Does increasing the minimum wage increase unemployment claims in Washington?

Yeah I've been reporting the reduced hours but wasn't sure if there was a pattern I should be aware of for job searching

The research is mixed but generally shows small effects either way. More important is that you're eligible for partial benefits if your hours were cut involuntarily.

How long did it take to get your partial claim approved? I'm still waiting to hear back from them

About 3 weeks but that was because I had trouble reaching anyone at Washington ESD. Kept getting busy signals when I called.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD, you might want to try Claimyr - it's a service that helps people reach unemployment agents. Check out claimyr.com, they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

My cousin works in HR and she said their company had to make some tough decisions about staffing levels. It's not that they wanted to cut jobs but the labor costs added up quickly.

That's the reality for small businesses especially. The wage increase is good for workers who keep their jobs but it can be tough on employers trying to manage costs.

True, but the timing seemed pretty coincidental. Three other people at my store also got their hours reduced around the same time.

Could be coincidence or could be related. Either way, focus on getting your partial unemployment benefits sorted out first.

That matches what I've read too. Most studies find small effects, and some find no effect at all. The key word is 'moderate' increases though.

Yeah the consensus seems to be that gradual increases are less disruptive than sudden large jumps. Washington's approach of phased increases probably helps with that.

Good point. I've been keeping track of my job search activities but should probably be more systematic about it.

Definitely keep detailed records. Washington ESD requires specific documentation of your work search efforts, especially for partial claims.

Easy to say when it's not your job that got cut. The policy effects are real for people like OP who are dealing with reduced income.

fair point, didn't mean to dismiss the personal impact. just saying the big picture usually works out over time

Those Seattle studies were interesting because they used different data sources and came to different conclusions. Shows how complex this issue really is.

Yeah the Card and Krueger work started this whole research area but there's been tons of studies since then with varying results.

Thanks for the suggestion! I'll check that out. Getting through to Washington ESD has been really frustrating.

I used Claimyr too when I had adjudication issues. Really helped speed up the process of getting answers from Washington ESD.

That's a pretty cold way to look at it if you're one of the people who loses their job though

You're absolutely right - the individual impact matters a lot. I was just trying to provide the broader economic perspective.

You're right, that's what I need to focus on. The economic debate is interesting but doesn't pay my bills.

Exactly. Use the partial unemployment benefits as a bridge while you search for something better. That's what the system is designed for.

Yeah the partial claim process is definitely confusing. I messed up my first weekly claim because I didn't understand how to report my reduced hours properly.

The Washington ESD website has some good resources about partial claims but sometimes you need to talk to someone directly to get clarification.

I appreciate the business perspective but it's still tough when you're the worker facing reduced income

Absolutely, I'm not trying to minimize that impact. Just explaining why these decisions get made.

That's true. I guess I'll never know for sure what caused it, but at least I qualify for partial benefits.

Right, and partial unemployment benefits are specifically designed for situations like yours where hours are reduced involuntarily.

Yeah, those tend to be the industries with more minimum wage workers so they'd be most affected by increases. Manufacturing and professional services probably see less impact.

That makes sense. Lower-wage industries would feel the cost pressure more acutely.

Thanks! A couple people have mentioned Claimyr now. I'll definitely check it out since I've been struggling to get through to them.

Yeah, the phone lines are always busy. Having a service that can help you get through faster is really valuable.

Good advice. I think I was getting too caught up in the big picture when I should focus on my specific situation.

Exactly. The policy debate is interesting but doesn't change what you need to do practically to manage your finances.