Why would I be eligible for unemployment benefits in Washington state?

You might qualify under constructive discharge rules. When your hours get cut that drastically, Washington ESD sometimes considers it equivalent to being laid off. You'll need to show that the hour reduction made your job unsuitable.

I had a similar situation and it was such a pain trying to get through to Washington ESD to explain my case. Took me weeks of calling before I could talk to someone who understood constructive discharge.

I used this service called Claimyr recently when I couldn't get through to Washington ESD about my claim. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have this video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Basically they help you get connected to an actual ESD agent instead of being stuck in phone queue hell.

Basic eligibility for Washington unemployment: you need to have worked and earned enough wages in your base period, be unemployed through no fault of your own, be able and available for work, and actively seek work. Your situation with the hour cuts could qualify as involuntary unemployment.

ugh the whole system is so confusing! I tried to apply last year and gave up because I couldn't figure out if I qualified. ended up just finding another job instead

For your specific case, you'll want to emphasize that you had good cause for leaving due to substantial change in work conditions. Keep records of your pay stubs showing the hour reduction and any communications with your employer about it.

RETAIL WORKERS GET SCREWED OVER ALL THE TIME! Same thing happened to me and Washington ESD acted like I quit for no reason. Had to appeal and everything. These companies know exactly what they're doing when they cut hours.

Just make sure you apply as soon as possible. There's a waiting period and benefits are calculated from when you first become eligible, not when you finally get approved.

wait so if your hours get cut you can get unemployment? i thought you had to be completely fired

Since you mentioned having trouble with calling Washington ESD - seriously consider that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. When I was dealing with my own eligibility questions, I wasted so much time trying to get through on the phone. Would have saved me weeks of stress.

Make sure you're ready to do the job search requirements too. You have to apply for jobs and keep a log of where you applied.

One more thing - when you file, be very clear that you left due to substantial reduction in hours making the job unsuitable. Don't just say you quit. The language you use matters for how they process your claim.

good luck! hope it goes smoother for you than it did for me. at least you're asking the right questions upfront

You should also know that there might be a waiting week where you don't get paid even if approved. Plan your finances accordingly.

Your wage base and work history sound solid for eligibility. The main hurdle will be proving you had good cause for leaving. With your documentation of the hour cuts, you should have a strong case.

Been following this thread - really informative! I'm in a similar boat with my restaurant job cutting shifts. Sounds like we both might have cases for constructive discharge.

For anyone still struggling to reach Washington ESD by phone after applying, I can't recommend Claimyr enough. Saved me so much frustration when I needed to check on my claim status. The video demo really shows you exactly how it works.

REMEMBER - Washington ESD is required to help you even if your case is complicated. Don't let them brush you off. You paid into the system through your taxes and you deserve fair treatment.

Final advice - start your application tonight and be thorough with your explanations. Better to provide too much information than too little. Good luck!

This whole discussion helped me understand my own situation better too. Thanks for asking the question OP!