Can you file for Washington ESD unemployment if your hours are reduced?
My employer cut my hours from 40 per week down to about 15-20 hours. I'm barely making enough to cover rent now. Can I file for partial unemployment benefits through Washington ESD? I've never filed before and don't know if reduced hours qualify or if there's a minimum number of hours I need to lose. Anyone been through this situation?
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Keisha Thompson
Yes, you can definitely file for partial unemployment in Washington! If your hours or wages are reduced through no fault of your own, you may qualify for partial benefits. The key is that the reduction has to be involuntary - your employer cut your hours, not you requesting fewer shifts.
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TechNinja
•That's a relief! Do I file the same way as regular unemployment or is there a different process?
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Keisha Thompson
•Same application process through the Washington ESD website. Just be honest about your current work situation when filling it out.
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Paolo Bianchi
I went through this exact situation last year. Filed for partial UI and it made a huge difference. You'll need to report your weekly earnings when you file your weekly claims, and Washington ESD will calculate how much partial benefit you get. There's a formula they use based on what you earn vs your weekly benefit amount.
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TechNinja
•How long did it take for your claim to get approved? I'm worried about the timing with bills due.
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Paolo Bianchi
•Mine took about 2 weeks, but that was pre-COVID. Things might be faster now that they've improved their systems.
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Yara Assad
•Just a heads up - you still have to do the job search requirements even for partial unemployment. Three job contacts per week in Washington.
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Olivia Clark
Be prepared for possible adjudication though. Sometimes Washington ESD wants to verify the reason for your hour reduction with your employer. If there's any question about whether it was voluntary or involuntary, they might put your claim on hold while they investigate.
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Javier Morales
•This happened to me! My claim got stuck in adjudication for weeks because my employer didn't respond to Washington ESD's inquiry right away. I couldn't get through to anyone on the phone to check the status.
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Olivia Clark
•That's frustrating but unfortunately common. The phone lines are still pretty jammed even though it's better than during the pandemic.
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Natasha Petrov
•If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone, there's actually a service called Claimyr that helps people get through to agents. They have this system that calls for you and connects you when someone picks up. I saw their demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ and it looked pretty straightforward.
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Connor O'Brien
Make sure you understand the earnings deduction formula! In Washington, you can earn up to a certain amount before it affects your weekly benefit. I think it's like the first $5 plus 25% of your weekly benefit amount, then anything over that reduces your payment dollar for dollar.
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TechNinja
•That sounds complicated. Is there somewhere I can see examples of how this works?
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Connor O'Brien
•The Washington ESD handbook has examples, or you can call and ask them to walk through it with your specific situation.
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Amina Diallo
ugh the whole system is so confusing!! i tried to file for partial last month when my hours got cut and the website kept erroring out. finally got through but then they wanted all this documentation about my employer and wages. why is it so hard???
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Keisha Thompson
•I know it's frustrating, but the documentation requirements are there to prevent fraud. Hang in there - once you get through the initial filing, the weekly claims are much easier.
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Amina Diallo
•i guess. just wish they made it more user friendly for people who actually need help
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GamerGirl99
One thing to keep in mind - partial unemployment can sometimes be temporary if your employer brings your hours back up. Make sure you're still looking for other work opportunities because the job search requirement doesn't go away just because you're working reduced hours.
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TechNinja
•Good point. Should I be applying for full-time positions or can I look for part-time work to supplement my current job?
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GamerGirl99
•Both count toward your job search requirement. The key is that you have to be able and available for work that would restore your wages.
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Hiroshi Nakamura
I've been on partial unemployment for three months now. It's definitely helped but you have to stay on top of reporting your earnings correctly every week. If you mess up the reporting, it can cause overpayment issues later that are a nightmare to deal with.
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Isabella Costa
•What happens if you accidentally report the wrong amount? I'm always worried I'm calculating my gross pay wrong.
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Hiroshi Nakamura
•If it's an honest mistake, they usually just adjust your future payments. But if there's a big discrepancy, they might investigate and you could end up owing money back.
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Malik Jenkins
Just wanted to add that standby status is different from partial unemployment. If your employer puts you on temporary layoff but expects to bring you back, that might be standby instead. The requirements are different so make sure you're filing under the right category.
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TechNinja
•How do I know which one applies to my situation? My employer said the hour reduction is indefinite but not necessarily permanent.
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Malik Jenkins
•That sounds like partial unemployment since you're still working reduced hours. Standby is usually for complete temporary layoffs where you're not working at all.
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Freya Andersen
Been there! Filed for partial UI twice in the past few years when different employers cut hours. First time was smooth, second time they questioned everything and I had to provide pay stubs going back months. Just depends on your luck I guess.
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Eduardo Silva
•Did you have trouble reaching someone at Washington ESD when they requested the additional documentation?
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Freya Andersen
•Oh yeah, the phone system is still terrible. I actually ended up using Claimyr.com to get through. They call for you and patch you through when an agent picks up. Saved me hours of redialing.
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Leila Haddad
Don't forget you might be eligible for other assistance too while on partial unemployment. Food assistance, utility help, etc. The reduced income threshold might qualify you for programs you wouldn't have been eligible for at full-time wages.
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TechNinja
•That's a good point. I hadn't thought about other assistance programs.
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Emma Johnson
•211 is a good resource for finding local assistance programs. You can call 2-1-1 or check their website.
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Ravi Patel
Word of warning - some employers don't like when you file for partial unemployment because it can affect their UI tax rate. Not saying don't do it (you absolutely should if you qualify!), but just be aware there might be workplace tension. Document everything in case they try to retaliate.
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TechNinja
•Yikes, I hadn't considered that. Can they legally fire me for filing for unemployment?
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Ravi Patel
•They can't legally retaliate, but proving retaliation can be tricky. Just keep records of your hours, any communications about the hour reduction, and your work performance.
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Astrid Bergström
•This is exactly why I was hesitant to file when my hours got cut. Ended up doing it anyway because I couldn't afford not to, but the workplace got weird after that.
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PixelPrincess
For what it's worth, partial unemployment saved me when my hours got slashed during the slow season. Took about 3 weeks to get my first payment but then it was pretty regular. The extra few hundred a week made the difference between keeping my apartment and having to move back with family.
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TechNinja
•That's encouraging to hear. I'm definitely going to file today.
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Omar Farouk
•Good luck! The application process has gotten better over the years. Just be thorough and honest in your answers.
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Chloe Martin
Make sure you keep track of your job search activities too. Even though you're working part-time, you still need to log three job contacts per week for Washington ESD. I use a simple spreadsheet to track company names, positions applied for, and dates.
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Diego Fernández
•Is there a specific format Washington ESD wants for the job search log?
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Chloe Martin
•They don't specify a format, but you need to be able to provide details if they audit your search activities. Date, employer, position, and method of contact is usually sufficient.
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Anastasia Kuznetsov
One more tip - if you end up in adjudication and can't get through on the phone, try the secure messaging system on your Washington ESD account. Response times vary but sometimes it's faster than waiting on hold for hours. Though honestly, after my experience trying to reach them for weeks, I finally used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and got connected in like 20 minutes.
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Sean Fitzgerald
•I've never heard of Claimyr before this thread. Is it legit?
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Anastasia Kuznetsov
•Yeah, it's a real service. They basically handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent picks up. Way better than spending your whole day redialing Washington ESD.
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