What can you apply for unemployment - Washington ESD eligibility requirements?

You can definitely apply for unemployment in Washington if your hours were reduced! This is called 'partial unemployment' and you might be eligible for reduced benefits. The main requirements are: you must have worked and earned wages in Washington during your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters), you must be able and available for work, and you must be actively seeking work. Even if you're still working part-time, if your hours were cut through no fault of your own, you should qualify.

There are several types of unemployment benefits you can apply for through Washington ESD depending on your situation: Regular UI (what most people get), Standby benefits if you're temporarily laid off but expect to return to the same job, and Shared Work if your employer participates in a work-sharing program. For your situation with reduced hours, regular UI sounds right.

I was in a similar situation last year - restaurant hours cut due to slow business. I tried calling Washington ESD for weeks to ask about eligibility but could never get through. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me reach an actual person at ESD. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Worth checking out if you need to talk to someone about your specific situation.

One thing to keep in mind - even with partial unemployment benefits, you'll still need to meet the job search requirements. You need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a detailed log. This includes applying for jobs, networking, job fairs, etc. The requirements are pretty strict.

Just want to add - make sure you report ALL wages when you file your weekly claims, even from your reduced part-time work. Washington ESD will reduce your benefit amount based on what you earn, but you won't lose benefits entirely unless you earn more than your weekly benefit amount plus $5.

the restaurant industry is brutal right now, half the places in my area have cut hours or closed entirely. at least unemployment is there as a safety net when employers can't provide stable hours

One more important point - you can apply online through the Washington ESD website or by phone. The online application is usually faster and available 24/7. Once you apply, there's typically a one-week waiting period before you can start receiving benefits. Make sure to file your weekly claims every week even during the waiting period.

Watch out for the overpayment issues too. I know people who didn't report their part-time wages correctly and ended up owing money back to ESD later. Better to be completely honest upfront than deal with that mess.

Also remember that unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld from your weekly payments or pay them when you file your tax return. Just something to keep in mind for planning purposes.

The whole system seems designed to confuse people honestly. I spent hours reading through all the eligibility requirements and still wasn't sure if I qualified. Finally just applied and let them figure it out - worst case they say no.

Make sure you understand the difference between being laid off and being fired for cause. If you were fired for misconduct, you might not be eligible. But if your hours were just reduced due to lack of work, that's not your fault and you should qualify.

I wish I had known about partial unemployment benefits when my hours got cut a few years ago. I struggled for months thinking I had to be completely unemployed to qualify. Don't make the same mistake I did!

Another thing - if you're approved for benefits, you'll get a debit card (KeyBank debit card) that your payments are loaded onto. You can also choose direct deposit to your bank account, which I'd recommend since it's faster and more convenient.

Does anyone know if you can collect unemployment if you quit your job to take care of a sick family member? That's not the OP's situation but I'm curious.

OP should also know that if they end up getting completely laid off later, they can modify their existing claim rather than filing a new one. Just mentioning in case the restaurant situation gets worse.

The job search requirement is no joke btw. They do audit people and if you can't prove you did your required job searches, they can disqualify you and make you pay back benefits. Keep detailed records!

I had trouble reaching ESD when I first applied and found Claimyr really helpful for getting through to speak with someone about my eligibility questions. Sometimes it's worth paying a small fee to get expert help navigating the system instead of spending weeks trying to figure it out on your own.

One last tip - when you do apply, have all your employment information ready: employer names, addresses, dates of employment, reason for separation, and your Social Security number. Having everything organized will make the application process much smoother.

Just remember that even if you're still working part-time, you're considered 'unemployed' for benefit purposes since your hours were involuntarily reduced. Don't let anyone tell you that you don't qualify just because you're still working some hours.