How much do you usually get for unemployment benefits in Washington?

That's confusing - so it's not based on my current wages but what I made in previous quarters? I've been at this job for about 8 months now.

Exactly. So if you started 8 months ago, they'll look at your wages from the quarters where you were working. If you didn't work much in those base period quarters, your benefit amount will be lower.

That's actually more than I thought it would be. Did you have any trouble getting approved?

nah it was pretty straightforward, just took about 2 weeks to get my first payment

Wait, I can get partial benefits while still working? I didn't know that was possible!

Yes, it's called partial unemployment. As long as you're working less than full-time and earning less than your weekly benefit amount plus $5, you may qualify for partial benefits.

Just make sure you report all your hours and earnings when you file your weekly claims or you'll get in trouble later.

I used Claimyr last month when my claim was stuck in adjudication. It actually worked - they got me connected to an agent within like 30 minutes. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Hmm sounds too good to be true. How much does it cost?

I'd rather pay something than waste entire days trying to get through on my own. The time I saved was worth it.

You can file now with reduced hours. Just make sure you're available for full-time work and actively seeking employment, as those are requirements for receiving benefits.

Perfect, I'll start the application process today. Hopefully it goes smoothly!

I'll check that out, thanks! I tried finding it before but maybe I wasn't looking in the right place.

It's under the 'Unemployment Benefits' section, then look for 'Benefit Amount Calculator' or something similar.

Good point about the job search requirement. How many jobs do I need to apply for each week?

You need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week, but they have to be legitimate job search activities. Just applying online counts, but so does networking, attending job fairs, etc.

And you have to keep a log of all your job search activities in case they audit you later.

It does get easier once you get into a routine. The weekly claims become pretty automatic after a few weeks.

i hope so because i'm always worried i'm going to mess something up and lose my benefits

That's helpful to know about the timeline. I'm hoping mine will be more straightforward since I'm still technically employed, just with very few hours.

Yeah, partial unemployment claims are usually faster to process from what I've heard.

So I should file weekly claims right away, even before I know if I'm approved?

Yes, start filing them as soon as your claim is submitted. The system will tell you when to file your first weekly claim.

This is super important advice. I know someone who missed their first two weekly claims and lost out on like $800.

That's encouraging! Did you have to do anything special for the partial benefits or just report your hours like normal?

Just report your hours and earnings honestly on your weekly claims. The system automatically calculates your partial benefit amount.

Good to know. My manager hasn't offered me more hours, but I'll keep that in mind if they do.

Yeah, just be honest about everything. The system is pretty forgiving if you're upfront about your situation.

Great advice! I definitely want to get paid as quickly as possible once I'm approved.

Exactly. Direct deposit usually processes within 1-2 business days of your claim being paid.

Yes, I mentioned it earlier. It really does work. I was skeptical too but after wasting weeks trying to get through on my own, it was worth it to actually talk to someone.

I think I'm going to try it. At this point I'll try anything to get my claim moving again.

That's reassuring. I'm trying to be patient but I really need this to work out financially.

Hang in there. Most claims get approved eventually, it just takes time for the system to process everything.

Oh wow, I didn't think about taxes. Thanks for the reminder!

Yeah, it's 10% federal withholding if you choose to have it taken out. Some people prefer to handle it themselves but it's easier to just have it withheld.

Thank you! I feel much more confident about filing now after reading everyone's responses.

You're welcome! Feel free to ask more questions if you run into any issues during the process.

How long did it take them to get you connected?

Maybe 20-30 minutes? Way better than the hours I spent trying to call myself and never getting through.

That's smart. I'll start a folder for all my unemployment paperwork right away.

Definitely. It saved me when they questioned something about my claim months later and I had all the documentation to back up my responses.

Absolutely. This thread has been incredibly helpful. I feel like I actually understand the process now.

That's what these forums are for! Good luck with everything.