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i just remembered something! my friend who had a similar thing happen said its super important in ur appeal to use the exact words "good cause" when explaining why u quit. they look for that specific term i guess? also mention that u had "no reasonable alternative" but to quit. those are like the magic words apparently lol
This is actually good advice. The legal standard ESD uses for voluntary quits is indeed "good cause," and specifically for workplace issues, you need to demonstrate that you had "no reasonable alternative" but to leave the job. Using this terminology shows you understand the standard they're applying to your case.
Quick update question - did your denial letter specifically state the reason for denial? If it mentions your voluntary quit as the reason, then that confirms they've made a determination on the separation issue while still investigating other aspects of your claim. This is important because it tells you exactly what to focus on in your appeal.
Yes, the letter specifically says "Your request for unemployment benefits is denied because you quit your job without good cause." It doesn't mention anything about the other items in adjudication. So frustrating that they didn't consider all my HR documentation!
Perfect - now you know exactly what to address in your appeal. Focus on proving you had good cause to quit due to harassment. Make sure to include a chronology of events, copies of all HR reports, and emphasize that the harassment escalated to property damage. Also note that you attempted to resolve the issues through proper channels (HR) multiple times before quitting. This gives you a solid foundation for your appeal.
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To add to my earlier comment, there's a common misconception that unemployment can work like gap coverage for any income interruption. The key requirements for UI eligibility are: 1. You must be separated from your employer OR have a significant, ongoing reduction in hours 2. The separation/reduction can't be your fault (quitting without good cause doesn't qualify) 3. You must be able and available to accept suitable work immediately 4. You must be actively seeking work each week Since you were still employed and just temporarily unable to work due to illness, criteria #1 and #3 weren't met. For future reference, Washington state has several income protection programs with different purposes: - Unemployment Insurance: For job loss/reduction not your fault - Workers' Compensation: For work-related injuries/illnesses - Paid Family & Medical Leave: For extended health issues or family care - Short-term disability insurance: Private insurance for temporary health issues (not state-run) Now that you're back at work, none of these would apply retroactively for your situation, unfortunately.
I wonder if your employer offers any emergency assistance programs? Some companies have hardship funds for employees in situations like this. Might be worth asking HR if there's anything like that available. Doesn't solve the systemic problem but could help with your immediate financial situation.
That's a really good suggestion I hadn't thought of. I'll check with HR tomorrow. We're a medium-sized company so maybe there's something available. Thank you!
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thank you all for this info! i was confused about the same thing. starting a new job in june with higher pay and was wondering if i should wait to file until july if i get laid off again lol. good to know about both calculation methods!
@OP - One last tip: After you file, you can see which base year period they used in your determination letter. If for some reason they don't automatically use the alternative base year when it would benefit you (which sometimes happens due to system errors), you can appeal the monetary determination within 30 days. Definitely worth doing if there's a significant difference in your wages between the two potential base year periods.
That's super helpful! I'll definitely double-check which method they used once I get my determination letter. Thanks again to everyone for clearing this up - feeling much more prepared now.
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Anyone else notice how they make these programs IMPOSSIBLE to find out about?? Almost like they don't want people to actually use them! My cousin works at ESD and even she says they don't advertise the good programs because they'd be overwhelmed with applications. The whole system is designed to be frustrating so people give up.
I understand your frustration, but I think it's more about understaffing than deliberate gatekeeping. When I finally got into the Worker Retraining Program, the counselor told me they had only 3 people processing applications for the entire county. They're overwhelmed but the staff genuinely want to help - they just can't keep up with demand. That said, I agree they could do a MUCH better job making information about these programs accessible.
Thank you everyone for all this info! I had no idea there were so many programs available. I'm going to: 1. Try to get through to ESD directly about the CAT program 2. Make an appointment with WorkSource and specifically ask for an individual career counselor 3. Look into that Worker Retraining program since my factory skills aren't getting me anywhere I'll update this thread once I make some progress. Fingers crossed something works out because my savings are almost gone and I'm getting desperate.
That sounds like a solid plan. Be sure to document all your interactions (dates, names of who you spoke with, what was discussed). This will be helpful if you encounter any issues with your unemployment benefits while pursuing these programs. Good luck!
Jason Brewer
I had this exact situation happen to me in January. Turned out there was an issue with my identification verification even though I completed the ID.me process. I eventually got through after 3 days of calling. The agent told me that sometimes their system flags accounts for review when there are similar names in the system (someone with the same name had apparently committed fraud before). Once I got through, they fixed it in about 10 minutes and my status changed from disqualified to pending within 24 hours. Hang in there!
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Savannah Vin
•wow 3 days of calling thats dedication lol
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Chad Winthrope
UPDATE: I finally got through! Called 38 times this morning starting exactly at 8:00am. It was an issue with my separation reason - my employer listed me as 'voluntary quit' even though I was laid off. The agent was able to start an investigation and said they'd contact my employer to clarify. My status is now changed to 'pending' rather than 'disqualified.' Thanks everyone for the advice!
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Kylo Ren
•Glad you got through! This is actually a very common issue. Make sure you have any documentation showing it was a layoff (termination notice, emails, texts from your supervisor, etc.). The fact that they changed it from 'disqualified' to 'pending' is a good sign. The employer has a limited time to respond to ESD's inquiry, after which they'll make a determination.
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