Will quitting my PT job for better-paying position affect my ESD benefits?

You can absolutely switch part-time jobs while on unemployment! The key thing ESD cares about is that you're not turning down suitable full-time work in your normal occupation. Since you're switching from one part-time position to another (especially one with better pay), that shouldn't cause any issues with your benefits. Just make sure to report accurately when you stop working at the first job and start the new one on your weekly claims. There's no need to notify ESD in advance of quitting. When you file your weekly claim after starting the new job, you'll enter the new employer information. Your benefit amount will still be reduced based on the part-time earnings, but that's normal.

BE CAREFUL!!! ESD can be super picky about ppl quitting jobs while claiming benefits!!!! My cousin quit a parttime job last yr and they FROZE her benefits for like 6 WEEKS while they did "adjudication" to decide if she had "good cause" to quit! Just make sure u have documentation about the distance and pay difference in case they question u. The system is designed to TRAP people I swear!!!!

What your friend experienced is not typical. ESD does review situations where claimants quit jobs while receiving benefits, but there are specific circumstances where quitting won't affect your claim. In your case, you have two strong reasons that would qualify as "good cause" for voluntary quit: 1) Significant increase in pay ($5/hr is substantial), and 2) Accepting a job with significantly reduced commute distance (17 miles vs 2 miles). If ESD does put your claim in adjudication (which is possible but not guaranteed), just provide them with: written job offers showing both pay rates, addresses of both workplaces showing distance reduction, and documentation of approximately when you'll start the new position. As long as you're still actively seeking full-time work in your primary field and completing your three job search activities each week, you should be fine.

hey i was in almost the exact same situation last month! was working PT at a warehouse while getting partial UI after losing my main job. found a better PT gig and quit the warehouse job. ESD did put my claim in adjudication but it only took them 8 days to clear it. just make sure you have that offer letter saved somewhere with the pay rate clearly showing it's better than your current job. good luck!

If you're struggling to reach ESD to ask this question directly (which is probably wise before making any changes), I'd recommend trying Claimyr. I was in a similar situation and couldn't get through to ESD for weeks. Claimyr connected me to an actual ESD agent in under an hour. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Their website is claimyr.com - it made a huge difference in getting my question answered directly by ESD instead of guessing what might happen to my benefits.

To answer your question - yes, it does work. I was skeptical too but was desperate after trying to reach ESD for days. The service connected me in about 40 minutes, which was way better than the endless busy signals I was getting on my own.

Quick question - are you CERTAIN the new job is just part time? Cuz if it turns into full time, you might lose ur benefits entirely. Just be careful the new employer isn't tricking you into something that'll mess up ur unemployment. happened to my roommate

Just an update on what others have shared - yes, ESD might put your claim in adjudication for a voluntary quit, but with the clear increase in pay and reduction in commute, you should qualify under their "good cause" provisions. The adjudication process can take anywhere from 1-6 weeks based on their current workload, but they've been processing faster lately. If you do get put in adjudication, continue filing your weekly claims as normal during the waiting period. If approved (which seems likely in your case), you'll receive all back payments for those weeks. Also keep documenting your job search activities for your primary occupation while this is happening.

To summarize for you and anyone else in a similar situation: 1. You can quit a part-time job for another part-time job with better pay/conditions while on UI 2. You should expect possible adjudication (review) of your claim 3. Having documentation ready will speed up the process (offer letters, pay rates, addresses) 4. Continue filing weekly claims and conducting job searches during any review period 5. The good cause provisions specifically include "accepting a bona fide job offer with significantly better wages" and "significantly reduced commute time" Your situation checks all the boxes for a successful outcome. Good luck with the new position!