Can part-time employees get unemployment benefits in Washington?

Yes, part-time employees can definitely qualify for unemployment benefits in Washington! The key thing is that you need to have earned enough wages during your base period to establish a claim. Since you've been working 25-30 hours for 8 months, you should have enough earnings. The reduction in hours could qualify you for partial unemployment benefits.

i was part time too and got approved no problem. the tricky part is when you're still working some hours - they'll reduce your weekly benefit based on what you earn

Yes, you can definitely apply for partial unemployment benefits in Washington! When your hours get cut significantly like that, you may qualify for what's called 'partial benefits.' The key is that your weekly earnings need to be less than your weekly benefit amount plus $5. Washington ESD will calculate your benefit based on your previous earnings during your base period.

I was in almost the exact same situation last year! I was working part-time at a restaurant and my hours got slashed from 30 to about 12 per week. I qualified for partial unemployment and it really helped bridge the gap. The application process is the same whether you're fully unemployed or partially unemployed - you just report your part-time earnings when you file your weekly claims.

The partial unemployment situation can be confusing to navigate with Washington ESD. You'll need to report your reduced hours and earnings each week when you file your weekly claim. If you're having trouble getting through to them to ask questions about your specific situation, I recently discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps people get through to Washington ESD agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Might be worth checking out if you need to speak with someone directly.

Wait, so if I'm still working but just fewer hours, I can still get some unemployment? I thought you had to be completely unemployed to qualify!

One thing to keep in mind is that you still need to meet the job search requirements even if you're working part-time. Washington ESD requires you to actively look for work and be available for full-time employment. You'll need to log your job search activities in WorkSourceWA.

THE SYSTEM IS SO CONFUSING! Why don't they make this information more available?? I went through the same thing last year and had no idea I could get partial benefits until someone at work mentioned it

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask questions about your specific situation, I recently discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps people reach ESD agents by phone. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. It was really helpful when I needed to clarify some details about my partial unemployment claim.

So when I file, do I need to include the weeks where I was working full hours, or just start from when my hours got cut?

just a heads up - you still have to do the job search requirements even if youre working part time. dont forget about that part

One thing to keep in mind is that when you're working reduced hours, you need to be available for additional work. So if your current employer offers you more hours, you generally need to accept them or it could affect your benefits.

btw the online filing system is pretty straightforward for this. just make sure you answer the questions about partial work honestly each week

The formula for partial benefits in Washington is pretty straightforward once you understand it. Your weekly benefit amount minus your part-time earnings (minus $5) equals your partial payment. So if your weekly benefit amount would be $400 and you earn $200 in part-time wages, you'd get $195 in unemployment benefits ($400 - $200 - $5 = $195).

ugh the whole system is so confusing! I tried applying for partial benefits last month and got so overwhelmed with all the forms and requirements. The Washington ESD website is not user-friendly at all IMO

Make sure you apply as soon as possible! There's a waiting week in Washington, so the sooner you file your initial claim, the sooner you can start receiving benefits. Don't wait until your hours are actually cut - you can apply as soon as you know it's happening.

I was in almost the exact same situation last year! Retail job, hours got cut from 30 to about 12 per week. I got approved for partial benefits and it really helped bridge the gap while I looked for additional work. The process was smoother than I expected.

Quick question - does it matter what industry you work in? I'm also part-time but in food service

Just want to add that your employer can't retaliate against you for filing for unemployment benefits. I was worried my boss would be mad if they found out I applied for partial benefits, but it's your legal right and they can't fire you or reduce your hours further because of it.

One more thing to consider - if your hours are cut this severely, it might be worth looking into whether this qualifies as 'constructive dismissal' or if you have grounds to quit for good cause. Sometimes a drastic reduction in hours can be treated similarly to being laid off.

For anyone reading this thread, it's worth noting that Washington State has some of the more generous partial unemployment policies compared to other states. You can earn up to your weekly benefit amount plus $5 before your benefits start getting reduced.

don't forget you'll need to keep track of your job search activities in WorkSourceWA even while you're still working reduced hours

This thread has been really helpful! I had no idea part-time workers could get unemployment benefits. I've been dealing with inconsistent hours at my job and this might be exactly what I need to look into.

If anyone runs into issues during the application process or needs clarification on their specific situation, I mentioned Claimyr earlier (claimyr.com). They've helped a lot of people get through to Washington ESD when the phone lines are busy. Sometimes it's worth talking to an actual person to make sure you're doing everything correctly, especially with partial unemployment claims.

One more thing to consider - if your hours are cut significantly, it might be worth looking for additional part-time work. You can work multiple part-time jobs and still potentially qualify for partial benefits if your total hours/earnings are reduced.

I used Claimyr a few months ago when I needed to talk to someone at Washington ESD about my partial claim. The regular phone lines were impossible to get through, but Claimyr got me connected within a few hours. It was worth it to get my questions answered directly by an ESD representative.

this whole thread makes me realize i should have filed months ago when my hours got cut. better late than never i guess?

Update: I just filed my claim online and it was actually pretty straightforward! Thanks everyone for all the helpful information. Now I just have to wait to hear back from Washington ESD.

This thread should be pinned or something. So much useful information about partial unemployment that I never knew about.

For anyone still reading this - I used Claimyr a few months ago when I was having trouble reaching Washington ESD about my claim status. It actually worked really well and I was able to talk to someone within a few hours instead of calling for days. Just wanted to add another positive experience with that service.

Quick question - do you have to be available for work on the days you're already scheduled to work your part-time job? Like if I work Tuesdays and Thursdays, do I need to be available for other work on those days too?

Just applied for partial benefits myself after my restaurant cut everyone's hours. The process wasn't as bad as I expected, but definitely gather all your employment info first - employer addresses, dates of employment, reason for hour reduction, etc. Makes the application go much smoother.

The Washington ESD customer service line is absolutely terrible. I spent 6 hours on hold last week just to get disconnected. Thank god for services like Claimyr - it's literally the only way I've been able to reach an actual person to help with my unemployment questions.

Don't forget that your base period for calculating benefits is based on the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. Since you've been working part-time for 8 months, you should have enough earnings in your base period to qualify for benefits.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you'll need to report your gross earnings (before taxes) when you file your weekly claims. Don't report your take-home pay - report the full amount you earned before any deductions.