Reduced hours at retail job - can I file for partial ESD unemployment benefits?

Yes, you can absolutely apply for partial unemployment! This happens all the time in retail. You'll need to report your exact hours and earnings each week when you file your weekly claim. As long as you're working less than 40 hours AND earning less than your weekly benefit amount + $184, you'll qualify for at least some partial benefits. Make sure you're completely honest about your hours worked - ESD checks with employers and will create an overpayment if you underreport hours.

Thanks for explaining! Do I just file a new claim like before or is there a special application for partial benefits? And do I still have to do the job search activities even though I technically have a job?

i was in the EXACT same boat last year!! my manager at [grocery store] cut me from 30 hrs to 12 and i got partial unemployment. you just file normal claim and report ur earnings every week. its actually not that complicated

Oh that's a relief to hear someone went through the same thing! Did they make you do the job search requirements too? I'm trying to figure out if I need to apply to 3 jobs every week even though I'm still employed part-time.

You file a regular claim, then each week when you do your weekly claim, there's a section where you report your hours worked and how much you earned that week. And yes, you DO still have to complete the 3 job search activities each week, even with partial unemployment. The only way around job search is if your employer puts you on \

This is WRONG information. I workd at Macy's and got partial and didnt have to do ANY job searches because my boss filled out the standby form. OP just ask your manager to fill out standby paperwork!!!

Just to clarify the standby confusion above: Standby status is possible for partial unemployment, but it's at the employer's discretion and they must submit the request to ESD. The standby period can be up to 8 weeks, with possible extensions in some cases. Without standby approval, you are required to complete 3 job search activities each week, even while working part-time. Retail employers typically don't request standby unless they have a specific plan to restore your hours within those 8 weeks.\n\nAlso important to know: When reporting your hours, use the week when you WORKED the hours, not when you got paid. This trips up many claimants with partial unemployment.

That makes sense, thanks for explaining! Our manager already told us the hours reduction is \

BE CAREFUL!!! I tried getting partial unemployment last year and it was NIGHTMARE. They kept asking for more documents and putting me in adjudication and I had to wait 11 WEEKS before I got a single payment!!!! By then I had already found a new job. The system is BROKEN!!

When I had my hours cut at Target I tried for weeks to get through to ESD because my claim kept saying \

I've never heard of that service before. Does it really work? I remember trying to call ESD during the pandemic and it was impossible to get through.

Yes, it definitely worked for me! The whole system connected me with an ESD agent in under an hour when I had been trying for weeks on my own. They don't actually process your claim or anything - they just help you get through to a real person at ESD who can help you. Saved me a ton of stress.

i tried calling 37 TIMES one day and couldn't get through so maybe this is worth it. the esd phone system is the WORST!!!!!

One thing nobodys mentioned is that ur partial benefits are reduced based on what u earn each week. so if ur weekly benefit amount wud be $500 for full unemployment, but u earn $300 at ur part time job, they subtract 75% of ur earnings from ur benefits. so ud get $500 - $225 = $275 in partial benefits. Plus that extra $184 earnings disregard amount. so u can actually earn more total by getting partial unemployment + working than u wud from just unemployment alone.\n\nbut ya gotta report EXACT earnings each week n be super careful about it.

Thanks for the breakdown of how the calculation works! That actually makes a lot of sense. I'll make sure to track my hours and pay meticulously.

One last tip: Start your claim application now, even if you're not sure about all the details. The claim will be effective from the week you apply, not retroactive to when your hours were cut. So even if it takes a while to process, you'll eventually get paid from your application date forward (assuming you're eligible and do your weekly claims).

That's a great point. I'll start the application today then. Really appreciate everyone's help with this!

Just wanted to add one more thing that helped me when I was on partial unemployment - keep a simple spreadsheet or notebook tracking your weekly hours and gross pay. I'd write down each shift as I worked it, then double-check against my paystub before filing my weekly claim. This saved me from any discrepancies later and made the weekly reporting super easy. Also, if you get tips at your retail job, make sure to report those too - ESD considers tips as part of your earnings. Good luck with your application!