Can I get partial unemployment while still employed but with severely reduced hours after holiday season?

Yes! It's called "partial unemployment" or "standby" status depending on your situation. If your hours have been reduced through no fault of your own, you can file a claim with ESD. You'll need to report any hours/wages you do work each week, and they'll calculate a partial benefit payment if you qualify. The basic rule is if you earn less than your weekly benefit amount would be, you can receive the difference as partial benefits. But there's a formula ESD uses, and they don't do a simple subtraction.

i did this last yr when my hours got slashed at the warehouse. u definitely can get partial benefits but u gotta report exactly what u earn each week or they'll come after u later. its a pain but better than nothing

BE CAREFUL WITH THIS! I tried getting partial unemployment last year and my employer fought it saying the reduced hours were "temporary" and "normal for the industry" (I work in construction). ESD sided with them initially and I had to appeal. Took forever and was extremely stressful. Not saying you shouldn't try, but be prepared for pushback. ESD doesn't make ANYTHING easy!!

This is actually a common situation, especially in retail and seasonal industries. Here's how to approach this: 1. You can file for benefits at esd.wa.gov - select "partial unemployment" 2. You'll need to provide your work history and regular hours before the reduction 3. Each week you'll file a weekly claim reporting any hours/wages earned 4. You must be able and available for additional work (this is important) 5. You still need to complete job search activities (3 per week) unless you get approved for standby status The formula ESD uses: they deduct 3/4 of your earnings from your weekly benefit amount. So if your weekly benefit would be $500, and you earn $200 in a week, they'd deduct $150 (3/4 of $200), leaving you with a $350 payment for that week. Your employer will be notified, as they have to verify your employment status and reason for reduced hours.

wait do you need to do job search if you're still employed??? that seems weird if you have a job and just need help during slow period

I was in almost exactly your situation in 2025! Working for a garden center, tons of hours spring/summer, then suddenly down to 1 shift a week in winter. I applied for partial unemployment and it worked out great. One thing though - it took FOREVER to get through to ESD to verify some information they needed. I kept calling the main number and would get hung up on after waiting for 2+ hours. Then I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually get through to a real person at ESD! They have this demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Was so worth it because I had questions about how to report my fluctuating schedule correctly and needed to talk to an actual agent. Got everything sorted out and started getting partial benefits about 3 weeks after applying.

Another thing to watch out for - if your hours suddenly increase again, you HAVE to report it right away. I had a coworker who got in trouble because she had 2 good weeks where she worked almost full-time but still claimed her benefits without reporting the extra hours. ESD caught it in an audit and she had to pay everything back PLUS a penalty. Don't mess around with reporting accurately!

Since no one has mentioned it yet - there's also a minimum earnings threshold to qualify for ANY unemployment benefits in Washington. For 2025, you need to have earned at least $3,875 in your base year (which is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file). Also, your weekly benefit amount is calculated as roughly 1/25 of what you earned in your highest-earning quarter of the base year, up to the maximum benefit amount of $1,125 per week. When you apply, make sure to explain that your hours reduction is temporary but significant enough to impact your financial stability. You should qualify if the reduction is substantial compared to your normal schedule.

Don't forget you'll still need to pay taxes on unemployment benefits! I learned that the hard way last year... ouch! You can have ESD withhold 10% for federal taxes which I'd recommend.