Can I quit my job due to depression and collect Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

Yes, Washington ESD does recognize mental health as good cause to quit in certain situations. You'll need medical documentation from a healthcare provider stating that your job was detrimental to your mental health and that quitting was necessary. The key is having proper documentation before you quit.

I went through this exact situation last year. Washington ESD approved my claim after I quit due to anxiety and depression. But the process took forever - like 8 weeks of adjudication. Make sure you have all your medical records ready.

I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD when my mental health claim was in adjudication. Spent hours on hold every day. Finally found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me so much stress during an already difficult time.

The standard for good cause quit due to mental health is pretty high. You need to show that your employer was aware of your condition and failed to provide reasonable accommodations, or that the work environment directly caused or significantly worsened your mental health condition. Simply having depression isn't enough - you need to connect it specifically to your job.

honestly the whole system is set up to deny mental health claims. they make you jump through so many hoops and then still deny you half the time. its like they dont think depression is a real medical condition

Before you quit, consider these steps: 1) Get a formal diagnosis and treatment plan from a psychiatrist or licensed therapist, 2) Document workplace incidents that worsen your condition, 3) Request accommodations in writing through HR, 4) Keep copies of everything. If accommodations are denied or ineffective, then you have a stronger case for good cause quit.

Also be prepared for them to ask why you didn't just take FMLA leave instead of quitting. That was one of the questions during my phone interview. Make sure you have an answer ready.

The adjudication process is really intense for voluntary quits. They'll ask detailed questions about your medical condition, what your employer knew, what accommodations you requested, why you couldn't continue working. Be prepared to explain everything clearly and have documentation to back it up.

Whatever you do, don't quit without having another job lined up unless you absolutely have to. Even if Washington ESD approves your claim, it could take months and the weekly benefit amount probably won't cover all your expenses.

I tried using Claimyr when my claim was stuck in adjudication and it actually worked really well. Got connected to an agent within like 20 minutes instead of waiting on hold all day. Worth checking out their demo video if you end up needing to contact Washington ESD frequently.

Make sure your therapist understands that you need documentation specifically for unemployment purposes. Some providers don't realize how detailed the letter needs to be for Washington ESD. It should explicitly state that your work environment was detrimental to your mental health and that leaving was medically necessary.

The most important thing is proving that quitting was your only reasonable option. Washington ESD will want to see that you tried other solutions first - accommodations, medical leave, transfer to different department, etc. If none of those were available or effective, then you have good cause.

been there with the depression job situation. its awful when work makes your mental health worse but you need the money. just know that even if washington esd approves your claim, the weekly amount might not be enough to live on. start budgeting now for a potential income drop

Consider filing for intermittent FMLA first if you qualify. That way you can take time off for mental health appointments and bad days without losing your job completely. Might buy you time to find something better while keeping some income.

Just wanted to add that when I was dealing with my mental health claim, I had to call Washington ESD multiple times during the adjudication process. Having Claimyr handle the calling part was honestly a lifesaver. The last thing you need when you're struggling with depression is spending hours on hold getting more frustrated.

Don't forget that you'll need to be able and available for work even if you quit for mental health reasons. Washington ESD will want to know that your condition has improved enough that you can work again. Make sure your treatment plan shows progress.

Whatever you decide, don't quit impulsively. I know depression can make everything feel urgent and hopeless, but take time to plan this out properly. Get your documentation together, understand the process, maybe even consult with an employment attorney if your situation is complex.

I'm going through a very similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful. The stress of not knowing if I'll be approved for benefits is almost as bad as the job itself. For what it's worth, I've started keeping a detailed journal of workplace incidents that affect my mental health - dates, what happened, how I felt, any witnesses. My therapist suggested it and said it could be useful documentation later. Also, if you do end up quitting, make sure to file your unemployment claim immediately even if you don't have all your documentation ready yet. You can always submit additional evidence during the adjudication process, but you can't backdate your claim start date.

I'm in a really similar boat and this conversation is giving me hope that there might be a path forward. I've been at my current job for about 6 months and the anxiety I feel every Sunday night before the work week starts is getting unbearable. My manager constantly criticizes my work in front of other team members and assigns impossible deadlines that set me up to fail. I've started having panic attacks in the bathroom at work, which never happened before this job. Reading about everyone's experiences with documentation makes me realize I need to start being more systematic about tracking these incidents. Has anyone here successfully used text messages or emails as evidence? I have some messages from my supervisor that are pretty harsh and unprofessional. Also wondering if anyone knows whether Washington ESD considers the size of the company when evaluating accommodation requests - my workplace only has 12 employees so there's no real HR department to go through.

I've been through this exact process and want to share what I learned the hard way. First, don't underestimate how thorough Washington ESD's investigation will be - they contacted my former employer, reviewed all my medical records, and asked incredibly detailed questions during the phone interview. The key thing that helped my case was having a comprehensive treatment plan that showed I was actively working on my mental health while also demonstrating that my specific workplace was the primary trigger. Make sure your therapist understands they may need to speak with ESD directly - mine had to do a brief phone interview to verify the medical necessity of my resignation. Also, be prepared for your employer to potentially contest your claim. They'll likely argue that you never formally requested accommodations or that your performance issues were unrelated to your mental health. Having that paper trail everyone mentioned is crucial. One thing I wish I'd known earlier is that you can request your personnel file from your employer after you quit - sometimes there are documented performance discussions or complaints that actually support your case by showing the hostile work environment. The whole process took about 10 weeks for me, but I was eventually approved and received full backpay. Hang in there and document everything you can.