Can you file partial unemployment with Washington ESD if hours are cut?

Thanks! Do you know if there's a minimum number of hours I need to be working to qualify?

No minimum hours required, but you do need to be available for additional work. Washington ESD will calculate your partial benefit based on what you earn vs your weekly benefit amount.

Did you have to do the full 3 job searches per week even though you were working part-time?

Yeah I still had to do job searches. The requirement doesn't change just because you're working partial hours.

That seems excessive when you already have a job but just need more hours...

How much does that service cost? I'm already losing money with reduced hours.

It was worth it for me to get my claim started quickly rather than waste weeks trying to get through on my own. The peace of mind was valuable.

Never heard of Claimyr before but might be worth checking out if the phone lines are still terrible.

That's not accurate. Washington ESD has an earnings deduction formula - you don't lose dollar for dollar. There's usually some benefit left over.

Well it felt like nothing after they deducted everything. The system is rigged against working people.

Your employer can't prevent you from filing. Whether you qualify is up to Washington ESD, not your employer. File anyway and let them make the determination.

Yeah employers say all kinds of stuff to try to discourage unemployment claims. They don't want their rates to go up.

I tried but got confused about some of the questions. Like do I put my reduced hours as my reason for filing or something else?

You'd select 'reduction in hours' or 'lack of work' depending on the specific reason. The system will guide you through the questions.

That's exactly my situation! Restaurant industry is so unpredictable. How long did it take for your first payment?

About 2 weeks after I filed. Make sure you file your weekly claims on time every week or you'll lose benefits.

The restaurant industry has been brutal. So many places cutting hours instead of laying people off.

What if my current employer has me scheduled at weird times that make it hard to interview elsewhere?

You'd need to show that you're making reasonable efforts to find additional work within your constraints. Document your job search activities.

Yeah adjudication seems to be taking forever lately. Mine took almost 4 weeks to get approved.

This is another situation where Claimyr helped me. I was able to talk to someone who checked my adjudication status and explained what was holding things up.

Maybe I should try that. I can't afford to wait much longer for these benefits.

You'd need to report ALL earnings from both jobs. Washington ESD will calculate your total weekly earnings against your benefit amount. You might still qualify for partial benefits depending on your total income.

That makes sense. Better to have two jobs than rely on unemployment anyway.

Just make sure you report everything accurately. Washington ESD cross-checks with employers and you don't want to get hit with an overpayment.

Seasonal workers can definitely file partial unemployment if their hours are reduced. The key is that you need to be available for additional work during the slow season.

Perfect, that's exactly what I needed to know. Thanks!

That's about the same reduction I'm facing. Did you have any issues with your employer when you filed?

Nope, they actually told me I should file since they couldn't guarantee when hours would go back up. Some employers are understanding about it.

What should I be tracking exactly? Just gross pay?

Gross pay before taxes and deductions. Also track your hours worked each week. Washington ESD wants both pieces of information.

And always round your earnings to the nearest dollar when reporting. Don't include cents.

The job search requirement exists because you're technically underemployed. Washington ESD wants to see that you're actively trying to find additional work to become fully employed again.

I guess that makes sense from their perspective, but it's still frustrating when you like your current job.

The website can be glitchy, especially on Sunday nights when everyone's filing their weekly claims. Try early morning or late at night.

I'll try again tomorrow morning. This is so frustrating when you need the benefits to start.

This is exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. Sometimes it's worth paying for help to avoid the website headaches and get your claim filed properly.

That's smart of your employer to reduce hours instead of layoffs. Keeps everyone employed at least partially.

Yeah, they said they'd rather keep us all on reduced hours than have to rehire and retrain people when business picks up.

Can you explain the formula? I'm trying to figure out how much I might qualify for.

It's complicated but basically Washington ESD disregards the first portion of your earnings, then reduces your benefit by a percentage of the remainder. You'll need to check with them for the exact current formula.

The disregard amount changes periodically so it's best to let Washington ESD calculate it for you rather than trying to estimate.

Independent contractors typically can't collect regular unemployment benefits, but there might be other programs available depending on your situation. You'd need to check with Washington ESD directly.

Darn, I was hoping since my gig work income dropped so much I might qualify for something.

That's a great point about keeping benefits and seniority. I hadn't thought about those advantages of staying employed part-time.

Exactly! Plus when business picked up, I was first in line to get my full hours back instead of having to compete with new hires.

That's the ideal scenario. Partial unemployment as a bridge until things improve rather than a long-term solution.