My guess is the DSHS worker was trying to check all boxes for your husband's case. The fact is that he needs to have a documented denial from unemployment before he qualifies for certain other benefits. It's a ridiculous system but that's how it works sometimes. My husband had to do the same thing when he applied for disability - prove he'd been denied for unemployment first, even though everyone knew he wouldn't qualify. Just part of the paperwork trail they require.

Thank you!! This makes so much more sense now. The DSHS worker did mention something about needing to

One more important tip: During your hearing, be concise and stick to facts rather than emotions. I understand this is a stressful situation, but administrative law judges respond best to clear timelines and specific evidence. Prepare notes beforehand with dates, percentages, and key points you want to make. The hearings typically last 30-45 minutes, and you want to make sure you cover all your essential points. Also, if your former employer participates in the hearing, remain professional regardless of what they say. Arguing or showing anger can undermine your case.

Yes, if you believe there was a pattern of your employer trying to force you to quit, that's relevant to your case. However, focus on specific actions they took rather than just your impression of their intent. Did they make negative comments about your performance only after you requested time off? Did they suddenly change your schedule to hours they knew would conflict with your childcare or education? Those kinds of specific details are much more persuasive than general statements about feeling pushed out.

i went thru this last year and want to share my experience. i applied for training benefits after my regular UI ran out and got approved, BUT it took almost 5 weeks for them to process everythin. the important thing is i kept filing weekly claims durin that time even tho i wasnt getting paid. when they finally approved it, they paid all the missed weeks retroactively. the training program has to be approved by ESD and they are PICKY. make sure the school/program is on their approved list before enrolling!! i almost signed up for a coding bootcamp that wasnt approved and woulda wasted my time and money. also dont forget he needs to do his job search activities UNTIL he gets officially approved for training benefits. once approved, he gets excused from job search requirements. good luck!

Just wanted to add one more piece of information that might be helpful for your husband. While waiting for Training Benefits approval, he should also look into the Worker Retraining Program through Washington's community colleges. They often provide tuition assistance specifically for displaced workers. Many IT programs qualify for both Training Benefits AND Worker Retraining funds, which can cover tuition while TB covers living expenses during training. It's a powerful combination that many people don't know about. The community college will have a Worker Retraining coordinator who can help with both programs simultaneously.

Just wanted to follow up and say I hope you got through! If you're still struggling with the phone system, seriously consider Claimyr. My friend in construction uses it every time he has a break in claim (which is frustratingly often). The peace of mind from actually talking to a real person who can fix things on the spot is worth it.

Great news! Glad you got it resolved. For future reference (since construction work can be sporadic), remember this rule: anytime your husband works and then needs to claim again, he'll need to reopen the claim first. It's a hassle but at least now you know the process. And make sure he keeps doing his 3 job search activities every week, even during weeks he's expecting to return to work, unless he has official standby status (which is hard to get approved these days).

im so confused by all this. i thought once u take a job ur unemployment ends completely?? how r u still getting payments while working part time??

my sister works for ESD and she says they're cracking down on people who quit jobs in 2025. apparently there's a new automated system that flags all claims with job separations for extra review. just fyi