Can I quit a part-time job without losing my ESD unemployment benefits?

This is a tricky situation but I can share some factual information. Generally, quitting a job voluntarily without "good cause" can disqualify you from receiving benefits. However, ESD does recognize certain situations as "good cause" for leaving employment, including "unsuitable work" which might apply in your case. The key factors ESD considers for "unsuitable work" include: 1. Whether the work matches your skills, training, and experience 2. Whether the pay rate is significantly below what's customary for your occupation 3. Whether continuing the work would hinder your ability to return to your regular occupation Since you're making less than half your normal wage and it's outside your field, you might have a case. I'd recommend documenting everything carefully - your regular occupation, wage history, current part-time hours/pay, and how it's affecting your job search in your field.

Dont quit!!1! ESD will 100% disqualify u if u quit. they r super strict abut this. my cousin quit a job last year and lost ALL benefits for like 10 weeks. just keep the job and deal with it

I was in a very similar situation last year! I got laid off from my accounting position and took a part-time barista job while looking for work. When I qualified for a new benefit year, I contacted ESD directly to ask about this exact issue. They told me that I could potentially qualify to quit without penalty under the "unsuitable work" provision, BUT - and this is important - I needed to try to remedy the situation first. They suggested I talk to my employer about reducing hours or changing my schedule to accommodate job searching in my field. I documented the conversation with my manager where I requested schedule changes to allow for interviews, and when that wasn't possible, I then provided that documentation to ESD along with my reason for quitting. They approved my continued benefits. I'd recommend calling ESD directly before making any decisions. The wait times are ridiculous though. I found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an ESD agent in about 15 minutes instead of spending days trying to call. They have a demo video of how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 It was worth it to get a definitive answer directly from ESD for my specific situation.

The ESD system is COMPLETELY unfair. They want you to take ANY job no matter how bad, then they trap you there by threatening to cut off your benefits if you leave! It's designed to force people into low-wage work. I bet if you call them, they'll just give you the runaround and eventually deny your claim anyway. The whole system is broken and designed to benefit employers, not workers.

Unemployment insurance specialist here. This question comes up fairly often. The legal standard in Washington State for quitting part-time work while on unemployment involves several factors: 1. Work paying significantly less than your customary occupation (50% or less) can potentially be considered unsuitable. 2. Work outside your field that prevents you from seeking suitable work can also qualify as a valid reason to quit. 3. Documentation is critical. Before quitting: - Request schedule modifications in writing to accommodate job searching - Document any interviews you've had to miss due to this work - Calculate and document the financial impact (how the 75% deduction affects your total income) - Keep records of job search activities in your field 4. Most importantly, contact ESD BEFORE quitting. Get their guidance for your specific situation and document the conversation. The key legal concept here is that unemployment benefits are designed to support your return to suitable employment, not force you to remain in unsuitable employment. However, ESD makes case-by-case determinations.

dude just reduce ur hours at the pt job instead of quitting??? tell ur boss u cant work as much, problem solved, keep some income + full benefits

An important update based on a rule change: As of 2025, ESD has slightly modified their approach to part-time work while on unemployment. They now place greater emphasis on whether the part-time work is impeding your ability to search for and obtain work in your regular occupation. If you can demonstrate that: 1. The part-time work schedule conflicts with interview opportunities 2. The hours/schedule prevent you from attending job fairs or networking events in your field 3. You're too exhausted from the part-time work to effectively search for suitable employment These factors now carry more weight in determining if quitting would be considered for good cause. Again, documentation is critical here - keep records of any missed opportunities due to your part-time schedule.

I went through almost exactly this situation about 8 months ago. I was a laid-off marketing manager who took a part-time cashier job while on unemployment. Like you, I was actually losing money after the benefit deduction and it was killing my job search efforts. Here's what worked for me: I kept a detailed log for 3 weeks showing every interview I had to decline or reschedule due to my retail shifts, plus all the networking events and career fairs I missed. I also tracked my job applications - before the part-time job I was applying to 8-10 positions per week, but with the retail schedule I could barely manage 3-4. When I presented this documentation to ESD along with my wage comparison (marketing salary vs retail), they approved my quit as "good cause" under the unsuitable work provision. The key was showing how the part-time job was actively preventing me from returning to suitable employment. One tip: if you do decide to quit, apply for your weekly benefit the same week and include a detailed explanation right away. Don't wait for them to ask questions later. Be proactive with your documentation and reasoning. The process took about 3 weeks to get resolved, but I did continue receiving benefits and eventually found a position in my field. Good luck!