Can I collect partial ESD unemployment while working part-time after my full-time job was outsourced?
I just found out my full-time position is ending next month due to company outsourcing. I've been with them for 7 years making around $62k annually. I've managed to secure a part-time position with another company (about 20 hours/week) but at only $24/hour, which is nowhere near enough to cover my mortgage and expenses. Can I file for partial unemployment benefits to help bridge the gap between my new part-time income and what I was making before? Has anyone successfully done this in Washington state? I've never dealt with ESD before and have no idea how partial benefits work or if I'd even qualify since I technically have a job lined up. Any advice would be appreciated!
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Dallas Villalobos
Yes, you can absolutely apply for partial unemployment! I went through something similar last year when my hours were cut from 40 to 15 per week. Here's how it works: you file your initial claim based on your full-time job ending. When you do your weekly claims, you'll report any part-time earnings, and ESD will calculate a partial benefit. The formula is something like: you can earn up to 1/3 of your weekly benefit amount without reduction, then they reduce your benefit dollar-for-dollar for earnings above that threshold. Make sure you report your hours and earnings accurately each week. You'll still need to complete your job search activities (3 per week) even though you're working part-time.
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Melina Haruko
•Thank you so much! That's really helpful. One more question - will the fact that I voluntarily accepted the part-time position before my full-time job ends cause any issues? I was worried they might say I voluntarily reduced my hours or something like that.
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Reina Salazar
dotn listen to the others person 100%. ESD will say ur ABLE and AVAILABLE for full time work and if u have a part time job they might disqulify u! happened to my brother in law last winter!!!!
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Dallas Villalobos
•That's not accurate. You can absolutely work part-time and receive partial benefits as long as you're still looking for full-time work. Your brother-in-law's situation was likely different or there were other factors involved. The key is that OP needs to continue looking for full-time work while working part-time.
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
I'm currently on partial unemployment while working 25 hours a week. The initial application is exactly the same as if you were fully unemployed. You'll base your claim on your full-time job that's ending due to outsourcing (which is qualifying separation reason). One important thing: when you do your weekly claims, be super careful about reporting your hours and earnings correctly. Even small mistakes can trigger an investigation that freezes your benefits for weeks while they sort it out. I had one week where I accidentally reported my gross instead of net pay and it caused a nightmare with my claim. And yes, you still need to do your 3 job search activities every week, even with your part-time job. Don't skip this! ESD is randomly checking these more frequently now.
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Melina Haruko
•Thanks for sharing your experience! When you say be careful about reporting hours and earnings, is there a specific way they want you to calculate it? And do you know if accepting the part-time job before my full-time one ends will be an issue?
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Demi Lagos
I've been calling ESD for THREE WEEKS to ask this exact question because my situation is almost identical!!! They keep putting me on hold for hours and then disconnect me. The online info is so confusing and I can't tell if I'll qualify or not. My anxiety is through the roof about this. Did anyone actually get through to a real person at ESD recently??
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Mason Lopez
•I had the same problem trying to reach ESD about my partial benefits question last month. Finally used Claimyr.com to get through - they have this service that gets you a callback from ESD without waiting on hold for hours. Was skeptical but it worked for me in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Worth it to actually get my questions answered by a real agent instead of guessing.
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Vera Visnjic
The other comments are mostly right, but I want to add something important: When you report your part-time earnings, you need to report the GROSS amount (before taxes) for the WEEK they were EARNED (not paid). This trips up a lot of people. Also, if your full-time job is giving you any severance pay, you need to report that too when you file. Severance can impact your benefits for the weeks it covers. Regarding your question about taking the part-time job before your full-time ends: that's actually smart planning on your part and shouldn't cause issues. You're being laid off from your main job due to outsourcing, which is a qualifying event outside your control. The part-time job just shows you're being proactive, which ESD generally views positively.
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Melina Haruko
•Oh that's such a relief about the part-time job not causing issues! And thanks for clarifying about reporting gross earnings for when they were earned, not paid. That would have definitely confused me. My severance is just 2 weeks pay, so I'll make sure to report that properly.
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Jake Sinclair
Happened to me back in 2023 when I got cut from 40 hrs to 18 hrs. I did get partial unemployment but it was WAY less than I expected. Like, I was expecting maybe 60% of the difference but it was more like 30%. Better than nothing tho. Just saying, don't count on it being enough.
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Brielle Johnson
•yep same here the amount is disappointingly low!!! i was barely making ends meet on my partial claim last year. and the whole time you still gotta do all the job search stuff which is annoying when your already working part time ugh
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Dallas Villalobos
To directly answer your follow-up question: The fact that you accepted a part-time position before your full-time one ends will NOT disqualify you. Your claim is based on the qualifying job loss (outsourcing = layoff, which is a valid reason). Taking a part-time job just shows you're being proactive about mitigating your unemployment. The key factors that will make this work: 1. Your full-time job loss was not your fault 2. You're still seeking full-time work (and completing those 3 job searches weekly) 3. You accurately report your part-time earnings each week One thing I should have mentioned: Your weekly benefit amount will be calculated based on your highest-earning quarters in your base year, which is likely from your full-time job. So that's good news for you.
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Melina Haruko
•Thank you again! This is all so helpful. I'm going to file as soon as I receive my official layoff notice. I've started keeping records of everything just to be safe.
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
Just wanted to mention one more important thing - when you start filing your weekly claims, you'll see a question about whether you were "able and available" for full-time work each day of the week. Say YES to this question even though you're working part-time. What it's really asking is if you're physically able to work and available to accept full-time work if offered (not whether you're currently working). Saying NO to this will stop your benefits. I know multiple people who answered this wrong and created huge headaches for themselves.
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Demi Lagos
•OMG this is such an important tip!! I got messed up on this exact question and my benefits got held up for 3 weeks while I had to talk to an adjudicator to fix it. The wording is so confusing!
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