Just want to add that the Board of Appeals decision is final at the state level. After that your only option is federal court, which almost never happens for unemployment cases unless there are major constitutional issues.

I went through a similar situation about two years ago. Got denied initially, lost at the administrative law judge level, but then won at the Board of Appeals. The key for me was really focusing on the specific legal requirements for misconduct in Washington - they have to prove it was willful or wanton disregard of your employer's interests. Just making mistakes or poor performance usually isn't enough. Also, make sure you submit your Board appeal within that 30-day window - they're super strict about deadlines. I'd recommend gathering any documentation you have that contradicts what your employer claimed at the first hearing. Good luck with your appeal!

Best of luck with everything! Filing for unemployment can be stressful but you've got this. The benefits really help while you're looking for your next job.

Don't forget to also have your reason for separation clearly documented! If you were laid off, get any paperwork from your employer about the layoff if possible. This can help speed up processing and avoid potential delays. Also, when you create your SecureAccess Washington account, write down your username and password somewhere safe - you'll need to log in regularly for weekly claims and checking your benefit status.

Thanks for posting this question OP. I was wondering the exact same thing and this thread answered everything I needed to know.

I've been in a similar situation and can share what I learned. In Washington state, there's no strict hourly limit, but you need to stay "able and available" for full-time work. I kept my part-time hours around 25-30 per week to be safe. The earnings formula is key - you can make up to your weekly benefit amount minus $5 before they start reducing benefits dollar for dollar. So if your weekly benefit is $300, you can earn up to $295 without any reduction. Beyond that, every dollar you earn reduces your benefit by a dollar. Always report everything accurately on your weekly claims - even small amounts matter. Washington ESD does cross-check with employer wage reports, so honesty is crucial. Good luck with the part-time work!

Bottom line: you need wages in at least 2 quarters during your base period, meet the minimum wage thresholds, and be unemployed through no fault of your own. Everything else is just details.

Just wanted to add that the wage requirements can vary year to year, so make sure you're looking at the current year's thresholds. I made the mistake of using outdated information from an old forum post and thought I didn't qualify when I actually did. The Washington ESD website should have the most up-to-date minimum wage amounts for each year. Also, don't forget that some types of income like severance pay or vacation payout might affect your benefits timing even if you qualify based on quarters worked.

For the most accurate information, check the ESD handbook or website. The official guidance is to file your weekly claim and report any days you weren't available for work. You won't receive benefits for those days/weeks, but this keeps your claim active. Missing 4 consecutive weekly claims will make your claim inactive. Regarding job search: You must still complete your job search requirements for any week you're claiming, even partially. If you're unavailable for the entire week, you still need to file but you won't need job search activities since you won't be eligible for that week anyway. Be 100% truthful - ESD does cross-check travel records during fraud investigations.

One thing I'd add - if you're traveling by plane, keep your boarding passes and any hotel confirmations as documentation. If ESD ever questions your unavailability claims later, having proof of your actual travel dates can be really helpful. I learned this the hard way when they asked me to verify a previous vacation period during a routine review. Also, double-check that your phone number and address are updated in your ESD account before you leave - sometimes they need to reach claimants for verification purposes.