I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago and it was definitely stressful at first, but I wanted to reassure you that it does get resolved! A few additional tips from my experience: 1) When you call, try to call right at 8am when they open - you'll have the best chance of getting through quickly. 2) Take screenshots of your online ESD account if you can access it (or if one was created without your knowledge) as evidence. 3) Ask them to send you written confirmation via email that they've received your fraud report - this helps if you need to provide proof to your employer or bank later. The whole process took about 6 weeks for me from start to finish, and they were actually pretty good about keeping me updated once I got the initial report filed. You've got this!

I actually work for a tax preparation service and we see this identity theft situation with unemployment benefits quite frequently now. Just want to add a couple things that might help: 1) If you receive a 1099-G tax form next year showing unemployment income you didn't receive, there's a specific checkbox on your tax return to indicate this was fraudulent income - so don't panic about owing taxes on money you never got. 2) Consider signing up for an IRS Identity Protection PIN if you haven't already - it adds an extra layer of security for future tax filings. 3) Keep all documentation from this fraud case in a separate folder because you may need to reference it for a few years. The good news is that most legitimate identity theft cases like yours do get resolved, it's just a matter of being persistent with the follow-ups. Wishing you luck with the phone call tomorrow!

Since you're filing for partial unemployment due to reduced hours, one thing that might help is to document your typical work schedule before the cuts happened. Keep any texts, emails, or schedules from your manager showing what your hours used to be versus what they are now - this creates a clear record of the reduction. Also, when you file your weekly claims, you'll report your actual earnings for that week, and Washington will calculate your partial benefit based on your weekly benefit amount minus a portion of your earnings (they let you keep some of your wages without it affecting benefits). The system is really designed to encourage people to keep working even reduced hours rather than becoming fully unemployed. Given that you worked consistently for 8 months at retail and the hour cuts are due to business slowdown rather than performance, you should have no problem qualifying!

Just want to echo what everyone else has said - your situation sounds like a textbook case for partial unemployment benefits! I went through something similar when my retail hours got slashed during a slow season. The application process really isn't as intimidating as it seems, and Washington's system is actually pretty user-friendly once you get started. One tip I'd add is to apply on a weekday morning if possible - I found the website tends to be less busy then and loads faster. Also, don't stress too much about having every single detail perfect on your first try - you can always provide additional information later if needed. The fact that you've been consistently employed for 8 months and your hour reduction is clearly due to business reasons (not performance) puts you in a really strong position. Good luck with your application this weekend!

Just wanted to add that if you're still having trouble accessing eServices, you can also try using a different browser or clearing your browser cache. I had login issues last month and switching from Chrome to Firefox solved it immediately. Also, make sure you're using the secure.esd.wa.gov URL and not any other ESD website - there are some fake/scam sites out there that look similar but won't actually let you access your real account information.

Pro tip for anyone still struggling with this - if you're getting error messages when trying to access your 1099-G through eServices, try logging out completely, clearing your browser cookies for the ESD site, and then logging back in. I work in IT and see this issue a lot with government websites that have session timeout problems. Also, if you need your 1099-G urgently for tax filing and can't get it online, most tax preparers (H&R Block, etc.) can help you file without it initially and then amend your return once you get the form. Just make sure to estimate your unemployment income as accurately as possible on your initial filing.

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!

Just want to echo what everyone's said - definitely don't just stop filing reports! I made that mistake with a previous business and ended up with penalty notices for months. The Form EMS-8050 is absolutely the way to go. One thing I didn't see mentioned is that you should also notify the Washington State Department of Revenue if you have a business license, since closing your ESD employer account doesn't automatically close other state registrations. Learned that one the hard way too. Good luck with your restaurant closure Derek - 8 years is a good run!

Thank you all so much for the helpful information! I'm going to start tracking my design work hours more carefully and report the gross earnings during the week I actually do the work. I'll make sure to stay under that 25% threshold when possible to maximize my benefits while I'm job hunting. This community has been way more helpful than the ESD website!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who does freelance photography while on UI - I've found it really helpful to use a simple spreadsheet to track everything weekly. I have columns for: date of work, client/project, hours worked, gross earnings, and notes. This makes it super easy when I file my weekly claim and also gives me documentation if ESD ever audits me. Also, don't forget that if you work more than your "full-time" hours in a week (usually 40), you might be considered unavailable for work that week even if your earnings are below the threshold. The availability requirement is separate from the earnings deduction!