When is an employee eligible for unemployment benefits through Washington ESD?

You might qualify for partial unemployment benefits in Washington since your hours are being reduced so significantly. Generally, you need to have worked and earned wages in at least two quarters during your base period (usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters). Since you've been working 8 months, you should meet the work requirement. The key factors are: 1) You're unemployed or working reduced hours through no fault of your own, 2) You meet the wage/work requirements, 3) You're able and available for work, and 4) You're actively seeking work.

I was in a similar situation last year. You definitely want to apply as soon as your hours get cut - don't wait. Washington ESD will calculate your weekly benefit amount based on your previous earnings, and then reduce it based on any wages you still earn from the part-time work. Just make sure you report all your hours and earnings accurately each week when you file your weekly claim.

Just a heads up - you'll also need to meet the job search requirements even for partial unemployment. In Washington, you typically need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of your activities. Since you're already working part-time, this might feel like extra work, but it's required to keep receiving benefits.

I struggled so much trying to get through to Washington ESD when I had questions about my partial unemployment claim. Their phone lines are always busy and I kept getting disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually reach an agent. They have this demo video that shows exactly how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Saved me hours of calling and redialing!

Wait, I'm confused. Don't you have to be completely unemployed to get unemployment benefits? I thought if you're still working at all, even reduced hours, you can't get anything.

The wage requirement in Washington is pretty specific. You need to have earned at least $1,000 in your highest-earning quarter during the base period, AND your total base period wages need to be at least 1.25 times your highest quarter earnings. So if your highest quarter was $2,000, you'd need at least $2,500 total in the base period. With 8 months of part-time work, you should be fine, but it's worth calculating to be sure.

ugh the Washington ESD system is such a nightmare. I've been trying to get my partial unemployment sorted for weeks and keep getting different answers from different people. The website says one thing, the automated phone system says another, and when you finally reach a human they tell you something completely different.

One thing to keep in mind is that your employer might contest your claim if they think the hour reduction is temporary or if they're offering you more hours that you're not taking. Make sure you document everything - the conversation with your manager, any written notices about the hour cuts, etc. It'll help if there are any issues with your claim.

Just apply online through the Washington ESD website as soon as your hours get cut. The application will ask about your work history and they'll determine your eligibility based on your responses. Don't overthink it - if you don't qualify, they'll let you know, but based on what you've described, you should be eligible for partial benefits.

I had a similar situation at a restaurant job. Got my hours cut from 30 to 12 per week and qualified for partial unemployment. The weekly benefit wasn't huge, but it definitely helped cover the gap. Just remember you have to file your weekly claim every week and report your earnings from the part-time work honestly.

Pro tip: when you file your weekly claim, be super careful about how you report your hours and wages. I made a mistake early on and it caused a whole mess with my benefits getting held up for review. Better to double-check everything than deal with an adjudication delay.

Also remember that if you're getting partial unemployment, you'll still need to be available for full-time work if offered. So if your current employer suddenly wants to give you back all your hours, you generally need to accept that, or you could lose your benefits.

I'd recommend calling Washington ESD before you apply just to confirm your specific situation qualifies, but honestly good luck getting through. I've been trying to reach them for days about my claim status with no success.

Don't forget that unemployment benefits are taxable income! You can choose to have taxes withheld from your weekly payments or you'll owe when you file your tax return. Just something to keep in mind for next year.

Your situation sounds pretty straightforward for partial unemployment eligibility. 8 months of work history should be plenty, and a reduction from 25 to 10 hours is definitely significant enough to qualify. I'd say go for it - worst case they say no, but based on what you've described you should be approved.