Can per diem employees collect Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

That's good to know! Do you know what the base period earnings requirement is? I've been working per diem for about 2 years now.

You need at least $1,500 in one quarter and total base period wages of at least 1.5 times your highest quarter. Check your wage history on the Washington ESD website to see if you qualify.

Oh that's a good point about the availability requirement. I am looking for additional per diem positions at other hospitals though.

Wait, so if you're still working some per diem shifts, can you still collect partial unemployment? I thought you had to be completely unemployed.

This is really helpful! So I would file weekly claims and just report whatever I earned from my per diem shifts that week?

Exactly. Report gross wages before taxes and deductions. If you work more than your part-time hours threshold, you might not get benefits that week, but you can still claim the following week if your hours drop again.

Really? That sounds too good to be true. How much does something like that cost?

I was skeptical too but it actually worked. They don't publish pricing on the site but it was worth it to finally talk to someone at Washington ESD instead of getting disconnected constantly.

Good reminder! Do applying for additional per diem positions count toward the 3 weekly job search contacts?

Yes, applying for per diem positions counts as long as they're legitimate job applications. You can also count networking, job fairs, informational interviews, etc.

The job search log is such a pain but they do audit them. Make sure you keep detailed records with dates, employer names, and method of contact.

The information is on their website but it's buried in different sections. The key thing to remember is that partial unemployment exists specifically for situations like reduced hours.

I felt the same way! Turns out as long as you're honest about your earnings and available for more work, you should be fine. Don't let fear stop you from getting benefits you're entitled to.

I get a W-2 so I think I'm classified as an employee. But that's a really important distinction I hadn't thought about.

Good! If you get a W-2 then you're definitely an employee and your wages count toward UI eligibility. 1099 contractors are out of luck unless they qualify for PUA, but that program ended.

That's encouraging to hear! How long did the initial approval process take for you?

About 3 weeks from filing to getting my first payment. No adjudication issues since my employment history was straightforward. Make sure all your employer info is accurate when you file.

Standby is only available if you have a specific return-to-work date within 4 weeks and your employer requests it. Per diem workers usually don't qualify since there's no guaranteed schedule.

That makes sense. I'll just stick with regular weekly claims then and report my earnings when I do get shifts.

Try calling right at 8am when they open. I've had better luck getting through early in the morning.

Seriously, try that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. It saved my sanity when I couldn't get through to Washington ESD. Worth every penny to actually talk to a human being.

I didn't know there was a maximum! How do you track that?

It shows on your payment history in your Washington ESD account. Your weekly benefit amount times 26 weeks is your maximum, but it's reduced by any wages you earn over your part-time threshold.

What's the earnings deduction formula? I keep seeing people mention it but I'm not sure how it works.

Basically, if you earn less than your part-time hours amount, you get full benefits. If you earn more, they reduce your benefits dollar for dollar above that threshold. It's explained on the Washington ESD website but it's confusing.

The online system is so glitchy! I had similar problems and ended up having to clear my browser cache and try again several times.

Yeah, I should have tried that first. Would have saved me hours on the phone. Live and learn I guess!

Good point! I work per diem at two different hospitals so I'll make sure to include both.

Yes! And when you file weekly claims, report earnings from ALL employers, not just the one where you lost hours. Honesty is key with Washington ESD.

Thank you so much everyone! I feel much more confident about filing now. Going to start my application this weekend.

Good luck! Remember to keep detailed records of everything - wages, job searches, all of it. Documentation is your friend with Washington ESD.