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Can I claim ESD benefits working part-time after quitting full-time job?
I'm in a bit of a confusing situation with my employment. I was working both a full-time job (40 hrs/week at a warehouse) and a part-time job (15 hrs/week at a convenience store) to make ends meet. Last week, I quit my full-time job due to unsafe working conditions (my supervisor kept ignoring safety protocols and I almost got injured twice). Now I'm only working my part-time job, which isn't enough to cover my bills. Am I eligible to apply for partial unemployment benefits through ESD while still working my part-time job? I've heard mixed things about quitting disqualifying you, but also that if you have "good cause" you might still qualify? Really confused about this and need to figure this out soon before I fall behind on rent. Thanks for any advice!
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Can I qualify for ESD benefits if I quit due to hostile work environment? Boss constantly yelling
I'm at my breaking point with my workplace situation. I've been with a non-profit organization for 7 years with a solid work history and no previous issues. In the last few months, everything has changed dramatically. Our Executive Director left, and now we report directly to the board (all volunteers). The environment has become incredibly hostile - board members regularly yell at staff, belittle us in meetings, and get defensive whenever we ask basic questions about our jobs. They're being secretive about financial information and keeping us in the dark about ongoing layoffs. Every day I feel sick to my stomach about going to work. My question is: If I quit because of this treatment, would I qualify for unemployment benefits through ESD? I understand you usually can't quit and collect benefits, but this situation feels like harassment. Has anyone successfully claimed unemployment after leaving a toxic workplace like this? What kind of documentation should I be keeping?
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Has anyone else at your work quit because of this? If other employees left for the same reason, that would strengthen your case with ESD. When I went through something similar, having two former coworkers who could verify the hostile environment made a huge difference in my hearing.
That's a good point. Two people resigned last month citing the work environment, and I'm still in contact with one of them. I'll reach out to see if they'd be willing to provide a statement if needed. They both found jobs immediately so they didn't need to file for unemployment.
Given what you've shared so far, it sounds like you have a potentially valid claim for good cause voluntary quit. To summarize the best approach: 1. Document everything thoroughly 2. Formally report the issues in writing (email) 3. Give the employer a reasonable opportunity to correct the situation 4. If nothing improves, consider your resignation letter carefully - clearly state you're resigning due to the hostile work environment 5. File for unemployment immediately after leaving 6. Be prepared for adjudication and possibly appeals 7. Continue looking for work and documenting your job search The fact that others have quit for similar reasons strengthens your case. If you can get statements from them, that would be valuable evidence. I know how stressful this situation is. No one should have to work in an environment where they're yelled at and belittled.
Desperate for ESD claim stuck 6 weeks - need Governor's office contact number
I'm seriously about to lose it. My unemployment claim has been pending for SIX WEEKS with zero movement. I've called ESD literally 47 times (yes I kept count) and either get disconnected or wait 3+ hours only to be told they "can't help" with my adjudication. My electricity is about to be shut off, I got a 3-day pay or vacate from my landlord yesterday, and I'm completely out of options. Someone at WorkSource mentioned there's a number for the Governor's office that can help push stuck claims through? Does anyone have this number or know if this actually works? I've tried the regular ESD appeals process but they said I can't appeal until there's an actual decision, which is exactly my problem - there IS no decision after 6 weeks! Any help would save my sanity right now.
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Quick update on the specific issues you mentioned seeing in your account: "Able and Available" usually means they need to verify you're able to work and available for work during your claim period. This is often triggered if you reported being sick, on vacation, or unable to work for any reason during a weekly claim. "Job Separation" issues usually mean they need more details about why your employment ended. Your employer may have provided information that doesn't match what you reported. If you can see these issues but no instructions for resolving them, it likely means they're waiting for information from your employer or they're preparing to interview you. Call the main line and specifically ask for a Tier 2 specialist who can see the details of these issues. Regular agents often can't see or explain these pending issues.
Thank you for explaining this! I did mention being sick for 2 days on one of my weekly claims (I had the flu), but I was available to work the other days. For the separation, I was laid off with 20 other people when our company lost a contract. I have the layoff letter but nobody has asked me to upload it. I'll definitely ask for a Tier 2 specialist next time I call.
Ok so everyones giving good advice but missing the MOST IMPORTANT THING - with a 3 day pay or vacate notice, you need to respond IMMEDIATELY with a written notice that you're waiting on unemployment. Washington state has tenant protections that can buy you time. Go to washingtonlawhelp.org right now and look up the eviction defense forms. Just filling that out can buy you an extra 2-3 weeks legally. For your utilities, call and ask for their hardship program ASAP - most have to offer payment plans before disconnection.
THANK YOU!! I had no idea about this! Going to that website right now. My landlord has been somewhat understanding but said his hands are tied because he has his own mortgage to pay. I'll check on the utility hardship programs too - I just got overwhelmed and didn't know where to start with everything falling apart at once.
ESD denied my claim for insufficient hours - will my extra 50 hours from permanently closed employer qualify?
Stuck in a weird situation with ESD and need advice! I applied for unemployment back in October when my workplace temporarily closed. Got denied because I didn't have enough hours in my base year. Then we reopened and I went back for just 9 days and managed to work almost 50 hours before they announced they're closing PERMANENTLY now. I'm wondering if those extra 50 hours would count toward my previous claim or if I should file a completely new claim? I'm worried that even with these extra hours I might still be just short of qualifying (like what if I'm literally 1-2 hours short of the minimum?). Would ESD be flexible at all or is their hour requirement absolute? Obviously I'm job hunting like crazy, but the job market in my area isn't great right now and I'm stressing about covering bills if this drags on. Anyone dealt with something similar or know how strict ESD is about their hour requirements?
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ESD claiming I have an overpayment but my weekly benefit amount changed - confused!
I'm completely confused and frustrated with ESD right now. When I initially filed my claim in January, I received a monetary determination letter stating my weekly benefit amount would be $540. I was so relieved because that would cover most of my bills while I look for work. Fast forward to when I actually started receiving payments in February - they're only coming in at $480 per week. I figured maybe there was some deduction I didn't understand, so I just accepted it and kept filing my weekly claims. Now out of nowhere I get this notice saying I have an overpayment of $540 that they want me to pay back?? How is that even possible when they've been paying me LESS than what they originally told me? Has anyone dealt with this kind of situation before? I tried calling ESD but after being on hold for 2+ hours I got disconnected. Their online message system is useless - no response after a week. I'm starting to panic because I definitely don't have $540 to give them right now.
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this happened to my cousin last month! turns out he had holiday pay they didn't know about at first and it changed his whole calculation. maybe check if you had any special pay they might have missed initially?
I don't think that's it in my case. I was laid off in a standard reduction in force, no special pay involved. But thanks for the suggestion - I'll double check my last few paystubs just to be sure.
After you file your appeal, make sure to monitor your eServices account daily. ESD often sends requests for additional information with very short deadlines (sometimes just 48 hours). Missing these can cause bigger problems. If you have a smartphone, set up email notifications for your ESD account so you don't miss anything important.
Good advice - I just checked my notification settings and realized I didn't have email alerts turned on. Just fixed that, thank you!
LongPeri
i kno someone who had there benefits denied after quiting a job that didn't even give them breaks... esd is just impossible to deal with
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Liv Park
That's unfortunate for your friend, but each case is different. Meal and rest break violations are actually specifically mentioned in ESD's guidelines as potential good cause for quitting, but proper documentation is crucial. Without knowing all the details of your friend's case, it's hard to say why they were denied. They may have had success if they appealed the decision with proper documentation.
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