Can a part time employee file for unemployment in Washington?

Yes, you can definitely file for partial unemployment benefits in Washington! If your hours were reduced significantly, you might qualify for what's called 'underemployment' benefits. You'll need to report your weekly earnings when you file your weekly claim, and Washington ESD will calculate how much you can receive based on the reduction in your income.

I was in a similar situation last year. The key thing is that Washington ESD looks at whether your hours were reduced through no fault of your own. Since your employer is cutting hours due to business reasons, that should qualify you. Just make sure to file as soon as possible because there's usually a waiting period.

Just went through this process myself. You'll need to show that you're available and actively looking for work to maintain full-time employment. Washington ESD requires you to do job search activities each week, even while you're still working part-time. Keep detailed records of your job applications because they might ask for your job search log during an audit.

I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD when I needed to ask questions about my partial claim. Their phone lines are constantly busy and the website can be confusing. I ended up using a service called Claimyr that helped me get connected to an actual agent. You can check them out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made the whole process so much easier!

make sure you have all your pay stubs ready when you file your claim. Washington ESD will need to verify your earnings history to calculate your benefit amount. Since you're part-time, they'll look at your highest earning quarter to determine your weekly benefit amount.

Be careful about the work search requirements! I got disqualified once because I didn't understand that I needed to be actively looking for work even though I was still employed part-time. You have to prove you're genuinely seeking to increase your work hours or find additional employment.

One thing to remember is that your weekly claim filing is super important. You have to report ALL income from any work, including your reduced part-time hours. Washington ESD will then calculate your partial benefit amount. Missing a week or reporting incorrectly can cause delays or overpayment issues later.

I've been on partial unemployment for like 6 months now after my restaurant cut everyone's hours. It's definitely helped bridge the gap financially. Just be prepared for the weekly claim process to become routine - you'll be doing it every week and you can't skip or you lose benefits for that week.

Washington ESD's system for partial claims can be confusing at first. When you file online, make sure you select that you worked during the week and accurately report your hours and earnings. The system will automatically calculate your partial benefit amount based on what you earned versus your full weekly benefit amount.

This is exactly what happened to me at my previous job! The retail industry is brutal with hour cuts. I ended up qualifying for partial unemployment and it really helped while I searched for a better position. Don't let anyone tell you that part-time workers can't get benefits - that's completely wrong.

UGH the Washington ESD phone system is THE WORST. I spent literally hours trying to get through when I had questions about my partial claim. Finally someone recommended this Claimyr thing and it actually worked. Got connected to an agent in like 20 minutes instead of sitting on hold forever.

Make sure you understand the difference between being 'able and available' for work versus just looking for work. Washington ESD requires both for partial benefits. You need to be physically able to work and available during normal business hours, not just applying for jobs.

been there done that with the hour cuts. File ASAP because there's usually a one-week waiting period before you get your first payment. Also keep track of EVERYTHING - pay stubs, work schedules, job applications. Washington ESD loves paperwork.

I'm dealing with something similar right now. My hours got cut from 35 to 15 per week and I filed for partial unemployment last month. Still waiting for approval but the process has been pretty straightforward so far. The hardest part is doing the job search requirements every week on top of working.

Just want to add that if your employer tries to tell you that you can't file for unemployment because you're still employed, they're wrong. Hour reductions due to lack of work qualify for partial benefits. Don't let them discourage you from filing.

Pro tip: when you file your weekly claims, double-check your entries before submitting. I made a mistake once reporting my hours and it caused a whole mess with overpayment that took months to sort out. Better to be super careful than deal with that headache.

washington esd's website has a benefits calculator that can give you an estimate of what you might receive for partial benefits. it's not 100% accurate but gives you a ballpark figure based on your earnings history.

The good news is that partial unemployment can actually work out well if you're strategic about it. You get some income support while having flexibility to interview and look for better opportunities. Just make sure you're genuinely looking for work because Washington ESD does audit people.

Bottom line - yes you can absolutely file for partial unemployment with reduced hours. It's designed exactly for situations like yours. Don't let the bureaucracy intimidate you, just be thorough with your paperwork and honest about your situation.