Can you file for unemployment if your hours are cut - Washington ESD eligibility question

That's good news! Do you know what the income limits are? I'm still making some money obviously.

Washington ESD has a formula where you can earn up to a certain amount and still receive partial benefits. Generally you can earn up to 1.5 times your weekly benefit amount before it affects your UI payment.

Should I get something in writing from my boss about the hour cuts?

Yes definitely! Email or written notice about the schedule change will help support your claim if there are any questions during adjudication.

This is really helpful info, I'm in a similar situation and wasn't sure if I qualified.

Oh god the phone situation is the worst! I found this service called Claimyr that actually helped me get through to Washington ESD agents. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Really? How does that work exactly? I'm so tired of the busy signals and hold music.

Basically they handle the calling for you and connect you when they get through to an actual person. Saved me so much frustration when I needed to talk to someone about my adjudication status.

Yes, you still need to meet the job search requirements even for partial unemployment. You'll need to log your job search activities in WorkSourceWA.

Wait really? That seems weird if you already have a job...

The requirement is there because the goal is to help you find full-time work to replace the lost hours/income. Makes sense when you think about it that way.

Did they contact your employer directly? I hope this doesn't cause issues with my boss.

They sent a form to my employer asking about my work history and the reason for reduced hours. It's pretty standard and shouldn't cause problems as long as you're honest about everything.

This is getting complicated... is there a calculator somewhere to figure out what I might get?

Washington ESD has benefit calculators on their website but they're not always accurate for partial claims. Your best bet is to file and see what they determine.

I used one of those calculators and it was way off from what I actually got. Don't rely on them too much.

How long did it take to start receiving benefits?

About 2 weeks after filing, but I had no complications. Some people wait longer if there are issues with their claim.

Yikes! How much trouble did that cause?

Had to pay back like $800 plus penalties. Not fun. Just be 100% honest about everything you earn.

This is why I'm scared to file... what if I mess something up?

Thanks for the encouragement! I really need this extra income to make ends meet.

That's exactly what the program is for. Good luck with your application!

Good point! I'll make sure to update my claim if things change.

Yeah the system doesn't automatically know when your situation changes, you have to tell them.

Same situation here! I've been trying to call them to check on the status but can never get through. It's so frustrating.

You might want to try that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. I used it when I needed to follow up on my adjudication and it actually worked - got me connected to a real person.

Is it legit though? I'm always skeptical of third-party services for government stuff.

I was skeptical too but they just help you get through the phone system, they don't handle your actual claim or anything. Worth checking out their demo video if you're curious.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I'm feeling much more confident about filing now.

Good luck! Hope your hours get restored soon but at least you'll have some income support in the meantime.

Yes, there's still a one-week waiting period for partial unemployment claims just like regular UI. You file for that first week but don't get paid for it.

Got it, thanks! Better than nothing I guess.

Good reminder! I'll start gathering everything together before I file.

Organization is key with these claims. Keep copies of everything!

That's reassuring to know! I'll try not to stress if the numbers look off initially.

Yeah I remember my first payment was like $50 less than expected but it corrected itself the next week.

Perfect! I was planning to do it online anyway. Sounds like that's the best approach.

Just make sure you have all your info ready before you start - employer details, social security number, etc. Makes the process much smoother.

Most employers don't fight legitimate partial claims, especially if the hour reduction was due to business reasons. It's in their interest to keep good employees even at reduced hours.

That makes sense. I think I'm overthinking this.

I'm a little worried about the same thing but figure I have to try. These reduced hours are really hurting financially.

I hadn't thought about that. Thanks for mentioning it!

DSHS has info about all the different programs available. Definitely worth checking out.

Thank you! All these responses have been so helpful. I'm definitely going to file this week.

Good luck! Update us on how it goes if you get a chance.

Good to know! I'll keep that in mind if I hit any roadblocks.

Persistence is key with any government benefit system. Don't let bureaucracy discourage you from getting the help you're entitled to.