Washington ESD partial unemployment if my employer cuts my hours - can I collect?

That's a relief! Do I need to wait until my hours actually get cut to apply, or can I file now?

You should wait until your hours are actually reduced and you have that first week of lower earnings. Washington ESD needs to see the actual reduction in your work schedule.

What happens if I make a mistake reporting my earnings? I'm worried about messing something up.

just double check everything before you submit. if you do make an error you can usually fix it by calling washington esd but good luck getting through

How do I find out what my weekly benefit amount would be? I've never filed for unemployment before.

You can use the benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website, or it will be calculated automatically when you file your initial claim. It's based on your earnings over the past year.

Never heard of that service before. Is it legit or just another scam?

I was skeptical too but they have a demo video (https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ) that shows how it works. Seems like they just help you navigate the phone system to reach an actual person.

How many job searches do I need to do each week for partial unemployment?

Same as regular unemployment - 3 job search activities per week. You have to log them in your WorkSourceWA account.

wait i thought it was different for partial claims?? this is so confusing

okay that makes sense i guess. just seems weird to job search when you already have a job even if its reduced hours

Yes, you absolutely need to report your actual earnings each week, whether they're higher or lower. If you earn more in a week, your partial benefit will be reduced or you might not get any benefit that week.

this is exactly why i messed up my claim. some weeks i worked more some weeks less and i got confused about what to report

Partial benefits count toward your total benefit year just like regular unemployment. So if you're entitled to 26 weeks of benefits, partial weeks count against that total.

Got it, that makes sense. So I need to be strategic about when I use my benefits.

This is exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier. When my claim was stuck in adjudication, that service helped me actually reach someone who could explain what was happening. Worth trying if you're desperate.

At this point I'll try anything. How much does it cost?

I'd rather not get into pricing details here, but check their website. For me it was worth it just to get answers about my claim status.

That's encouraging! Did you have any issues with the application process or was it smooth?

The initial application was easy, but I did have one week where I reported my earnings wrong and had to call to fix it. That was a nightmare trying to get through to someone.

What if they offer me hours that conflict with my other responsibilities? Like if they want me to work nights but I have childcare issues?

You need to have good cause to refuse work. Childcare issues can be valid good cause, but you should document it and be prepared to explain if questioned.

If your hours have been reduced for multiple weeks, you should definitely apply. Whether your employer calls it temporary or permanent doesn't matter - what matters is that you're working fewer hours and earning less money.

Thanks, that's what I was thinking. I've been putting it off hoping things would go back to normal but I need to be realistic.

You're not required to tell your employer you're filing for partial benefits, but Washington ESD will likely contact them to verify your employment and earnings. It's generally better to be upfront about it.

my employer was actually supportive when i told them. they understood the situation and even helped verify my hours when esd contacted them

Yes, unemployment claims can affect an employer's UI tax rate, but that's not your responsibility to worry about. If you're eligible for benefits, you should apply. The system exists for exactly this type of situation.

Wait, there's a $5 deduction? I hadn't heard about that part.

Yeah, it's called the earnings disregard. It's a small amount they don't count against your benefits to encourage people to work while claiming.

The website has been glitchy lately. Try using a different browser or clearing your cache. If that doesn't work, you might need to call them.

Ugh, calling them is the last thing I want to do. I'll try the browser thing first.

Thanks for the encouragement! I think I'm overthinking this. I'll file the claim once my hours actually get reduced.

Good advice! I'll start keeping better records of everything.

yes definitely do this! i wish someone had told me that when i started my claim

Really? That actually worked? I'm so desperate I might try it too.

Yeah, I was skeptical but it did work. The agent was helpful and knowledgeable. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to get answers.