Can I claim ESD benefits while still working part-time remotely after military spouse relocation?

Yes, you can absolutely file for partial unemployment in WA while still working part-time! Military spouse relocation is a qualifying reason to leave employment under RCW 50.20.050(2)(b)(iii). For the "last day worked" on your part-time job, you should enter today's date or check if there's an option to indicate "still employed." When filing weekly claims, you'll need to report all hours and earnings from your part-time job. Your benefit will be reduced based on your part-time earnings, but you can still receive the difference if your full benefit amount is more than what you're earning part-time. Just make sure to carefully document the military orders as you may need to provide those during the adjudication process.

I went thru this exact thing last year!! It's super confusing. When I called ESD they told me to just put the current date for "last day worked" and then explain in the comments section that I'm still employed there. You definitely can get benefits while working PT, but they'll reduce your weekly amount based on what you earn. U have to report your PT earnings EVERY WEEK when filing claims. Make sure you have copies of the PCS orders ready - they WILL ask for them!!!

Just to add some clarification - the "last day worked" question can be confusing for people in your situation. ESD's system wasn't really designed with remote work in mind. You should enter the current date for your part-time job, then in the comments section explain that you're continuing to work there remotely after relocating with your military spouse. When reporting weekly, you'll need to accurately report all hours and earnings from your part-time job. Your weekly benefit amount (WBA) will be reduced by about 75% of whatever you earn at your part-time job. So if your calculated WBA would be $850, but you earn $400 in a week from your part-time job, your actual benefit for that week would be around $550 ($850 - 75% of $400). The system will ask for verification of your military spouse's orders during the process. Be prepared to upload those documents. Your claim will likely go into adjudication for review, which is standard procedure for military spouse relocation claims.

The esd system is garbage!! i had a similar situation (not military but had 2 jobs) and they completely messed up my claim and took 3 MONTHS to fix it!!! good luck getting anyone on the phone too, i tried for weeks and got disconnected every time

If you're struggling to get through to ESD on the phone (which is very likely), check out Claimyr.com - it helped me get through to an actual agent in about 20 minutes instead of days of calling. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Definitely worth it for complicated situations like yours where you really need to talk to someone directly. My claim involved partial work too and I needed specific guidance.

make sure u also check the box that says ur a military spouse when it asks about the reason for separation from ur full-time job! thats a protected reason and they cant deny u benefits for that

I actually work for a company that processes payroll, and we deal with unemployment questions a lot. Here's my advice: For the part-time job, enter today's date but IMMEDIATELY call ESD to explain your situation (yes, calling is a pain but necessary). Your benefit will be calculated based on your highest-earning quarters, which sounds like it would be from your full-time job. Then each week, you'll report your part-time earnings and they'll adjust accordingly. The system wasn't built for these nuanced situations. Document EVERYTHING - take screenshots of your application, keep a job search log even if you get a work search waiver (which you might qualify for temporarily due to the relocation), and save ALL communication with ESD. Also, if your claim goes to adjudication (it probably will), be prepared to wait. Current wait times for adjudication are 3-5 weeks. You should continue filing weekly claims during this time.

When I had to call ESD about my military spouse thing, i had to call like 50 times before getting through!! The website is so confusing and the agents kept telling me different things. One told me I couldn't get benefits while working part time at all which was WRONG!!! Just keep trying and don't give up!!

To address your question about speeding up adjudication - unfortunately, there's no guaranteed way to expedite the process. However, ensuring your application is complete and providing all documentation upfront can help prevent additional delays. If you're experiencing financial hardship while waiting, you can request an expedited review by explaining your situation when you speak with an agent. Also, don't forget that you may qualify for a job search waiver for a few weeks after relocating. This means you won't have to perform the usual three job search activities per week immediately, giving you some time to settle in. Be sure to ask about this when you speak with ESD.