Can you get unemployment if you have two jobs in Washington state?

Yes, you can potentially qualify for partial unemployment benefits in Washington state even with two jobs. If your combined weekly earnings are below a certain threshold and you've had a significant reduction in hours or wages, you may be eligible. You'll need to report both jobs when filing your claim and continue reporting earnings from both on your weekly claims.

I was in a similar situation last year with two part-time jobs. The key thing is that your total weekly earnings have to be less than your weekly benefit amount plus $5. So if your weekly benefit would be $300, you can earn up to $305 and still get some unemployment.

Just be prepared for the application process to take longer when you have multiple employers. I had three part-time jobs and Washington ESD had to verify employment with all of them. It took about 4 weeks before my first payment because of all the verification needed.

Wait I thought you couldn't get unemployment if you're still working at all??

The tricky part with multiple jobs is the work search requirements. You still need to look for work and be available for full-time employment, even though you're working part-time. Some people think having any job exempts you from the search requirements but that's not true.

make sure you report your hours accurately on the weekly claims. i messed up once and put down the wrong hours from one of my jobs and they hit me with an overpayment notice months later. had to appeal it.

One thing nobody mentioned - if one of your jobs is considered 'standby' status (like if you're temporarily laid off but expect to be called back), that's treated differently than regular part-time work. Make sure you understand which category each job falls into.

The earnings disregard in Washington is actually pretty generous compared to other states. You can earn quite a bit and still get some benefit payment. Definitely worth applying to see what you qualify for.

I tried calling Washington ESD about this exact situation and was on hold for 2 hours before giving up. Their phone system is impossible.

Don't forget you'll need to be able and available for work. Having two part-time jobs sometimes makes it harder to prove availability for full-time work, especially if your schedules conflict.

Just applied for partial benefits myself after my hours got cut. The online application asks about all your employers so make sure you have their federal ID numbers if possible. Makes the process smoother.

The system really needs to be reformed. It's ridiculous that people working multiple jobs to survive still have to jump through all these hoops.

If you qualify for partial benefits, remember that you're still building up potential benefit weeks for the future. So even if the weekly amount is small, it's worth it for the protection.

Been through this exact situation. The hardest part was keeping track of which job paid what each week since the hours varied. Keep detailed records from day one.

Don't wait to apply thinking your situation might improve. You can always stop claiming benefits if your hours increase, but you can't get retroactive benefits for weeks you didn't claim.

I'm in a really similar situation right now! I work at a coffee shop and do evening shifts at a call center, and both places have been cutting hours like crazy. It's so frustrating because I want to work more but there just aren't enough shifts available. Reading through all these comments has been super helpful - I had no idea you could get partial unemployment with multiple jobs. I'm definitely going to apply this week too. The record keeping advice especially caught my attention since my hours are all over the place. Thanks for asking this question, it's exactly what I needed to know!

This is such valuable information! I'm actually dealing with something similar - I work at a grocery store and also do weekend shifts at a warehouse, and both have been cutting my hours significantly. I was worried I wouldn't qualify for anything since I'm technically still employed. The earnings disregard explanation was really helpful - I didn't realize Washington allows you to earn quite a bit and still get partial benefits. I'm going to gather all my employer information and pay stubs this weekend and apply online. One question though - do I need to wait until I have a full week of reduced hours to apply, or can I apply as soon as the hour cuts started?

I'm in almost the exact same boat - working two part-time jobs and struggling to make ends meet after hour cuts. This thread has been incredibly informative! I had no idea about the $5 earnings disregard or that Washington was more generous than other states with partial benefits. My biggest concern is the work search requirements while juggling two existing jobs - it seems like a catch-22 where you're penalized for trying to work. But from what everyone's saying, it sounds like I should definitely apply sooner rather than later. Question for those who've been through this process: when they verify employment with multiple employers, do they contact them by phone or mail? I'm worried about my current employers finding out I'm applying for unemployment and potentially cutting my hours even more.

I just went through this process recently with two part-time jobs and wanted to share some additional tips. First, when you file your weekly claims, make sure you report earnings from the week you actually worked, not when you got paid - this tripped me up initially. Second, if either of your employers uses a temp agency or payroll service, you might need those details too during the application. The good news is that Washington's online system is pretty user-friendly compared to other states I've dealt with. One thing that really helped me was calling ahead to both employers to let them know I was applying - not required, but it made the verification process smoother since they were expecting the paperwork. Also keep in mind that your first payment might take 3-4 weeks even without complications, so definitely apply ASAP. The partial benefits really do help bridge the gap when hours are inconsistent. Best of luck with your application!

I've been following this thread closely since I'm in a very similar situation - working part-time at a hotel front desk and also doing delivery driving, with both cutting my hours significantly over the past month. What really stands out to me from everyone's experiences is how important it is to keep detailed records from the start. I'm going to create that simple spreadsheet someone mentioned with dates, hours, and gross pay for each job. One thing I'm curious about though - has anyone dealt with jobs that pay weekly versus bi-weekly? My hotel pays weekly but the delivery company pays every two weeks, so I'm wondering how that affects the weekly claim reporting. Either way, I'm convinced I need to apply soon rather than wait and see if hours pick back up. The partial benefits could really help cover my rent shortfall right now.

I've been reading through all these responses and they're incredibly helpful! I'm actually in a very similar situation - I work at a retail store (about 18 hours/week now, down from 30) and also do evening cleaning for an office building (reduced from 15 hours to about 8). Like many of you mentioned, I was completely unaware that you could get partial unemployment benefits while still working multiple jobs. The earnings disregard explanation really cleared things up for me. I'm definitely going to apply online this week and start keeping that detailed spreadsheet everyone recommended. One quick question - when reporting the reason for reduced hours, should I mention that it's affecting both jobs or can I just focus on the primary reduction? Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, this thread is exactly what I needed to find!

This thread has been incredibly helpful for me too! I'm working at a pharmacy (reduced from 28 to 16 hours) and also do weekend shifts at a medical supply warehouse (cut from 12 to 6 hours). Reading everyone's experiences has given me so much clarity about partial unemployment benefits - I had no idea this was even possible! The advice about keeping detailed records is gold, and I'm starting that spreadsheet today. I'm also relieved to hear that the employer verification process is usually done by mail and is pretty standard. My biggest takeaway is not to wait any longer - I'm applying online tomorrow with all my employer info ready. Thank you all for sharing your situations and advice, it's made me feel much less alone in dealing with these hour cuts. Hopefully we all get through this process smoothly!