Can you collect unemployment if you quit - Washington ESD eligibility question

Generally you can't collect unemployment if you quit voluntarily, but there are exceptions for 'good cause' situations. If you can prove your employer created conditions that forced you to quit (constructive dismissal), you might be eligible. You'd need to document everything - keep records of the hostile behavior, schedule changes, etc.

I quit my last job due to harassment and got approved for UI benefits after an appeal. Washington ESD initially denied my claim but I provided documentation showing the working conditions were intolerable. The key is proving you had 'good cause' to quit - it's not just wanting to leave, it has to be something serious.

Before you quit, have you tried addressing these issues through HR or filing complaints? Washington ESD will look at whether you attempted to resolve the problems first. If you just quit without trying other options, it's harder to prove good cause.

I went through something similar last year and had trouble getting through to Washington ESD to explain my situation. If you end up needing to talk to them about your claim, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you actually reach an agent. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made the whole process much less stressful.

ugh i quit my job last month without knowing about the good cause thing and got denied. now i have to figure out how to appeal this mess. wish someone had told me to document everything first!!

The 'good cause' standard is pretty strict. I work in employment law and see people get denied all the time because they thought their situation qualified but it didn't meet Washington ESD's criteria. Personality conflicts, minor schedule changes, or just not liking your job usually don't count.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I think I need to start documenting everything systematically before I make any decisions. It sounds like the bar for 'good cause' is pretty high.

Just wanted to add that even if you think you have good cause, be prepared for Washington ESD to initially deny your claim. They seem to deny most voluntary quit cases automatically and then you have to prove your case on appeal. Don't get discouraged if that happens.

Another thing to consider - if you're thinking about quitting, look into whether your state has any whistleblower protections if the issues involve legal violations. That could strengthen your case for good cause.

I successfully got UI benefits after quitting due to harassment. The key was keeping detailed records and having witnesses. Washington ESD takes these cases seriously if you can prove the working conditions were truly intolerable.

Whatever you decide, make sure you file for benefits as soon as possible after quitting. There's no penalty for filing even if you're not sure you'll qualify, and the waiting period starts from when you file, not when you get approved.

Just a heads up that if you do quit and file for unemployment, your employer will get notified and can contest your claim. Be prepared for them to present their side of the story, which might be very different from yours.

If you end up going through with this and need to reach Washington ESD about your claim status, I had good luck using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Saved me hours of waiting on hold and actually got me through to someone who could help.

Don't forget that if you do quit and get denied benefits, you'll need to look for work and be available for work during the appeal process. Washington ESD will expect you to be actively job searching.

This whole system is so complicated! I wish there was a clearer way to know if your situation qualifies before you make the decision to quit.

One more consideration - if you're thinking about quitting, make sure you understand what constitutes 'good cause' versus just 'personal reasons'. Washington ESD is very specific about this distinction.

I went through this exact situation two years ago. The adjudication process took forever and was really stressful. Make sure you're prepared financially to possibly go without benefits for a while if you get denied initially.

If anyone needs help getting through to Washington ESD during this process, I recently used Claimyr and it was a game changer. I was able to get my questions answered quickly instead of waiting on hold all day. Really helped reduce my stress during an already difficult time.

Final thought - whatever you decide, make sure you're doing it for the right reasons. Don't quit just because you think you'll get unemployment benefits. But if you genuinely have good cause and the situation is affecting your health or safety, then document everything and be prepared to fight for your benefits.

I've been in a similar situation and wanted to share my experience. I successfully got unemployment benefits after quitting due to a toxic work environment in Washington state. The key things that helped my case were: 1) I kept detailed records of every incident including dates, times, and any witnesses, 2) I saved all emails and text messages related to the hostile behavior, 3) I documented my attempts to resolve the issues internally first, and 4) I was able to show how the situation was affecting my health (I had doctor visits for stress-related symptoms). The initial denial was discouraging, but I appealed and won at the hearing. My advice is to be very thorough with your documentation - treat it like you're building a legal case, because essentially you are. Also, consider consulting with an employment attorney for a free consultation to get their opinion on whether your situation meets the "good cause" standard. Don't let a bad employer trap you in an intolerable situation - you have rights, but you need to be strategic about protecting them.