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my cousin quit bcuz of harassment and got denied twice!!! the system is so unfair sometimes just warning u it might be an uphill battle
Each case is evaluated individually. The key difference is often in how specifically you document the hostile behavior and whether you attempted to resolve it before quitting. Vague claims of "harassment" without documentation are often denied, while specific documented incidents with dates and details have a much better chance of approval. Also, having a new job already lined up shows ESD that the claimant is serious about working, which strengthens their case.
Update: I filed my initial claim yesterday and selected "quit" with "hostile work environment" as the reason. I got a notice that my claim needs adjudication (which I expected from your helpful comments). The message says it could take 5-8 weeks for adjudication! That's longer than the gap until my new job starts. Should I still do the weekly claims while waiting? Will they backpay me for these weeks if approved? Really stressing about making rent now...
Absolutely continue filing your weekly claims even while in adjudication! If your claim is eventually approved, they'll only backpay for weeks you properly claimed. If you don't submit weekly claims, you won't get paid for those weeks even if your overall claim is approved later. And yes, adjudication is taking forever right now - I was in it for 7 weeks before they made a decision on my claim. Hang in there!
The whole system is RIDICULOUS. My cousin was Navy for 12 years and when he got out they made him jump through a million hoops just to get his unemployment. Had to prove he was looking for work CONSTANTLY even though the economy was terrible. And then they STILL messed up his payments multiple times!!! The way this state treats veterans is shameful!!!!! OP, if I were you I'd get a lawyer who specializes in veteran benefits to help with this. The ESD system is designed to DENY benefits not help people who need them!!!
After reading all the advice here, I think your best course of action is: 1. Apply for UCX benefits through ESD right away, even though you're past the 12-month window 2. Use Claimyr to actually reach a human at ESD who can review your specific situation 3. Visit WorkSource and ask specifically for their veteran employment representative 4. Bring your DD-214 and any other military service documentation to both ESD and WorkSource 5. Be prepared to explain why you didn't apply sooner (legitimate lack of awareness) Even if you don't qualify for retroactive benefits, you might still be eligible going forward. And the veteran specialists at WorkSource can help connect you with other resources regardless of what happens with your UCX claim.
I just remembered something else - when you get your hearing notice from OAH, it will have instructions for submitting evidence. Make sure you submit EVERYTHING at least 1 week before the hearing. I made the mistake of trying to introduce new evidence during my hearing and the judge wouldn't accept it because I didn't submit it ahead of time.
Yes, text messages are absolutely evidence you should submit! Take screenshots and organize them by date. Also, I forgot to mention - the OAH hearing will be by phone (not in person), so make sure you're in a quiet place with good reception when the time comes. Have all your documents spread out in front of you for easy reference.
my cousin had the same problem back in february and she ended up having to go to the WorkSource office in person with her ID and social security card. They couldn't fix it there but they gave her a direct number to call and got it sorted in a few days. might be worth checking if your local office is taking walk-ins.
Just checking back - were you able to make any progress with your claim? One thing I forgot to mention is that when my wife was dealing with this, we discovered that the third-party verification sometimes fails if your license was issued in a different state before you got your WA license. In that case, you might need to provide additional documentation like a birth certificate or passport.
I finally got through this morning! You were right about calling at 8am sharp. The agent confirmed my license is stuck in verification because I recently moved and there's an address mismatch. They're escalating it to an adjudicator who should call me within 2-3 business days. Fingers crossed this gets resolved soon. Thanks everyone for the advice!
Liam O'Donnell
btw the whole system is rigged. ESD always sides with employers first cuz they dont wanna pay out benefits. its all about saving money for them. but the appeal judges are seperate from ESD and actually listen to evidence. thats why so many denials get overturned on appeal. the system is designed to hope people give up without appealing.
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Mei Liu
•This is a common misconception, but it's important to clarify: Initial adjudicators aren't incentivized to deny claims. They're making decisions based on available information, and employers often respond to claims while claimants may not provide their full side. The appeal process exists because initial decisions are made with limited information and time constraints. OAH judges have more time to thoroughly review evidence and hear testimony from both sides.
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Andre Dubois
Thank you everyone for the incredibly helpful responses! I've started gathering all my evidence - emails showing approved absences, doctor's notes, and I'm reaching out to a couple sympathetic coworkers for statements. I'll definitely keep filing my weekly claims during the appeal process too. I'm going to try that Claimyr service tomorrow to hopefully speak with an ESD agent about exactly what they need from me. Then I'll draft a clear timeline and practice my testimony like several of you suggested. This whole situation is so stressful, but hearing your success stories has given me hope. I'll update this thread after my hearing to let everyone know how it went!
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CyberSamurai
•Sounds like you're taking all the right steps! Don't hesitate to come back with more questions as you prepare. The fact that you have documentation is really encouraging - that's often what makes or breaks these cases.
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