Can I get partial unemployment benefits through Washington ESD?

Yes, you can definitely get partial unemployment benefits in Washington! It's called 'working while on claim' and basically if you're working reduced hours or earning less than your weekly benefit amount, you can still collect some UI. You'll need to report your weekly earnings when you file your weekly claim and Washington ESD will calculate how much partial benefit you get.

I did this last year when my hours got cut. You have to be really careful about reporting your earnings correctly every week or they'll say you have an overpayment later. Make sure you report gross earnings, not net.

The process is pretty straightforward but getting through to Washington ESD to ask questions can be really frustrating. I spent weeks trying to call them when I had questions about my partial claim. If you need to talk to someone, I actually found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

When you file for partial unemployment, do you still have to do the job search requirements? I'm already working so I wasn't sure if that applies.

partial UI saved my butt when my restaurant cut everyone's hours during the slow season. definitely apply for it, the worst they can say is no

One thing to keep in mind - you can only collect unemployment benefits for a total of 26 weeks in your benefit year, whether it's full or partial benefits. So if you've already used some of your weeks on regular unemployment, that counts toward your total.

Make sure your employer isn't going to have issues with you filing for partial unemployment. Some employers get weird about it even though it's perfectly legal.

The Washington ESD website has a calculator where you can estimate your partial benefit amount. It's under the 'Working While on Unemployment' section. Might be worth checking that out before you apply.

I tried to apply for partial unemployment last month and got so confused by all the questions on the application. It kept asking about my separation from my last employer but I'm still employed, just with reduced hours. Anyone else run into this?

Does anyone know if you can get partial unemployment if you're self-employed? I do freelance work and some months are really slow.

PARTIAL UNEMPLOYMENT IS A LIFESAVER! Sorry for caps but seriously, it kept me from losing my apartment when my hours got slashed. Don't let anyone tell you it's not worth the hassle.

One heads up - if you start working more hours or find a better paying job, you need to report that right away. Don't wait until your next weekly claim filing or you could end up with complications.

I had to use Claimyr twice when I was on partial unemployment because I kept getting conflicting information from different ESD representatives about how to report my earnings. Finally got a consistent answer and everything worked out fine.

pro tip: keep detailed records of all your hours and earnings while on partial UI. if there's ever a question or audit, you'll want to have everything documented

Just wanted to add that even if your partial benefit amount seems small, it can really add up over time. Plus you're still getting credit toward future unemployment benefits if you need them later.

The waiting week still applies to partial unemployment, right? So you won't get paid for your first week of filing?

I know someone who got denied for partial unemployment because they weren't actively looking for full-time work. Make sure you're meeting all the job search requirements or they'll cut off your benefits.

If anyone is still having trouble getting through to Washington ESD for questions about partial unemployment, I also had success with Claimyr. It's definitely easier than trying to call on your own. The video demo they have explains it pretty well.

Bottom line - if you're working reduced hours and struggling financially, definitely apply for partial unemployment. The worst case scenario is they say no, but you might be surprised at how much it helps.

One last thing - make sure you understand how holidays and vacation pay affect your partial benefits. That can get confusing if you're not prepared for it.