Can you file for partial unemployment benefits with Washington ESD?

That's a relief! Do I apply the same way as regular unemployment or is there a different process?

Same application process through the Washington ESD website. Just make sure to answer honestly about your part-time work when filling it out.

How much do they reduce it by? Is it dollar for dollar or is there some kind of formula?

It's not dollar for dollar thankfully. I think they let you keep the first $5 plus a quarter of what you earn above that before reducing benefits. But don't quote me on the exact numbers - check the Washington ESD website for current rates.

47 attempts?! That's insane. I was dreading having to call them. How much does that Claimyr thing cost?

Worth every penny when you consider the alternative of spending days trying to get through. Plus they connect you to the right department instead of getting transferred around.

Never heard of Claimyr but might need to try it. Been trying to reach Washington ESD for a week about my adjudication status.

Wait, I still have to job search even though I'm working? That seems weird.

Yeah, the logic is that you're receiving benefits because you need more work, so you need to show you're actively seeking it. Three work search activities per week I believe.

What kind of discrepancies? Like if I accidentally report the wrong amount one week?

anything really - wrong gross amount, forgetting to report tips, reporting net instead of gross. they cross-reference with employer wage reports so everything has to match up perfectly.

Good idea on the screenshots. I'll start doing that from day one.

Yes definitely keep records! I got audited 6 months after my claim ended and needed all that documentation.

That's concerning. Is the website really that bad?

It's gotten better since 2020 but still has issues. Clear your cache regularly and don't wait until Sunday night to file your weekly claim.

This is exactly when Claimyr becomes valuable - when you need to actually talk to someone to fix system glitches instead of being stuck in phone queue hell.

How do I know what that threshold is? I don't want to waste time filing if I'm not going to get anything.

It depends on your weekly benefit amount. Generally if you earn more than 1.5 times your weekly benefit amount, you'll get zero. But still file anyway to keep your claim active.

I've thought about it but worried about the scheduling conflicts. Plus would that affect my benefits calculation?

It's just about total weekly earnings regardless of how many jobs. Two part-time jobs earning $200 total is the same as one job earning $200 for benefit calculation purposes.

Do I legally have to tell them? I'm worried my manager might not understand and think I'm planning to quit.

You don't HAVE to tell them upfront, but Washington ESD will contact them anyway as part of the verification process. Better they hear it from you first.

What happens if you forget to file one week? Can you file it late?

you can file late claims but its a hassle and might delay your payments. set a phone reminder for sunday mornings or whenever you usually file.

I'll look that up right now. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

That fact sheet helped me understand the earnings deduction formula. Wish I'd found it before I filed and got confused.

I'm definitely feeling that guilt factor. Good to know it's normal and that this is what the program is for.

No shame in using a program you paid into through your taxes! That's what it's there for.

OK you've convinced me to try it. My adjudication has been pending for 3 weeks and I need answers.

Good to know they can help with specific questions like tip reporting. That's exactly the kind of thing I'd need to call about.

That's shady but I could see it happening. I'll keep track of my actual vs scheduled hours just in case.

Yeah it's illegal but hard to prove without documentation. Better to be prepared.

Define 'suitable work' - does it have to be in restaurants or just anything full-time?

Generally work that matches your skills and experience at prevailing wages. They can't force you to take a huge pay cut, but you can't be too picky either.

A week seems fast! I was expecting it to take forever based on horror stories I've heard.

I think partial claims move faster because they're more straightforward than full unemployment claims. Less fraud risk maybe?

That's actually a great idea. I've been wanting to learn some new skills but never had the time. This might be the perfect opportunity.

WorkSource has some decent online courses. Did their customer service training program while on partial unemployment and it helped me land a better job.

Thanks everyone! This thread has been incredibly helpful. I feel much more confident about filing now.

This sub is great for unemployment questions. Saved me so much time and stress when I was dealing with my claim issues.

Definitely doing direct deposit. I don't trust the mail with something that important.

Smart choice. My first check got lost in the mail and it was a nightmare to get it reissued.