When am I eligible for unemployment benefits in Washington state?

You need to meet Washington ESD's base year earnings requirement first. You must have earned wages in at least two quarters of your base year, with total earnings of at least $3,719 in your base year. Your base year is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim.

The quitting situation might be tricky. Washington ESD considers quitting 'voluntary separation' which can disqualify you UNLESS you had good cause. Hostile work environment could qualify as good cause but you'd need to prove it during adjudication.

Part-time work absolutely counts toward your base year earnings! Washington ESD doesn't care if it was full-time or part-time - they just look at total wages earned. Your recent hour cuts might actually help your case since you're essentially laid off due to lack of work.

I had similar issues getting through to Washington ESD when I needed to discuss my eligibility situation. The phone system is horrible - constant busy signals and disconnections. I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to a real person. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Might be worth checking out if you need to talk to someone about your specific situation.

Don't forget you also need to be able and available for work, actively seeking work, and register with WorkSource Washington. These are ongoing requirements even after you're approved.

ugh the Washington ESD system is so confusing!! I spent hours trying to understand eligibility requirements when I first applied. Why can't they just make it simple - if you lose your job you get benefits, period.

One thing to be aware of - if Washington ESD finds you quit without good cause from your full-time job, they might impose a disqualification period. But since you have subsequent work (the part-time job), that might clear the disqualification. It's complicated and depends on your specific timeline.

Here's what I'd recommend: Apply for benefits now since your hours were cut. Washington ESD will review your entire work history during adjudication. Be completely honest about why you quit your previous job and provide any documentation you have. The worst they can do is say no, but you might be pleasantly surprised.

I was in a similar situation last year. Had a job I quit because of harassment, then worked part-time for a few months before getting laid off. Washington ESD initially denied me but I appealed and won. The key was documenting everything about why I quit the first job.

Also remember that Washington ESD looks at your highest earning quarter in your base year to determine your weekly benefit amount. So even if some of your work was part-time, if you had good earnings in any quarter, your benefit amount will reflect that.

Whatever you do, don't lie or hide anything on your application. Washington ESD will find out about all your previous employers anyway through wage records. Better to be upfront about the quit situation from the start.

If you do need to talk to Washington ESD about your specific situation, I can't stress enough how helpful Claimyr was for me. I probably would have given up trying to get through on my own. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to understand how the rules apply to your unique circumstances.

The Washington ESD website has an eligibility estimator tool that might help you get a better idea of whether you qualify. It's not perfect but gives you a starting point before you apply.

Just wanted to add that even if you're initially denied, don't give up! I know several people who were denied initially but got approved after providing more information or appealing. The system is designed to be cautious, but legitimate claims usually get approved eventually.

Make sure you have all your employment information ready before you apply - dates of employment, employer names and addresses, reason for separation, etc. The application process goes much smoother when you have everything organized.

The timing of when you apply can matter too. Your claim starts the week you file, not when you actually became unemployed or had hours reduced. So don't wait too long thinking you need to be completely unemployed first.

One more thing - if you're approved, make sure you understand the weekly claim filing requirements. You have to file every week to continue receiving benefits, even if you don't get paid that week.

Based on what you've described, I think you have a decent chance of qualifying. The part-time work should help with base year earnings, and having your hours cut is usually considered involuntary separation. The quit situation might require some adjudication, but with documentation of workplace issues, you could have a case for good cause.

If you do get stuck somewhere in the process and need to talk to Washington ESD, I'll echo what others said about Claimyr. I used them when I was having issues with my adjudication and it was a lifesaver. Much better than spending days trying to get through on my own.