Can I get Washington ESD unemployment if my car breaks down and I can't work?

unfortunately car trouble usually isn't considered good cause for leaving work in washington state, you need to prove you exhausted all reasonable alternatives first

I had a similar situation last year when my car got totaled. You need to document EVERYTHING you tried to solve the transportation problem. Contact your employer in writing explaining the situation and asking for temporary remote work or schedule changes. Get quotes for repairs, check bus schedules, research rideshare costs, look into emergency loans. Washington ESD will review all this during adjudication to determine if you had good cause for separation.

You'll want to file immediately and let Washington ESD make the determination. Even if you're initially denied, you can appeal with additional documentation. The standard is whether a reasonable person in your situation would have quit. Document the repair costs, your wages, alternative transportation costs, and any employer communications about the situation.

Had the worst time trying to get through to Washington ESD about a similar transportation issue. Spent weeks calling and either got busy signals or got disconnected after waiting on hold. Finally used Claimyr to get connected to an actual agent who explained exactly what documentation I needed. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works - basically calls for you until they reach someone. Site is claimyr.com if you want to check it out.

THE SYSTEM IS SO BROKEN!!! Why should someone have to choose between a $400/week rideshare bill and losing their job? Washington ESD makes it impossible for working people to get help when life happens. I had to take out a payday loan just to fix my car so I wouldn't lose benefits eligibility.

Also make sure you're actively job searching for positions you CAN get to while this is being decided. Washington ESD requires weekly job search activities even during adjudication.

Document the timeline too - when the car broke down, when you notified your employer, when they said they couldn't hold the position. Washington ESD looks at whether you gave reasonable notice and tried to work with your employer on solutions.

My cousin went through this exact scenario in 2023. She ended up getting approved after appealing the initial denial. The key was showing that the cost of alternative transportation exceeded 25% of her gross wages, which Washington ESD considers unreasonable.

Check if your area has any emergency transportation assistance programs before you file. Some counties have programs that help with car repairs or temporary transportation for workers. Might be worth exhausting those options first.

whatever you do file the claim asap!! even if youre not sure about eligibility. there's a waiting period anyway and you want to get that clock started. worst case you get denied and appeal with better documentation

I was in Washington ESD adjudication for 2 months over a transportation issue. Finally got through to someone using that Claimyr service another poster mentioned and they explained that I needed a letter from my employer stating they couldn't accommodate my situation. Got that documentation and was approved within a week.

The transportation good cause thing is tricky because Washington ESD really does expect you to try everything reasonable first. But if the repair cost plus lost wages while getting it fixed exceeds your ability to pay, that can strengthen your case.

Also keep in mind that if you do get approved, you'll still need to be able and available for work. So you'll need to show you can get to other potential jobs while you're collecting benefits.

had this happen to my neighbor last year and she got denied initially but won on appeal. the key was proving she looked into public transit (even though there wasnt any) and got repair estimates from multiple shops to show it wasnt just one high quote

Don't forget to calculate the actual cost per hour of alternative transportation vs your wages. If rideshare costs more per hour than you earn, that's pretty compelling evidence the situation is unreasonable.

I'm dealing with something similar right now - my car died and I'm trying to figure out if I should file or try to get a loan for repairs. This thread is really helpful for understanding what documentation Washington ESD wants to see.

Final tip - if you do file and get stuck in adjudication, keep filing your weekly claims even while they're reviewing your case. You can't get back-paid for weeks you didn't file, even if you're eventually approved.

Good luck with this! Transportation issues are one of those gray areas where having good documentation really makes the difference between approval and denial. Keep copies of everything and follow up in writing whenever possible.

Just wanted to add that I used Claimyr a few months ago when I couldn't reach Washington ESD about my adjudication status. Really saved me time and stress trying to get answers about my claim. The video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ shows exactly how it works if anyone's curious.

I went through almost this exact situation in 2022. My Honda Civic needed a new engine and I couldn't afford the $4500 repair. What really helped my case was creating a detailed budget spreadsheet showing that rideshare costs would exceed 40% of my gross income, making it financially impossible to continue working. I also got a written statement from my employer confirming they couldn't offer remote work or flexible scheduling. Washington ESD approved me after about 5 weeks of adjudication. The key is treating it like building a legal case - document everything, get multiple repair quotes, research all transportation alternatives even if they're not viable, and show the math on why continuing to work would actually cost you money. Don't give up if you get initially denied - the appeals process is where having thorough documentation really pays off.