Do you have to be fired to get unemployment benefits in Washington?
I'm really confused about eligibility requirements for Washington ESD unemployment benefits. My hours got cut back dramatically at my retail job - I'm only getting maybe 10 hours a week now when I used to work 35-40. I can't afford to live on this but I wasn't technically fired. Do you have to be completely terminated to qualify for unemployment in Washington? Or can you get benefits if your hours are reduced? I've never filed for unemployment before and don't want to waste time applying if I don't qualify.
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NeonNebula
No, you don't have to be fired! You can get partial unemployment benefits in Washington if your hours are reduced. It's called 'partial benefits' and you might qualify if you're working less than full-time through no fault of your own. You'll need to report your weekly earnings when you file your weekly claim, and Washington ESD will calculate a partial benefit amount.
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Malik Thomas
•Oh wow, I had no idea partial benefits were a thing! Do I still have to do the job search requirements if I'm already employed part-time?
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NeonNebula
•Yes, you still need to meet the job search requirements unless you're on standby status with your current employer. You need to look for work that would give you more hours or better pay.
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Isabella Costa
I went through this same situation last year. You can definitely get benefits with reduced hours. The key is that the hour reduction has to be involuntary - meaning your employer cut your hours, not that you requested fewer hours.
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Malik Thomas
•That's exactly my situation - they cut everyone's hours due to slow business. How much did you end up getting in partial benefits?
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Isabella Costa
•It varies based on your earnings, but I was getting about $200-250 per week when I was working 12-15 hours. Better than nothing!
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Ravi Malhotra
Getting through to Washington ESD to ask questions about partial benefits can be really frustrating with their phone system. I spent weeks trying to get answers about my eligibility. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made the whole process so much easier.
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Freya Christensen
•How does that work exactly? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for days with no luck.
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Ravi Malhotra
•Basically they handle the calling for you and get you connected when an agent is available. Way better than sitting on hold for hours or getting disconnected.
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Omar Farouk
You can also qualify for unemployment if you quit for 'good cause' - things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, or significant changes to your job terms. But partial benefits for reduced hours is probably easier to qualify for in your situation.
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Malik Thomas
•Good to know! I'm definitely going to apply for the partial benefits since my hours were cut involuntarily.
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Chloe Davis
•Just make sure you have documentation of the hour reduction - pay stubs, schedule changes, etc. Washington ESD will want proof.
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AstroAlpha
ugh the whole system is so confusing!! I thought you had to be completely jobless too. Why don't they make this stuff clearer on their website?
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NeonNebula
•The information is there but it's buried in a lot of legal language. The partial benefits section is under 'Types of Benefits' I think.
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AstroAlpha
•yeah I tried looking but got overwhelmed by all the terminology and gave up
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Omar Farouk
When you file your weekly claim, be very careful about reporting your hours and earnings accurately. Even small mistakes can cause adjudication delays or overpayment issues later.
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Malik Thomas
•What's adjudication? I keep seeing that term but don't understand what it means.
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Omar Farouk
•Adjudication is when Washington ESD reviews your claim to verify eligibility or resolve issues. It can take weeks and delays your benefits until it's resolved.
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Isabella Costa
•Yeah I had my claim stuck in adjudication for a month because of a reporting error. Not fun.
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Chloe Davis
The weekly benefit amount for partial benefits is calculated using a formula based on your previous earnings. If you made decent money before the hour cuts, you should get a reasonable partial benefit amount.
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Malik Thomas
•That's encouraging! I was making about $15/hour for 35-40 hours before the cuts.
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Chloe Davis
•With those earnings, you should qualify for a decent weekly benefit amount. Definitely worth applying.
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Freya Christensen
Just be prepared for the application process to take some time. My partial benefits claim took about 3 weeks to get approved, and that was without any complications.
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Malik Thomas
•3 weeks isn't too bad. I was expecting it to take longer based on what I've heard about Washington ESD.
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Ravi Malhotra
•If you run into any issues or need to talk to someone, definitely check out that Claimyr service I mentioned. Saved me tons of time and frustration.
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Diego Chavez
make sure you apply ASAP because there's usually a waiting period and benefits don't start until after you file. Every week you wait is money lost.
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Malik Thomas
•Good point! I'm going to start the application tonight. Thanks everyone for all the helpful info!
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NeonNebula
•You're welcome! Feel free to ask if you run into any issues during the application process.
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Anastasia Smirnova
I had a similar situation at my restaurant job. Hours got cut due to slow season and I was able to get partial benefits. The extra money really helped bridge the gap until business picked up again.
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Malik Thomas
•That's exactly what I'm hoping for - just something to help with bills until hopefully my hours get restored.
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Anastasia Smirnova
•It definitely helps! Just stay on top of your weekly claims and job search requirements.
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Sean O'Brien
One thing to watch out for - if your employer offers you additional hours or shifts and you turn them down, it could affect your benefits. Washington ESD expects you to accept available work.
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Malik Thomas
•That makes sense. I'd definitely take any extra hours they offered me.
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Sean O'Brien
•Good! That's the right attitude. Shows you're genuinely looking for more work.
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Zara Shah
The job search requirement is 3 job contacts per week I think? Even with partial benefits you still have to actively look for work to maintain eligibility.
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Omar Farouk
•Yes, it's 3 job search activities per week. Can be applications, interviews, networking events, etc. You have to log them in your WorkSourceWA account.
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Malik Thomas
•I'll make sure to keep track of all my job search activities. Thanks for the reminder!
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Luca Bianchi
honestly the whole partial benefits thing is kinda complicated. I tried to figure it out when my hours got cut but just gave up and picked up a second job instead
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NeonNebula
•It's not that complicated once you understand the basics. And the extra money can really help while you're looking for more work.
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Luca Bianchi
•maybe I should have stuck with it... the second job didn't work out anyway
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GalacticGuardian
I used Claimyr when I had questions about my partial benefits claim. Really helpful service - they got me connected to a Washington ESD agent who explained everything clearly. Worth checking out if you need to talk to someone.
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Malik Thomas
•Several people have mentioned Claimyr now. Sounds like it might be worth trying if I run into issues.
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GalacticGuardian
•Yeah, it's way better than trying to get through on your own. The phone system is pretty frustrating otherwise.
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Nia Harris
Remember to keep good records of everything - your reduced work schedule, pay stubs, any communication with your employer about the hour cuts. Documentation is key if there are any questions about your claim.
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Malik Thomas
•I've been keeping all my pay stubs and I have emails about the schedule changes. Sounds like I'm on the right track.
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Nia Harris
•Perfect! Having that documentation upfront can prevent a lot of potential issues later.
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Mateo Gonzalez
The great thing about partial benefits is you can keep your current job while still getting some unemployment support. It's designed to help people in exactly your situation.
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Malik Thomas
•That's reassuring! I was worried about having to choose between keeping my reduced hours or getting benefits.
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Mateo Gonzalez
•Nope, you can do both! Just make sure to report your earnings accurately each week.
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Aisha Ali
If you're still working part-time, you might also want to check if your employer has any other positions available with more hours. Sometimes they'll transfer you to a different department or location.
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Malik Thomas
•That's a good idea! I'll ask my manager about opportunities in other departments.
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Aisha Ali
•It's worth asking! Shows initiative and might get you back to full-time hours faster.
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Ethan Moore
washington esd has gotten better about processing partial benefit claims. used to take forever but now it's usually pretty quick if you have all your documentation ready
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Malik Thomas
•That's good to hear! I'll make sure I have everything ready before I apply.
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Ethan Moore
•yeah just be thorough with the application and you should be fine
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Yuki Nakamura
One more tip - when you're doing your job search activities, look for positions that offer full-time hours or better pay than your current job. Washington ESD wants to see you're trying to improve your employment situation.
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Malik Thomas
•Makes sense! I'll focus on full-time positions in my job search. Thanks for all the advice everyone!
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NeonNebula
•You're welcome! Good luck with your application and hopefully your hours get restored soon.
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StarSurfer
This thread has been really helpful! I didn't know about partial benefits either. Going to look into this for my own situation where my hours got cut.
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Malik Thomas
•Glad it helped you too! Seems like a lot of people don't know about this option.
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Ravi Malhotra
•Definitely worth applying if your hours were cut involuntarily. And remember, Claimyr is there if you need help getting through to Washington ESD with questions.
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