Is underemployment considered unemployment for Washington ESD benefits?

That's great news! Do I need to meet the same job search requirements as someone who's completely unemployed?

Yes, you still need to do 3 job search activities per week and be able and available for full-time work.

How much do they typically deduct? Is it dollar for dollar?

No, they have a formula. I think you can earn up to about $7 per week without any deduction, then they deduct 75 cents for every dollar you earn above that amount.

Have you tried using Claimyr? I found out about it recently and it actually got me through to a real Washington ESD agent in about 20 minutes. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Basically calls for you and holds your place in line.

Never heard of that but I'm definitely going to check it out. I can't keep losing entire days trying to call Washington ESD.

Claimyr.com saved my sanity too. Worth every penny when you actually need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about complicated situations like partial unemployment.

It's called partial unemployment and it's designed to help people who are underemployed while they search for full-time work. You still have to meet all the regular requirements though.

Okay that makes more sense. I guess it encourages people to take part-time work instead of just sitting at home.

You should definitely apply for partial benefits if you haven't already. Even getting a couple hundred extra per week would help with bills.

Yeah I'm going to file this weekend. Just hope it doesn't take forever to get approved.

My schedule is pretty flexible and I work mostly evenings and weekends, so I think I should be okay on that front.

This is important! I got denied initially because my part-time job was 9-5 Monday through Friday, so they said I wasn't available for full-time work.

Did you appeal that decision? Seems like there might have been room to argue that point.

What counts as a job search activity? I've been applying to jobs online but wasn't sure if that's enough.

Online applications count, but you can also do things like attending job fairs, networking events, or even informational interviews. Just document everything in your WorkSourceWA account.

That's awesome! Did they give you any specific advice about filing while partially employed?

She said to make sure I report my gross earnings each week, not net. And to keep looking for full-time work since that's a requirement for partial benefits.

Can you give me an example? I'm terrible at math.

Sure! If your weekly benefit is $400, you can earn up to $100 without reduction. If you earn $200, they'll reduce your benefit by $75 (75% of the $100 over the threshold), so you'd get $325 instead of $400.

Thanks for clarifying the terminology. I wasn't sure if there was a difference between those terms.

This whole thread has been super helpful. I had no idea partial unemployment was even a thing.

Good luck! Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even if the initial claim is still processing.

Will do! Thanks for all the advice everyone.

Good to know! I haven't filed my first weekly claim yet so I'll pay attention to that.

Yes, and always use gross earnings, not what you take home after taxes. That trips people up sometimes.

Same time limits as regular unemployment - up to 26 weeks in most cases. But you have to keep meeting all the requirements including active job search.

Makes sense. At least there's some consistency with the regular UI rules.

Same here! It actually encourages people to take whatever work they can find instead of turning down part-time jobs.

Exactly the point of the program. It's supposed to be a bridge to full employment, not a disincentive to work.

You can apply directly for partial benefits. You don't need to have been collecting regular UI first. As long as you meet the earnings requirements from your base period, you should qualify.

Perfect, that's exactly what I needed to know. Thanks!

Congrats! That gives me hope that mine will go through smoothly too.

Great news! Remember to keep up with your job search requirements and report your earnings accurately each week.

Awesome! This thread helped so many people figure out their partial benefit eligibility.

Good point. The job search requirement is really important and they do check up on it.

Yes, and document everything! Keep records of applications, interviews, networking - whatever you're doing to find full-time work.

Agreed! I learned more from this discussion than from the Washington ESD website.

Really glad I asked the question. Seems like a lot of people were in the same boat as me.

That's actually really important for my situation since my hours are all over the place. Thanks for mentioning that.

Absolutely. Accuracy is key with Washington ESD. Any discrepancies can cause delays or issues with your benefits.

Definitely worth bookmarking! This community is really helpful for navigating the unemployment system.

That's what these forums are for - helping each other figure out the complex world of unemployment benefits.