Can you get unemployment if you work part time in Washington ESD?

Yes, you can absolutely get partial unemployment benefits in Washington if you're working reduced hours! It's called 'partial benefits' and it's designed exactly for situations like yours. You'll need to report your hours and earnings each week when you file your weekly claim.

I did this last year when my hours got cut to part time. Washington ESD has a formula where they reduce your benefit amount based on how much you earn each week. If you make less than your weekly benefit amount, you'll get some partial payment.

Just went through this myself! The key thing is reporting your hours and wages accurately every week. Washington ESD will calculate your partial benefit automatically. You still have to do job search activities too, which can be tricky when you're already working.

I had such a hard time getting through to Washington ESD when I needed to ask questions about my partial claim. Kept getting disconnected after waiting on hold for hours. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual agent in like 10 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

Be careful with partial benefits! I made a mistake reporting my hours once and it caused a whole mess with overpayment issues. Make sure you understand exactly how many hours you worked and what your gross pay was before you submit your weekly claim.

The Washington ESD website has a good calculator tool where you can estimate your partial benefits before you apply. Just search for 'partial benefit calculator' on their site. It helps you see if it's worth applying.

ugh the whole system is so confusing. why can't they just make it simple? I've been trying to figure out if my variable hours count as part time or what

One thing to keep in mind - if your employer reduces your hours significantly, you might qualify for regular unemployment benefits instead of just partial benefits. There's something called 'constructive dismissal' if they cut your hours way back.

Make sure your employer knows you're filing for partial unemployment. Some employers get weird about it even though it's totally legal. My manager was cool about it but I've heard horror stories.

This is exactly what I needed to know too! Been working part time at a coffee shop and barely making rent. How long does it take to get approved for partial benefits?

Pro tip: keep really good records of your hours and pay stubs. Washington ESD might ask for verification later and you want to have everything organized. I use a simple spreadsheet to track everything.

Also remember that partial benefits can affect your total benefit year duration. If you use up weeks of partial benefits, that counts toward your total 26 weeks of eligibility in Washington.

I tried calling Washington ESD again last week to ask about partial benefits and still couldn't get through. That Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really is a lifesaver for actually reaching someone who can answer questions.

does anyone know if you can get partial benefits if you work like uber or doordash? technically that's part time work but idk if it counts the same way

For anyone considering partial benefits, make sure you understand the job search requirements. You need to be actively looking for full-time work or additional part-time work to supplement your current job.

I did partial benefits for about 6 months last year. It really helped bridge the gap when my hours were inconsistent. Just be prepared for the weekly reporting to be a bit tedious.

One last thing - make sure you file your weekly claims on time every week. If you miss a week, you might lose that week's benefits even if you were eligible.

Thanks everyone for all this info! I feel much more confident about applying for partial benefits now. Sounds like it could really help with my situation.

Just remembered - if anyone needs to actually talk to Washington ESD about their specific situation, that Claimyr service I used is at claimyr.com. Way easier than trying to call the regular number.

This thread has been super helpful! I'm definitely going to apply for partial benefits now. Fingers crossed it goes smoothly.