Can an employee collect unemployment if they quit - Washington ESD rules?
I'm in a really toxic work situation where my manager has been making my life miserable for months. The stress is affecting my health and I'm seriously considering quitting, but I'm worried about being able to collect unemployment benefits. Does Washington ESD allow you to get UI benefits if you voluntarily quit your job? I know there are some exceptions but I'm not sure what qualifies. Has anyone successfully gotten unemployment after quitting in Washington state?
57 comments
Join the conversation
Natasha Orlova
Generally speaking, if you voluntarily quit your job, Washington ESD will deny your unemployment claim unless you can prove you had 'good cause' for leaving. Good cause includes things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, discrimination, or significant changes to your job duties or pay. You'll need to document everything and be prepared to prove your case during the adjudication process.
0 coins
Oliver Schulz
•What kind of documentation would I need? I have some emails from my manager but nothing that directly shows harassment.
0 coins
Natasha Orlova
•Keep any emails, texts, or written communications. Document dates and times of incidents. If there were witnesses, get their contact info. Medical records showing stress-related issues can also help support your case.
0 coins
Javier Cruz
I quit my job last year due to a hostile work environment and initially got denied. The adjudication process took forever and I couldn't get through to anyone at Washington ESD to check on my claim status. Finally used claimyr.com to get connected to an actual agent who helped explain what additional documentation I needed. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.
0 coins
Oliver Schulz
•Did you eventually get approved? How long did the whole process take?
0 coins
Javier Cruz
•Yes, I got approved after submitting more evidence. The whole thing took about 6 weeks from filing to approval, but most of that was waiting for the adjudication decision.
0 coins
Emma Wilson
•Never heard of claimyr before but might be worth trying if you can't get through to Washington ESD directly. Their phone lines are always busy.
0 coins
Malik Thomas
The key is proving that a 'reasonable person' would have quit under the same circumstances. Washington ESD looks at whether you tried to resolve the issue first, whether you gave your employer a chance to fix the problem, and whether quitting was your only reasonable option. Just being unhappy with your job or having a difficult boss usually isn't enough.
0 coins
Oliver Schulz
•I did try talking to HR but they basically told me to deal with it. Would that help my case?
0 coins
Malik Thomas
•Absolutely! Document that conversation with HR. The fact that you tried to resolve it through proper channels and they refused to help strengthens your good cause argument significantly.
0 coins
NeonNebula
ugh the whole system is so frustrating. I quit because my hours got cut to basically nothing and they still denied me at first. took months to get it sorted out
0 coins
Oliver Schulz
•That's exactly what I'm worried about - the whole process dragging on forever while I have bills to pay.
0 coins
Isabella Costa
•Significant reduction in hours can actually qualify as good cause for quitting. Did you appeal the initial denial?
0 coins
NeonNebula
•yeah I appealed and eventually won but it was a pain in the ass. wish I had known about some of these services that help you get through to Washington ESD faster
0 coins
Ravi Malhotra
I'm dealing with something similar right now. My workplace has become unsafe and management won't address it. I've been documenting everything but I'm scared to quit without knowing if I'll qualify for benefits. The uncertainty is killing me.
0 coins
Natasha Orlova
•Unsafe working conditions are definitely good cause for quitting. Have you reported the safety issues to your state labor department or OSHA?
0 coins
Ravi Malhotra
•Not yet, but I probably should. Would having an official report help with my unemployment claim?
0 coins
Natasha Orlova
•Yes, having an official safety complaint on record would definitely strengthen your case with Washington ESD.
0 coins
Isabella Costa
Other situations that might qualify as good cause include: domestic violence situations, needing to care for a seriously ill family member, your spouse getting transferred to another location, or significant changes to your work schedule that make it impossible to continue. Each case is evaluated individually during adjudication.
0 coins
Freya Christensen
•What about if your employer changes your job duties completely? My boss wants to move me to a totally different department doing work I'm not qualified for.
0 coins
Isabella Costa
•That could potentially qualify as good cause if the change is substantial enough. You'd need to show that the new duties are significantly different from what you were hired to do.
0 coins
Emma Wilson
Just be aware that even if you have good cause, you'll still need to actively look for work and meet all the other UI requirements. And you can't just quit and then figure out if you qualify - you need to be pretty confident in your case before you leave.
0 coins
Oliver Schulz
•That's what I'm trying to figure out now. I don't want to quit and then find out I don't qualify and have no income.
0 coins
Emma Wilson
•Smart thinking. Maybe consult with an employment attorney if you're unsure? Some offer free consultations.
0 coins
Omar Farouk
The adjudication process can be really stressful when you're already dealing with a bad work situation. I had to wait almost 8 weeks for a decision on my quit claim. During that time I couldn't reach anyone at Washington ESD to check on the status. Finally found out about Claimyr which helped me get through to an agent who could give me updates on my case.
0 coins
Oliver Schulz
•8 weeks is a long time to wait with no income. Did you end up getting approved?
0 coins
Omar Farouk
•Yes, eventually. The wait was the worst part - not knowing if I'd get benefits or not. At least with Claimyr I could get status updates instead of just wondering.
0 coins
Chloe Davis
Make sure you understand the difference between 'good cause' and 'good cause connected to work.' Washington ESD is pretty strict about this. Personal reasons that aren't related to the job itself usually don't qualify, even if they seem reasonable to you.
0 coins
Oliver Schulz
•Can you explain the difference? I'm not sure I understand.
0 coins
Chloe Davis
•Good cause connected to work means the reason you quit is directly related to your job or workplace. Good cause not connected to work is for personal reasons that might be valid but aren't the employer's fault.
0 coins
AstroAlpha
whatever you do don't just walk out without giving notice. That can hurt your case even if you otherwise have good cause for quitting
0 coins
Oliver Schulz
•Good point. I wasn't planning to just walk out but I'll make sure to give proper notice.
0 coins
Diego Chavez
•Also keep records of everything - your resignation letter, any response from your employer, dates and times of incidents. You'll need all of this for your claim.
0 coins
Anastasia Smirnova
I quit my job due to harassment and got denied initially. The appeals process was a nightmare and took months. Wish I had known there were services to help navigate this stuff. Would have saved me a lot of stress and probably gotten resolved faster.
0 coins
Oliver Schulz
•Did you eventually win on appeal? What made the difference?
0 coins
Anastasia Smirnova
•Yes, I won but only after getting a lawyer involved. The documentation was key - I had emails, witness statements, and medical records showing the stress impact.
0 coins
Sean O'Brien
The burden of proof is on you to show good cause. Washington ESD assumes you could have kept working unless you can prove otherwise. It's not enough to just say you had a bad boss or didn't like the job.
0 coins
Oliver Schulz
•That makes sense. I need to make sure I have solid evidence before I make any decisions.
0 coins
Sean O'Brien
•Exactly. And remember, if you get denied initially, you can appeal. Many people win on appeal with better documentation.
0 coins
Zara Shah
Another thing to consider - even if you qualify for benefits after quitting, there might be a waiting period before you can start collecting. Plan for that possibility.
0 coins
Oliver Schulz
•How long is the waiting period typically?
0 coins
Zara Shah
•It varies depending on your situation and how long adjudication takes. Could be anywhere from a few weeks to a couple months.
0 coins
Luca Bianchi
If you're considering quitting, you might also want to see if you can get your employer to lay you off instead. Sometimes employers are willing to do this to avoid potential legal issues.
0 coins
Oliver Schulz
•Interesting idea. How would I approach that conversation with my boss?
0 coins
Luca Bianchi
•Be careful with that approach. If it looks like you arranged to be laid off, Washington ESD might treat it as a voluntary quit anyway.
0 coins
GalacticGuardian
The most important thing is to be completely honest on your application and during any interviews. If Washington ESD finds out you lied or omitted information, you could be disqualified and have to pay back benefits.
0 coins
Oliver Schulz
•Good reminder. I definitely don't want to make things worse by not being truthful.
0 coins
GalacticGuardian
•Right, honesty is always the best policy with unemployment claims. The truth usually comes out during adjudication anyway.
0 coins
Nia Harris
Has anyone tried using those services that help you get through to Washington ESD? I keep hearing about them but don't know if they're worth it.
0 coins
Javier Cruz
•I mentioned Claimyr earlier - it definitely helped me get through to an agent when I couldn't reach anyone directly. Made the whole process less stressful.
0 coins
Nia Harris
•Good to know. The phone lines are always busy when I try to call. Might be worth checking out.
0 coins
Mateo Gonzalez
Bottom line - quitting for good cause is possible but you need solid documentation and a strong case. Don't quit impulsively. Plan it out, gather your evidence, and be prepared for the adjudication process.
0 coins
Oliver Schulz
•Thanks everyone. This has been really helpful. I'm going to continue documenting everything and maybe talk to an attorney before I make any decisions.
0 coins
Mateo Gonzalez
•Smart approach. Take your time and make sure you have all your ducks in a row before you quit.
0 coins
Aisha Ali
One more thing - if you do quit and file for benefits, be prepared to explain your situation clearly and concisely. The adjudicator will want to understand exactly what happened and why quitting was your only option.
0 coins
Oliver Schulz
•I'll make sure to organize my thoughts and evidence before filing. Thanks for all the advice everyone!
0 coins
Aisha Ali
•You're welcome. Good luck with whatever you decide to do. The system can be challenging but it's there to help when you truly need it.
0 coins