Can I file unemployment for reduced hours at Washington ESD?

Yes, you can absolutely file for partial unemployment benefits in Washington! If your hours or wages are reduced through no fault of your own, you may qualify for partial UI benefits. You'll need to report your weekly earnings when you file your weekly claim, and Washington ESD will calculate a partial benefit amount.

That's a relief! Do I file the same way as regular unemployment or is there a different process?

Same process - you file an initial claim online through the Washington ESD website. Just make sure to accurately report your reduced work schedule and wages each week.

I'm in a similar situation and have been trying to get through to Washington ESD for three days straight. Their phone lines are constantly busy and I keep getting disconnected. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there?

I had the same problem last month until I found Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to Washington ESD agents without the endless busy signals. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really saved me hours of frustration.

Never heard of that before. Did it actually work for you? I'm getting desperate here.

Yeah, got connected within like 20 minutes instead of calling all day. The agent was able to explain my partial UI eligibility and walk me through the weekly claim process.

Just want to warn you that Washington ESD will reduce your benefit amount dollar-for-dollar for some of your earnings. It's not like you get full benefits plus your reduced wages. The formula is kind of complicated but they have a calculator on their website.

Do you know roughly how much I might get? I was making $800/week and now I'm down to $400/week.

Without knowing your full wage history it's hard to say exactly, but you'd likely qualify for some partial benefits. Washington ESD allows you to earn up to your weekly benefit amount plus $5 before they start reducing your UI payment.

That's not quite right. They allow you to earn 1/4 of your weekly benefit amount without any reduction, then it gets more complicated. The Washington ESD website has the exact formula.

ugh the washington esd system is so confusing!! i filed for partial benefits last year and it took them 6 weeks to process my claim. then they wanted documentation proving my hours were actually reduced and not voluntary

What kind of documentation did they want? I'm worried about this now.

they wanted a letter from my employer explaining the reduction was due to business reasons not because i requested fewer hours. also pay stubs showing the difference

It's always good to have that documentation ready when you file, but many partial UI claims process without additional verification needed.

One thing to keep in mind is you'll still need to meet the job search requirements even for partial unemployment. You have to be able and available for full-time work and actively seeking employment. This trips up a lot of people on partial claims.

Wait, so I need to look for other jobs even though I'm still working part-time at my current job?

Yes, you need to conduct job search activities and register with WorkSourceWA. The requirement is that you're available for and seeking full-time work, not just trying to get more hours at your current job.

This is where a lot of partial UI claims get denied. Make sure you understand the able and available requirements before you file.

Filed for partial UI three months ago when my restaurant cut everyone's hours. The whole process was actually pretty smooth once I got my initial claim approved. Just make sure you report your exact earnings each week - don't estimate or round numbers.

How long did it take for your initial claim to get approved?

About 2 weeks, but I had all my documentation ready and my employer didn't contest the claim. Some claims take longer if there are questions about the reason for the hour reduction.

BE CAREFUL about reporting tips if you work in food service or hospitality! I made the mistake of not reporting cash tips properly and ended up with an overpayment notice months later. Washington ESD expects you to report ALL income, including estimated tips.

I don't get tips in my job, but that's good to know. Do they really expect you to track every dollar?

For tips yes, you need to report your best estimate of total tip income for each week. They cross-reference with employer reports so don't lowball it.

Another option to consider - some employers will let you collect unemployment if they temporarily lay you off instead of just reducing hours. Might be worth talking to your boss about it since full UI benefits could be higher than partial.

Interesting idea, but I'd rather keep some income coming in than risk a full layoff. At least with reduced hours I have some job security.

Smart thinking. Partial UI gives you income support while keeping your foot in the door at work. Plus if business picks up you can easily go back to full hours.

The online application asks about your reason for reduced hours - make sure you select 'lack of work' or 'business conditions' and NOT anything that sounds voluntary. The wrong selection can delay or deny your claim.

Good tip! I definitely want to make sure I don't accidentally mess up the application.

Exactly right. The key is showing the hour reduction was due to circumstances beyond your control, not a personal choice or accommodation request.

I've been on partial UI for 8 weeks now and the weekly claims are pretty straightforward once you get used to them. Just remember the deadline - you have to file by 6pm on Saturday or you'll miss that week's payment.

Is there any flexibility if you miss the deadline? Like can you file late?

You can file a late claim but you need a good reason or they might not pay for that week. It's really not worth the risk - just set a reminder to file every week.

Washington ESD also has a standby option for some industries with predictable seasonal slowdowns. Might be worth asking about if your employer does this regularly.

What's the difference between standby and regular partial unemployment?

Standby is for temporary layoffs where you expect to return to work. You don't have to do job search activities but it's only available in certain situations and industries.

Standby has specific requirements and isn't available for general hour reductions. Regular partial UI is probably what you want in this situation.

Quick question - does anyone know if you can collect partial UI if you pick up gig work to make up for lost hours? Like DoorDash or Uber?

Yes but you have to report all gig work earnings on your weekly claim. This includes income from delivery apps, freelancing, odd jobs, everything.

And make sure you're tracking mileage and expenses for gig work since you report net earnings, not gross. Keep good records in case Washington ESD asks for documentation.

Started my partial claim online last week and the system kept timing out halfway through. Finally got it submitted but now I'm worried something got messed up. Should I call to verify?

Definitely call to confirm everything went through properly. I used Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD when I had filing issues - way better than trying to call directly.

Thanks, I'll check that out. The regular phone lines are impossible.

For anyone wondering about the timeline - I filed my partial claim on a Tuesday and was able to file my first weekly claim the following Sunday. First payment showed up in my account 2 days after that.

That's pretty fast! Did you have direct deposit set up already?

Yes, definitely set up direct deposit when you file your initial claim. Much faster than waiting for debit cards or checks.

One more thing - if your employer contests your partial UI claim, you'll get a notice and have to participate in a phone hearing. Don't ignore it! I almost lost my benefits because I didn't respond to the hearing notice in time.

Why would an employer contest a partial claim if they're the ones who cut hours?

Sometimes they disagree about whether the hour reduction was voluntary or involuntary. Or they might claim you turned down available hours. Just be honest in your application and keep records.

The Washington ESD website has a really helpful partial benefits calculator if you want to estimate what you might receive before filing. It's under the 'Benefit Estimator' section.

Perfect! I'll check that out before I file my claim. Thanks for all the help everyone - this thread has been incredibly useful.

Good luck with your claim! Just remember to file your weekly claims on time and report all earnings accurately. You should be fine.