Can you be denied unemployment benefits - Washington ESD rejection reasons?

I basically stopped showing up for a few days because my boss was being really hostile, then they fired me for job abandonment. Not sure if that counts as voluntary quit or misconduct.

That's tricky - job abandonment can be viewed either way by Washington ESD depending on the circumstances. If you can document the hostile work environment, you might have a case for good cause.

How long did the appeal process take? I can't afford to wait months without any income.

Mine took about 6 weeks total. The key is filing your appeal within 30 days of the denial notice and having good documentation ready.

Never heard of that service - is it legit? Washington ESD phone lines are impossible but I'm wary of third party services.

Yeah it's real, they just help you get through the phone queue. I was skeptical too but it actually worked and I got to speak with a real Washington ESD rep about my eligibility questions.

What's a base period? This is all so confusing.

It's the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file in March 2025, your base period would be October 2023 through September 2024.

That seems like such an old time period to base benefits on. What if you had a job more recently?

Did you file an appeal? Misconduct has to be willful or wanton disregard of the employer's interests. If they never properly communicated the policy, that could help your case.

Yeah I'm fighting it but it's taking forever. Meanwhile I can't pay rent.

What counts as 'actively seeking work'? Do I need to apply to a certain number of jobs per week?

Washington requires 3 job search activities per week, but they can be applications, networking, job fairs, etc. You have to keep a detailed log in your WorkSourceWA account.

WorkSourceWA is such a pain to use. Half the job postings are outdated or scams.

The 'suitable work' definition does become broader over time. Initially it has to match your skills and pay reasonably close to your previous wages, but those requirements relax as your claim continues.

It's frustrating because taking that low-paying job would have actually cost me money after childcare expenses.

There are some exceptions for vocational training programs approved by Washington ESD. Maybe she should look into that?

She's in a regular college program, not vocational. Seems like a catch-22 - need education to get better jobs but can't get education without income.

Can you backdate those activities if you forgot to log them but actually did the work search?

Sometimes, but you need documentation proving you actually did the activities. It's better to just log them immediately when you do them.

What about Social Security? I'm 62 and considering early retirement but might need to work part-time.

Social Security generally doesn't affect UI eligibility in Washington, but any wages from part-time work will reduce your weekly benefit amount.

There's actually a formula where you can earn up to 1.5 times your weekly benefit and still get some UI payment. It's not all or nothing.

Good to know! Washington ESD's website doesn't explain that very clearly.

How much does that service cost? I'm already broke, can't afford to pay for help getting benefits I might not even qualify for.

I found it worth it to avoid months of uncertainty. Better to know upfront if you qualify than to wait weeks for a denial and then have to appeal.

Wow, 4 months! How did you survive financially during that time?

It was rough - had to borrow money from family and do gig work. But getting that lump sum of back benefits eventually made it worthwhile.

What about attendance issues? I was fired for being late too many times due to bus reliability problems.

Transportation issues can sometimes be considered good cause, especially if you documented the problems and tried to find solutions. You should definitely apply and see what happens.

This happened to my sister. Her boss offered her more hours but she said no because of childcare, then got denied for partial benefits.

Childcare issues can sometimes qualify as good cause for refusing work, but you have to document it properly and show you're actively looking for solutions.

Thanks everyone for all the detailed info! I think I'll apply and see what happens. Sounds like there are more exceptions and appeals options than I realized.

Good luck! Make sure to document everything about your job separation and be completely honest on your application. Washington ESD will verify information with your employer anyway.