Just to summarize the main disqualification reasons: voluntary quit without good cause, misconduct, not able/available for work, refusing suitable work, not meeting job search requirements, not reporting income correctly, and not participating in required services. Most can be appealed or resolved with proper documentation.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that if you receive severance pay, it can affect your unemployment benefits timing. Washington ESD considers severance as wages for the period it covers, which means your benefits might be delayed until after the severance period ends. I learned this the hard way when I got laid off with a severance package and couldn't figure out why my claim was delayed. It's not exactly a disqualification, but it can definitely impact when you start receiving benefits.

I think it depends on how they structured your severance? When I got laid off my employers payroll lady said they coded it as "continuation of wages" not "severance" so unemployment treated it differently? i dunno the whole system is confusing af

Update: I went ahead and filed my initial claim. The ESD website had a specific section where I could report the severance arrangement. I also uploaded my separation agreement as supporting documentation. I got an automated message saying my claim was received and that I should continue filing weekly claims even if I'm receiving severance. I'll start my job search activities this week and keep everyone posted on what happens!

I had a similar disqualification week situation and it turned out to be a job search documentation issue. Even though I was doing my job searches, I wasn't logging them properly in WorkSourceWA. The tricky part is you need to log activities in WorkSourceWA AND report them when filing your weekly claim - both are required. Since you mentioned being busy with your part-time job that week, double-check if you completed and logged all 3 required job search activities for that specific week. That's the most common cause of single-week disqualifications I've seen.

I've been dealing with Washington ESD for months now and disqualification weeks are unfortunately pretty common. From what I've learned, it's usually one of a few things: missing job search activities in WorkSourceWA (you need 3 per week AND they have to be logged properly), marking yourself as unavailable for work for any reason during that week, or issues with how you reported your work earnings. Since you worked 15 hours and reported it, I'd bet it's either a job search documentation problem or maybe you accidentally marked something wrong when filing that week's claim. The good news is it's just that one week - it won't affect your other benefits as long as you keep filing weekly and meet all requirements going forward. I'd definitely recommend trying to get through to an actual ESD agent to find out the exact reason though, even if it takes forever on the phone.

One more thing to consider - you should apply for standby status if you're expecting to return to work soon or have job prospects. This temporarily waives the job search requirement. Also, prepare yourself mentally for the adjudication process. It can be really stressful and the uncertainty is tough. Make sure you're taking care of your mental health during this time - the ADHD + unemployment stress combo can be really challenging.

I'm a disability rights advocate and wanted to add some important legal context here. The fact that you disclosed your ADHD when hired but weren't provided accommodations could actually work strongly in your favor. Under the ADA, employers have a duty to engage in the "interactive process" once they know about a disability - even if you didn't formally request accommodations. The key question ESD will ask is whether your errors were due to your disability or willful misconduct. Document everything: your diagnosis timeline, any medical treatments, specific ways ADHD affects data entry (like hyperfocus making you miss details or working memory issues), and all the strategies you tried. Also keep records of your job search efforts during adjudication. This isn't just about proving you weren't being careless - it's about showing your employer failed to provide a reasonable workplace accommodation for a known disability.

Just to add one more important point - there's a time limit for requesting backdates. You generally need to request backdating within a reasonable timeframe after the issue that prevented you from filing is resolved. Since you just got help last week, you should be within this window, but don't delay further. Also, make sure you're very specific about the reasons when you submit your backdate request. Focus on the system issues (unanswered messages in the portal) rather than your uncertainty about how to file. Technical problems and ESD's failure to respond are stronger "good cause" reasons than personal confusion.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Ruby, I really hope you're able to get your backdate approved. The fact that you have documented evidence of trying to reach ESD through their own system should definitely count as "good cause." One thing I wanted to add that might help - when I was researching this issue, I found that ESD's own policy manual states that their failure to respond to inquiries through official channels (like eServices messages) can constitute good cause for backdating. You might want to reference this specific policy when you make your request. Also, don't let that first rep discourage you. Like others have said, different reps give completely different answers. The key is getting someone who actually understands the backdate process and your rights under it. Keep us updated on how it goes - there are probably other people in similar situations who could benefit from hearing about your experience!