Can part time employees collect unemployment benefits in Washington

That's a relief to hear! Do I need to wait until my hours actually get cut or can I file now?

You should file as soon as your hours are reduced and your earnings drop. Don't wait - your benefit year starts from when you file your initial claim.

That's such a relief to hear! Do you know how much I might be able to get? I'm making about $400 a week right now but it's going to drop to maybe $150.

The amount depends on your earnings history and what you make each week. Washington ESD has a formula where they reduce your weekly benefit amount based on what you earn that week. You should definitely apply soon since there's usually a one-week waiting period.

Did you have any issues with the application process? I'm worried about messing something up.

The online application was pretty straightforward, but I did get stuck when they asked about my 'able and available' status since I was still working. Just be honest about your situation and availability to work additional hours.

How do I figure out what my weekly benefit amount would be?

It's based on your highest earning quarter in your base year. You can use the benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website to get an estimate.

Wait, so even if I'm still working part-time I have to do job searches? That seems weird.

Yes, because you're considered partially unemployed. The job search requirement ensures you're trying to return to full employment. It's usually 3 job search activities per week in Washington.

Oh no, that sounds really frustrating. Were you eventually able to get help?

Eventually yeah, but it took forever. I actually found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an agent much faster. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Never heard of that before, is it legit?

Yeah it's totally legitimate. They just help you get connected to Washington ESD agents when the lines are busy. Saved me so much time and stress.

I've never heard of that service before. Is it legit? I'm always nervous about third-party stuff when it comes to government benefits.

Yeah it's legitimate - claimyr.com. They basically help you get through the phone queue to reach an actual Washington ESD representative. I was skeptical too but it worked when I really needed to talk to someone about my partial claim status.

Good point, I'll start keeping better track of everything.

Yes this is super important! I got hit with an overpayment notice because I made a mistake reporting my hours one week.

Nope, partial unemployment is definitely a thing in Washington. As long as your hours/earnings are reduced through no fault of your own, you can qualify for partial benefits.

that's actually really good to know, thanks

How many jobs do I need to apply for each week?

It's 3 job search activities per week in Washington. But since you're still working, make sure those activities are for jobs that wouldn't conflict with your current schedule.

Actually I think they changed it to 2 activities per week recently, but I'm not 100% sure

You might be right, the requirements do change sometimes. Best to check the current rules on the Washington ESD website.

How long did it take for your claim to get approved? I'm really worried about the gap in income.

Mine took about 3 weeks from application to first payment, but that was pretty standard. Some people get approved faster, others take longer if there are any issues that need adjudication.

What kind of employment info do I need?

Your employer's information, start dates, wages earned, reason for the hour reduction, etc. They'll ask for info about all your employers from the past 18 months.

I feel your pain. Have you tried calling right when they open at 8am? Sometimes that works better.

Yeah I've tried that too. Still no luck getting through.

@12 you should try that Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier. I used it last month when I couldn't get through about my adjudication issue and it actually worked.

Good point about keeping records. Should I tell my employer that I'm filing for partial unemployment?

You don't have to tell them beforehand, but they'll get a notice from Washington ESD about your claim eventually. Most employers understand when hours are cut due to business reasons - it's not like you're quitting or getting fired.

It's not quite that simple. Washington ESD looks at your base period wages to determine your weekly benefit amount, then they reduce it based on what you earn each week. There's a formula but generally you can earn up to a certain amount before your benefits start getting reduced.

Ugh this is why I hate dealing with government stuff. Nothing is ever straightforward.

Definitely worth it! Even if you only get a couple hundred dollars a week, that can make a huge difference when your income gets slashed like that.

True, every little bit helps right now. I guess I'll look into filing this weekend.

Hopefully it doesn't come to that, but good to know just in case.

Actually you usually don't need to file a new claim if you're already receiving partial benefits and then become fully unemployed. You just continue filing your weekly claims and report zero earnings.

That's a good distinction. So I should be applying to other jobs too, not just waiting for my current place to increase my hours?

Exactly. You need to show you're actively seeking work that would get you back to full employment. Just waiting around for your current employer to maybe give you more hours won't cut it for the job search requirements.

Should I tell them before I file or after?

I'd probably mention it after you file, just so they're aware. Washington ESD might contact them anyway as part of the process.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr - I was in the same situation getting nowhere with regular calls. Sometimes you just need to actually talk to someone who can look at your specific case and explain what's holding it up.

Maybe I should try that. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get some answers about my claim status.

Yeah exactly, every little bit helps right now.

Wait, is it supposed to be gross or net pay? I would have assumed gross.

It's gross pay actually - I was wrong about that. The point is just to be consistent and accurate with whatever you report each week.

I was working full-time at another job before this one, so hopefully that counts toward my base period.

Yes, absolutely! They look at all your covered employment, not just your current job.

Is the online system pretty user-friendly? I'm not super tech-savvy.

It's not too bad. Just take your time and make sure you have all your employment information handy before you start - pay stubs, employer contact info, dates of employment, etc.

You can just stop filing weekly claims if your income goes back to normal levels. Your claim will basically go inactive but stay open for a year in case your situation changes again.

That's good to know. Hopefully this is just a temporary slow period for business.

Employers can respond to unemployment claims but if your hours were legitimately reduced due to lack of work, they typically don't contest partial claims. It's different from someone getting fired or quitting.

That makes sense. I guess reducing someone's hours because business is slow isn't really grounds to fight an unemployment claim.

Thanks for that tip. I was thinking of waiting another week or two to see if things improve, but sounds like I should just file now.

Definitely file now. Worst case scenario, if your hours go back up you can just stop filing weekly claims. But if they stay low, you'll be glad you started the process early.

Good to know it's not just formal job applications. I was worried about having to apply to 3 different jobs every single week.

Nope, there are lots of different qualifying activities. The Washington ESD website has a full list of what counts toward your job search requirements.

That's encouraging to hear a success story! Have you had any issues with the weekly claim process?

Pretty smooth once I got into the routine. Just make sure you file your weekly claim on the same day each week and keep track of your earnings and job search activities.

I didn't even think about that. I'll need to check with those programs if I end up qualifying for unemployment benefits.

Yeah, it's worth calling ahead to see how unemployment benefits might impact other assistance you're receiving. Better to know upfront than get surprised later.

That's exactly why services like Claimyr exist - sometimes you really do need to talk to a human to get specific questions answered, especially for partial claims which can be more complex than regular unemployment.

True, having someone to actually talk through your specific situation would have been helpful. I made a few mistakes early on that probably could have been avoided.

Agreed, it's definitely better than the all-or-nothing approach some places have.

Though the paperwork and weekly reporting can be a pain to keep up with.

Good point, I hadn't thought about the tax implications.

You can set up the tax withholding when you file your claim or change it later through your online account.

What do you mean by adjudication?

It's when they need to review your claim for some reason before approving benefits. Can take weeks sometimes. That's when services like Claimyr really come in handy for getting through to someone who can explain what's going on.

Thanks for the encouragement! I'll get on it this week.

Definitely, and if you get stuck on any of the questions just skip it and come back. You can always call for help if needed.