How many hours do you need to file for unemployment in Washington ESD?

Oh that's good to know! So even though I'm still working some hours, I might still qualify for partial benefits?

Yes, exactly. As long as your reduced hours result in earnings that are less than your weekly benefit amount plus $5, you could qualify for partial benefits.

What exactly is the base year? Is that just the last 12 months?

The base year is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. So if you file now in 2025, it would be based on 2024 quarters mostly.

Never heard of that service before, does it actually work? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks about my claim.

Yeah it worked for me. I was skeptical at first but it really did get me through to speak with someone at Washington ESD without waiting on hold forever.

But don't you have to be actively looking for full-time work to keep getting benefits? That's what I heard.

Yes, you still need to meet the job search requirements even if you're working part-time. You have to document your work search activities each week.

I understand the frustration, but the earnings-based system actually helps more people qualify than an hours-based system would. Someone making $20/hour working 20 hours has very different needs than someone making $10/hour working 30 hours.

I guess that makes sense when you put it that way. Still wish it was easier to understand though!

How long did it take for your claim to get approved? I'm worried about the timing since I need to pay rent next month.

Mine took about 2 weeks to process. Some people get approved faster, some take longer depending on if they need to do additional verification.

What's the WorkShare program? I've never heard of that.

It's a program where employers can reduce employee hours instead of laying people off, and employees can collect partial unemployment benefits to make up for the lost wages. The employer has to apply for it though.

Actually, Washington state doesn't have an hours requirement for unemployment. It's purely based on wages earned during the base year. You need to have earned wages in at least two quarters of your base year.

Oh you're right, I was thinking of a different state's requirements. Thanks for the correction!

Is that service free? I'm already tight on money and can't afford to pay extra fees just to talk to someone.

I don't remember the exact cost but it was worth it to get my questions answered quickly instead of spending hours trying to call. Check their website for current pricing.

So I should file for regular unemployment benefits even though I'm still working some hours?

Yes, you file a regular unemployment claim and then report your part-time earnings on your weekly claims. The system will automatically calculate if you qualify for partial benefits that week.

Good point! Should I keep pay stubs or is there other documentation I need?

Pay stubs are perfect. Also keep track of your work schedule if possible. Sometimes Washington ESD asks for additional verification during the claims process.

I feel your pain! The system is definitely not user-friendly. Have you tried using one of those services that helps you get through to an agent faster?

No, didn't know those existed. Might be worth a try at this point since I'm getting nowhere on my own.

You still need to meet the regular job search requirements even if you're receiving partial benefits. The requirement is typically 3 job search activities per week unless you're in a training program or have other exemptions.

Thanks! I was hoping it might be less since I'm already working, but I guess that makes sense.

I don't think my employer is doing that intentionally, they just said business is slow so they're cutting hours across the board.

That's probably legitimate then. Just wanted to mention it since some employers don't understand how the system actually works.

Mine took about 10 days to get the monetary determination. Some people get it faster, some slower depending on how busy they are.

Okay, I'll give it a few more days then. I just want to make sure I didn't miss anything in my application.

Did they help you figure out the weekly benefit calculation? I'm so confused about how they determine how much you get each week.

Yes! They explained that your weekly benefit amount is based on your highest earning quarter in the base year, and then partial benefits are calculated based on how much you earn each week.

That's a really good point! I was thinking about waiting to see if they give me more hours back, but I guess I should file now just in case.

Exactly! You can always stop filing weekly claims if your hours go back up, but you can't go back and claim benefits for weeks before you filed your initial claim.

This has been super helpful everyone! I think I understand the basics now. Time to file that claim and see what happens.

Good luck! Remember to be completely honest about your earnings and hours when you file your weekly claims. The system works best when you're upfront about everything.