Can I be denied unemployment benefits in Washington - what are the main reasons?

What counts as 'good cause' for quitting? My situation was pretty bad - went from 40 hours to maybe 8 hours a week.

Substantial reduction in hours can be good cause. You'll need to document the hour reduction and show you tried to work with your employer first.

How did you finally get it approved? What documentation did you need?

Had to get a statement from my old supervisor about the hour cuts and keep detailed records of every job I applied for. The job search log is super important.

This is exactly why I used Claimyr to get through to an actual Washington ESD agent. Trying to figure out all these requirements on your own is impossible. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

What's considered 'suitable work'? Can they make you take any job even if it pays way less than your old one?

Suitable work considers your skills, experience, and physical capabilities. Generally you don't have to accept work that pays significantly less than your previous job, at least initially.

Appeals take forever! Been waiting 3 months for my hearing date.

At least you got a hearing scheduled. I'm still waiting for them to even acknowledge my appeal was filed correctly.

What counts as a valid job search contact? Does applying online count or do you have to actually talk to someone?

Online applications count but you need to keep screenshots and details. In-person visits, phone calls, and networking events also count. The key is documenting everything.

I learned this the hard way when they did a random audit on my claim. Luckily I had used Claimyr a few weeks earlier to talk to an agent about documentation requirements, so I knew what records to keep.

That's not entirely true. You can have some restrictions but they have to be reasonable. Like you can't say you'll only work 2 hours on Tuesdays, but saying you need daycare hours is usually okay.

well they sure didn't see it that way. maybe I should appeal but I don't even know where to start

What if you're a contractor who paid self-employment taxes? Does that count?

No, regular UI is only for W-2 employees. Contractors would need to look into other programs but those are more limited.

My claim has been in adjudication for 6 weeks now. No idea what the hold up is and can't get anyone on the phone to explain it.

That's exactly when Claimyr becomes worth it. I was stuck in adjudication hell for weeks until I used their service to actually get through to a real person who could explain what documents they needed from me.

This is scary. What if you genuinely forgot to report some small amount of income? Do they give you a chance to explain?

Usually yes, but it depends on the amount and how long it took you to correct it. Best to be upfront about any mistakes immediately.

How do you know if you qualify for standby? My employer said they might call me back but it's been 2 months.

Your employer has to request standby status and there's usually a time limit. After a certain point, you'd need to switch to regular UI with job search requirements.

So true! I called three different times and got three different explanations for the same issue.

This is why having a service like Claimyr that knows how to navigate the system is actually valuable. They know which agents are helpful and can get you to the right person faster.

Thanks everyone, this is really helpful. Sounds like I need to be super careful about documenting my hour reduction and keeping good job search records.

Definitely document everything! And don't be afraid to ask questions early rather than trying to figure it out after you get denied.