Can my husband claim ESD unemployment for reduced winter construction hours?

Yes, your husband can absolutely apply for partial unemployment benefits through ESD! This is exactly what the system is designed for - helping workers through temporary periods of reduced hours. He would file an initial claim, and then for each week where he works less than full-time, he reports those hours and earnings on his weekly claim. ESD will calculate a partial benefit payment based on how much he earned that week compared to his weekly benefit amount. Regarding job searches - unfortunately yes, he would still need to complete 3 job search activities each week to remain eligible, even for partial benefits. However, there's something called "standby status" he might qualify for if his employer can confirm he'll return to full-time work within 4 weeks. Standby would waive the job search requirement.

i went thru this exact thing last yr with my roofing job. u can 100% get partial but the job search thing is a PAIN. had to apply to places even tho i knew id be back full time in spring. standby status only worked for me once, they denied it after that saying seasonal work doesnt count for extended standby or something. still got my benefits tho!!!

I work with several construction clients who deal with this seasonal pattern. Your husband definitely qualifies for partial unemployment, but there are some important details: 1) For the job search requirements, he MUST complete 3 activities each week unless he gets standby status 2) Standby status is typically limited to 4 weeks, though it can sometimes be extended up to 8 weeks in special circumstances 3) For seasonal construction workers, after standby expires, he'll need to conduct legitimate job searches - ESD does audit these 4) Very important: he should talk to his employer BEFORE filing. Some construction companies have systems in place to help workers through winter slowdowns, and filing could potentially affect his standing 5) When reporting weekly, he must accurately report ALL hours worked and earnings - even small jobs or side work One final note - ESD processing times are currently running about 3-4 weeks for new claims, so he should file as soon as his hours start consistently dropping.

The job search requirement is absolutely ridiculous for seasonal workers!!! I was in the exact same boat with landscaping work and ESD made me do those stupid job searches even though EVERYONE KNOWS these industries are seasonal. I ended up having to go to interviews for jobs I had no intention of taking just to keep my benefits. The whole system is designed to make you jump through meaningless hoops. And God forbid you miss reporting ONE job search activity - they'll disqualify you so fast your head will spin! The ESD system is broken and doesn't understand how seasonal industries actually work.

Have your husband ask his boss about "partial unemployment plan" or "SharedWork" - some construction companies participate in these ESD programs specifically for winter slowdowns. My husband's commercial painting company does this. Basically the employer pre-arranges with ESD so employees can get partial benefits during slow periods without all the normal hassle. Worth asking about!

I had a terrible time reaching ESD when I had questions about my seasonal work situation last year. Spent DAYS trying to get through on the phone. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got connected to an ESD agent in about 25 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Worth it to actually get answers specific to your situation instead of guessing. The agent explained exactly how to handle my seasonal construction work and which job search activities would count if I couldn't get standby.

Regarding your question about when to apply - he should apply as soon as his hours are consistently reduced, not wait for a zero-hour week. The system is designed to supplement partial work. For job search activities, if he does end up having to do them, remember that "activities" don't just mean job applications. They can include: - Attending WorkSource workshops (some can be done online) - Informational interviews with companies (even if not actively hiring) - Updating his resume and posting it on job boards - Industry networking events These alternatives can fulfill requirements without forcing him to apply to jobs he won't take.

One more important detail - if your husband does file for partial unemployment, make sure he understands how earnings reporting works. ESD will deduct a portion of his earnings from his weekly benefit amount using this formula: - 75% of any earnings exceeding $5 and up to 1/4 of his weekly benefit amount - 100% of any earnings exceeding 1/4 of his weekly benefit amount So if his weekly benefit amount is $600 (just an example), and he earns $200 in a week: - First $5 isn't counted - 75% of earnings between $5 and $150 (which is 1/4 of $600) = 75% of $145 = $108.75 - 100% of earnings above $150 = $50 Total deduction: $158.75, making his partial benefit $441.25 for that week. Many construction workers get confused by this calculation and end up with overpayment notices later.

make sure he documents EVERYTHING. take screenshots of all confirmations when filing claims. ESD "lost" half my claims last winter and tried to say I never filed them. total nightmare getting it fixed