. Definitely worth checking out if you're stuck like I was.