What is an example of unemployment - Washington ESD claim question

Yes, having your hours reduced significantly can qualify you for unemployment benefits in Washington. This is called 'partial unemployment' and you can still file a claim with Washington ESD even if you're working minimal hours. You'd file for regular UI benefits, not any special program.

Examples of unemployment that qualify for Washington ESD benefits include: getting laid off, fired for non-misconduct reasons, having hours reduced significantly, seasonal work ending, or being furloughed. The key is that it has to be through no fault of your own.

I was in a similar situation and couldn't get through to Washington ESD for weeks to ask questions. I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually reach an agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Made the whole process way less stressful.

The restaurant industry has been hit hard and reduced hours is super common right now. Your situation definitely qualifies. Just make sure when you file your initial claim that you accurately report your work history and the reason for your reduced hours.

ugh the washington esd system is so confusing!! i had to file three times before i got it right because i kept making mistakes on the application

Here are the most common examples of qualifying unemployment for Washington ESD: 1) Laid off due to lack of work, 2) Terminated for reasons other than misconduct, 3) Reduced hours (like your situation), 4) Seasonal work ending, 5) Plant closure, 6) Quit for good cause (harassment, unsafe conditions, etc.

I'm dealing with something similar but my employer is saying I 'quit' because I couldn't work the new schedule they gave me. Is that considered unemployment or quitting?

For partial unemployment like yours, Washington ESD will calculate your benefit amount based on your previous earnings. You'll likely get a reduced benefit amount since you're still working some hours, but it can definitely help make up for the lost income.

Just want to mention again that if you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about your specific situation, Claimyr really helped me get through. The phone lines are always jammed but they make it possible to actually reach an agent when you need answers.

The key thing to remember is that unemployment benefits are designed to help people who lose work through no fault of their own. Your situation with reduced hours definitely fits that criteria, so don't hesitate to apply.

make sure you file your weekly claims on time too! i missed a week and had to go through this whole process to get it back

One more important point - when you file your weekly claims, you'll need to report any work you did that week and how much you earned. Washington ESD will automatically calculate how much benefit you're eligible for based on your earnings.

I had my hours cut at a retail job last year and Washington ESD was pretty straightforward about it. They classified it as partial unemployment and I got benefits to help make up for the lost wages. Just be honest about everything when you apply.

Does anyone know if you have to do job searches when you're on partial unemployment? I'm still working but not enough hours.

The job search requirement makes sense because the goal is to help you find full-time work to replace the income you've lost. Even though you're working part-time, you're still considered unemployed for the hours you're not working.

Just wanted to share that I used Claimyr when I had issues with my claim and it really helped me get answers from Washington ESD. The video demo they have explains it pretty well if you're curious about how it works.

Bottom line for your situation: reduced hours due to lack of work = unemployment. File your claim, report your part-time earnings weekly, and look for additional work. Washington ESD will handle the rest.

definitely apply asap because there's usually a waiting period before benefits start

Just to clarify the timeline: There's a one-week waiting period for all claims, then it typically takes 1-2 weeks for Washington ESD to process your initial claim. So expect 2-3 weeks total before receiving your first payment, assuming no issues with your application.

One last tip - keep good records of everything. Save confirmation numbers, print important pages, and document all your communications with Washington ESD. It'll help if you run into any issues later.