Can I apply for partial unemployment benefits with Washington ESD?

That's great news! Do you know what the earnings limit is? I don't want to mess up my claim.

It depends on your weekly benefit amount. Generally you can earn up to your weekly benefit amount plus $5 before it affects your benefits. Anything over that gets deducted.

How long did it take for your claim to get approved? I'm worried about the wait time.

Mine took about 2-3 weeks to process. Make sure you have all your employment info ready when you apply.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to actual Washington ESD agents. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling!

Really? That sounds too good to be true. How much does it cost?

It's worth it just to avoid the endless busy signals. I was able to get my partial claim questions answered same day instead of calling for weeks.

What counts as earnings? Just my regular paycheck or tips too?

ALL earnings including tips, commissions, bonuses, everything. Report it all on your weekly claim or you'll get in trouble later.

This is so confusing! Why can't they just make it simple?

The Washington ESD website works better early in the morning or late at night when fewer people are using it.

good tip thanks

That's awesome! What did they tell you about partial claims?

They confirmed I can work up to 32 hours per week and still get partial benefits as long as I report everything correctly on my weekly claims.

That's not how it works. Applying for partial unemployment now won't hurt your ability to get regular UI benefits later if you lose your job completely.

Are you sure? I don't want to mess up my eligibility for full benefits.

I went from partial to full unemployment when my restaurant closed permanently. No issues at all with my claim.

Really? How many job searches do you have to do for partial claims?

I think it's 1-2 per week instead of 3, but check with Washington ESD to be sure. The requirements change sometimes.

You need to be able and available for full-time work, but you can still work your part-time job while looking for additional work.

That makes sense. Thanks for clarifying!

How much do you typically get in partial benefits compared to your work earnings?

It varies based on what I earn that week, but usually I get around $150-200 in partial benefits on top of my part-time wages.

What's the exact formula they use to calculate partial benefits?

It's your weekly benefit amount minus your earnings over $5. So if your weekly benefit is $300 and you earn $100, you'd get $295 in partial benefits.

Have you had any issues with Washington ESD during those 6 months?

nope just file my weekly claims every sunday and report my earnings... pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it

Do you report gross earnings or take-home pay?

You report gross earnings (before taxes and deductions) on your weekly claim. Don't report your net take-home amount.

This is super important - reporting the wrong amount can trigger an audit or overpayment notice.

I'm definitely going to try that service. This thread has been so helpful!

Yeah, worth every penny to avoid the frustration of busy signals and dropped calls.

Wait, so I'm using up my benefit time even with partial claims?

Yes, each week you file a claim (even partial) counts toward your 26-week benefit year limit in Washington.

That's correct, but you can potentially qualify for a new benefit year if you earn enough wages while working part-time.

Yes, you need to report vacation pay as earnings for the week it covers, not when you receive it. Check with Washington ESD about how to report it properly.

Thanks, I'll make sure to ask about that when I call them.

That's a great idea! Do you track anything else besides hours and pay?

I also track my job search activities since I still need to do those for partial claims. Helps me stay organized.

Good luck with your application! Remember to report all earnings accurately on your weekly claims.

Same here! This thread answered all my questions. Really appreciate everyone's help.

Glad we could help! Feel free to ask if you run into any issues with your partial claim.