How to claim partial unemployment benefits in Washington - confused about the process

Yes you can definitely file for partial unemployment in Washington! You file the same initial claim as regular UI, but when you do your weekly claims you report your earnings for that week. Washington ESD will calculate your benefit based on your reduced hours.

Thanks! So I just file a regular unemployment claim and then report my part-time earnings each week?

Exactly. Just make sure you report your gross earnings before taxes when you file your weekly claim.

I did this last year when my hours got cut. The formula is kind of complicated but basically they take your weekly benefit amount and subtract your earnings minus $5. So if your weekly benefit is $400 and you earn $200 that week, you'd get $205 in partial benefits ($400 - $200 + $5 = $205).

Wait, so they add $5 back? I thought they just subtracted what you earned.

Yeah there's a $5 disregard, so you get to keep the first $5 you earn without it affecting your benefits. It's an incentive to work.

Actually the calculation is slightly different - they subtract 75% of your earnings over $5. So if you earn $200, they subtract 75% of $195 which is $146.25 from your weekly benefit amount.

You need to be careful about the job search requirements though. Even with partial unemployment you still have to do job searches unless you're on standby with your current employer. Did your employer put you on standby status?

I don't think so? They just said they're reducing hours for everyone but we're still employed. What's standby status?

Standby means your employer expects to bring you back to full hours within a certain timeframe. If you're on standby, you don't have to do job searches. You should ask your employer about this.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks about my partial unemployment claim and can't reach anyone. The phone lines are always busy or I get disconnected after waiting for hours. This is so frustrating when you just need to ask a simple question about your claim!

Have you tried calling right at 8am when they open? That's usually the best time to get through.

I've tried everything - calling at 8am, different times of day, different days of the week. Nothing works.

I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They basically call Washington ESD for you and get you connected to an actual agent. I was skeptical at first but they got me through in like 20 minutes when I'd been trying for weeks. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Make sure you file your weekly claims on time even if you're working reduced hours. If you miss filing your weekly claim, you can lose that week's benefits completely and Washington ESD doesn't always let you backdate.

Good to know! When are the weekly claims due?

You can file your weekly claim starting Sunday for the week that just ended, but you have to file by the following Saturday. So if you're claiming for the week of January 6-12, you can file starting January 13 but must file by January 19.

I'm in the same situation but I'm worried about reporting my hours wrong and getting in trouble. What if I accidentally report the wrong amount of earnings? Will Washington ESD come after me for overpayment?

As long as you're making a good faith effort to report accurately, you should be fine. If you make a mistake, just contact them to correct it. They're more concerned about people who intentionally don't report earnings.

That makes me feel better. I just don't want to accidentally commit fraud or something.

Does anyone know if you can collect partial unemployment if you're working for a different employer than the one you filed your claim with? Like if I got laid off from Company A but then got a part-time job at Company B?

Yes, you can work for any employer while collecting partial unemployment. You just need to report your earnings regardless of which employer pays you.

Awesome, thank you! I was worried I could only work for my original employer.

The Washington ESD system is so confusing! I filed for partial unemployment two weeks ago and my claim is still in adjudication. How long does it usually take for them to process partial unemployment claims?

Mine took about 3 weeks to get approved. They had to verify my employment history and my employer had to confirm the hour reduction.

Three weeks?! I need these benefits to pay my rent. This is taking forever.

This is exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. I needed to check on my adjudication status and couldn't get through to anyone at Washington ESD. They got me connected to an agent who explained exactly what was happening with my claim.

Quick tip - make sure you keep track of your work hours and earnings for each week. I use a simple spreadsheet with the dates, hours worked, and gross pay. Makes it much easier when you're filing your weekly claims.

That's a great idea! I'll start keeping track of everything.

Yeah, it saves so much time and reduces the chance of making mistakes when reporting your earnings.

Be prepared for your first payment to take a while even after your claim is approved. There's usually a waiting week and then processing time. I didn't get my first partial unemployment payment for almost a month after filing.

A whole month? That's going to be really tight financially.

Yeah, it's rough. Try to plan for the delay if you can. The good news is once it starts, the payments come regularly.

I thought I understood partial unemployment but now I'm more confused than ever. Is there a simple guide somewhere that explains all the rules? The Washington ESD website is so hard to navigate.

The handbook on their website has most of the info, but yeah it's not very user-friendly. WorkSource offices can also provide help if you can get to one in person.

I'll try the WorkSource office. Thanks for the suggestion!

Don't forget that you still need to be available for full-time work unless you're on standby. Washington ESD can ask you to prove you're available for full-time employment even if you're working part-time.

What does 'available for full-time work' mean exactly? Like I need to be willing to quit my part-time job if I get a full-time offer?

Basically yes. You need to be genuinely looking for full-time work and be willing to accept suitable full-time employment if offered.

I've been on partial unemployment for 6 months now and it's been a lifesaver. My hours are slowly increasing again but I'm grateful this option exists. The key is being completely honest about your earnings - don't try to hide anything.

Good to hear a success story! Did you have any issues with the process?

Not really, just the initial wait for approval. Once you get the hang of filing weekly claims it becomes routine.

Word of warning - if your employer increases your hours too much in a week, you might not get any unemployment benefits for that week. I had one week where I worked 35 hours and didn't qualify for any partial benefits.

How do they determine if you worked too much to get benefits?

It depends on your weekly benefit amount and what you earn. If your earnings are too high compared to your weekly benefit, you get zero for that week.

This whole thread has been super helpful! I'm in the same boat with reduced hours and wasn't sure if I qualified for anything. Sounds like it's worth applying even if you're still working some hours.

Definitely worth applying! The worst they can say is no, but if you qualify it can really help bridge the gap.

I'm going to start the application process tomorrow. Thanks everyone!

One more thing - if you get a new job while collecting partial unemployment, you need to report that immediately. Don't wait until your next weekly claim. Washington ESD wants to know right away if your work situation changes.

How do you report a job change? Is there a specific form or do you just call them?

You can report it online through your eServices account or call them. Online is usually faster if the system is working properly.

If you need to call Washington ESD about reporting job changes and can't get through, that's another situation where Claimyr can help. They specialize in getting you connected to the right department for whatever you need to report.

I just wanted to add that when you're reporting your earnings for partial unemployment, make sure you're reporting GROSS earnings (before taxes) not net pay. I made this mistake early on and had to correct it later. Also, if you get tips or commission on top of your regular wages, you need to report those too. Washington ESD wants the full picture of what you earned that week, regardless of the source.