Don't overthink it - if your hours were cut through no fault of your own, you likely qualify for partial benefits. The worst they can do is say no, but you won't know unless you apply.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you keep detailed records of your reduced hours and wages. If Washington ESD needs to verify your earnings during the claim process, having pay stubs and work schedules readily available can speed things up significantly. I learned this the hard way when they asked for documentation and I had to scramble to find everything. Also, don't wait too long to apply - you can file as soon as your hours are reduced, and benefits can be backdated only so far.

Just to clarify something important: when you reopen your claim, you'll be asked if you've worked since last filing. Say YES and provide accurate information about your temp job including wages earned. This ensures your claim remains valid and prevents potential overpayment issues later.

Good luck with the temp job! One thing I learned the hard way - make sure to keep all your pay stubs from the temp work. When you reopen your claim, ESD sometimes asks for documentation of your employment and wages. It's way easier if you have everything organized ahead of time rather than scrambling to get records from the temp agency later.

Just wanted to add that even if you don't qualify for unemployment, you might still be able to use WorkSourceWA for job search assistance and career counseling. They help everyone, not just UI recipients.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I'm going to try a few things: first I'll apply online at esd.wa.gov just to see what happens, and I'll also look into whether I might have been misclassified since I did work pretty set hours and used their equipment. If I can't get through on the phone I might try that Claimyr service people mentioned. Also going to check out WorkSourceWA and the DSHS website for other assistance programs. Really appreciate this community - it's scary being a contractor with no safety net but at least now I know what options to explore!

Overall RESEA isn't as scary as it sounds. Go in with a positive attitude and be prepared to discuss your job search strategy. They really do want to help you find work.

I went through RESEA about 6 months ago and it was actually pretty straightforward. The counselor spent about 45 minutes reviewing my job search activities and helped me refine my resume. One tip - if you've been using online job boards, write down the specific job titles and company names because they'll ask for details. They also helped me set up some job alerts I didn't know about before. Don't stress too much about it - they're genuinely trying to help you get back to work, not catch you doing something wrong.

Hope everything works out for you! Filing for unemployment after getting fired is never fun but at least the system is there to help when you need it.

I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago - got terminated after 7 weeks during my probation period for "not meeting performance standards." I was so worried I wouldn't qualify for benefits, but I filed anyway and got approved within about 3 weeks. The key thing that helped me was being completely honest on my application about why I was terminated. I didn't try to sugarcoat it or make excuses - just stated that my employer felt my performance wasn't meeting their expectations during the probation period. Washington ESD was totally understanding and my employer didn't even contest the claim. The whole process was way less scary than I thought it would be. Definitely file ASAP like others have said - you've got nothing to lose and everything to gain!