Disqualified because I 'quit for personal reasons' but actually quit for school - Appeal advice?

I went through something similar last year! My employer said I was fired for misconduct but I was actually laid off. Appeals take FOREVER - mine took almost 8 weeks before I got a hearing date.

Just to clarify something important here - quitting to attend school usually isn't considered a qualifying reason for unemployment benefits in Washington. ESD generally requires that you're available for full-time work, which full-time school might conflict with. However, if you're still available to work while in school (like taking evening/online classes) and actively seeking employment, you should definitely highlight that in your appeal. Your specific circumstances matter a lot. For your appeal, make sure to include: 1. The email showing your stated reason for leaving 2. Your school schedule showing you're still available for work 3. Evidence you're actively job searching while in school 4. Any communication where your employer acknowledged your school plans The hearing notice typically arrives within 4-6 weeks after filing the appeal, but it can take longer during busy periods.

I've been through the appeals process twice (won both times). Here's what you need to know: 1) Quitting for school is generally NOT considered good cause for UI benefits UNLESS you can prove you're still available for full-time work. This is critical. 2) Call the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) at 360-586-3169 to check your appeal status. Don't bother with ESD's general line for this. 3) Prepare to prove: - You're available for full-time work despite school - Your employer mischaracterized your reason for leaving - You're actively job searching (3 documented activities per week) 4) Upload your email evidence to your appeal case file ASAP. Don't wait for the hearing. 5) If you need benefits urgently, I'd recommend trying to reach an ESD agent directly about your original claim. Sometimes they can review the issue without waiting for the full appeal process.

I used to work at ESD (quit last yr) and personally I think you're gonna have trouble with this appeal. When they say "quit for personal reasons" that actually includes school in their classification system! So your employer didnt necessarily misreport anything... the system just lumps a bunch of non-qualifying reasons under one category. The REAL question is are you available for full-time work WHILE in school? If yes = you might win. If no = probably won't win appeal.

I've been trying to call ESD for WEEKS about my appeal and literally cannot get through. Always busy signal or disconnects after hold. Super frustrating!! I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an ESD agent in like 20 minutes. They have this demo video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Total gamechanger for me because I actually got my appeal issue resolved over the phone instead of waiting for the hearing! The agent saw I had uploaded documentation and was able to review it on the spot.

ESD IS A JOKE!!! They PURPOSELY misclassify quit reasons so they can deny benefits. I had EXACTLY your situation last year. I quit for school but could still work evenings/weekends. They marked me as "personal reasons" TOO!!! My advice: CALL THEM EVERY DAY until you get someone who will ACTUALLY LISTEN. The appeal process is designed to make you give up. DON'T GIVE UP!!! I finally got approved after my 3rd appeal and 5 months of fighting. THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!!

Quick update on timing expectations: The Office of Administrative Hearings is currently processing appeals from about 5-6 weeks ago (based on recent client experiences). Once scheduled, your hearing will typically be 2-3 weeks after you receive the notice. If you need to expedite due to financial hardship, there is a process to request an earlier hearing date. You'll need to submit a written request explaining your hardship situation to the OAH. Make sure you're continuing to file your weekly claims during this entire process, even while disqualified and waiting for appeal. If you win your appeal, they can only pay you for weeks that you properly filed claims.

wait im confused... is quitting for school always disqualifying or only sometimes? I'm thinking about going back to school too and now I'm worried about my benefits...