ESD denied benefits after 26 weeks - appealing with new medical documentation

Thanks for the information! That makes me nervous about my most recent employers finding out. The therapist note mentions severe anxiety and depression affecting my ability to maintain focus and handle workplace stress. Do you think that's specific enough? It doesn't list exact dates beyond saying "ongoing since March 2025.

Oh no, that's exactly what I was afraid of. My therapist just wrote that general note. I'll call tomorrow to see if he can write something more specific with exact dates. Thank you!

Thank you so much for this detailed response. I'm going to request a more detailed letter from my therapist with all those elements. One follow-up question - do you know if my most recent employers (the ones I quit after short periods) will have more influence in the hearing than my original employer from my base year?

Good point about calling ESD directly, but have you tried getting through to them lately? Nearly impossible! I was in a similar situation last month and spent DAYS trying to reach someone. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me connected to an actual ESD agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Saved me so much frustration and I was able to get my appeal questions answered right away instead of waiting for the hearing.

Three appeals?? That sounds exhausting. Did you have a lawyer or did you represent yourself? I'm trying to figure out if I need legal help for this.

No lawyer, couldn't afford one. Just kept getting better documentation each time. By the third hearing I had THREE different doctors notes and a full psychiatric evaluation. Such a waste of time and stress when I was already dealing with anxiety!

That's really helpful. I left the first job because I was having panic attacks in the middle of shifts, and the second one because I couldn't concentrate enough to complete basic tasks correctly. I'm still struggling but the medication is starting to help, so I'm hoping to return to work part-time soon. Should I mention that, or will it hurt my case for backpay?

It's good to be honest about your current situation and improvement. What matters for the back benefits is proving you were unable to work during that specific period. Your current improvement with treatment actually supports your case - it shows you were actively seeking help for a legitimate condition and that the treatment is now making a difference. Make sure your documentation clearly differentiates between your abilities then versus now.

You're raising an important point, but there's some nuance here. While unemployment is generally for those able to work but can't find jobs, there are situations where someone initially qualifies for UI, then develops a medical condition that temporarily prevents them from working. In Washington state, if someone becomes temporarily disabled after establishing a UI claim, they may still qualify for UI benefits under certain circumstances, especially if they're expected to recover and return to work. This is different from long-term disability benefits.

Yes, I initially qualified for regular unemployment after losing my job, then my mental health got worse. I'm not permanently disabled - the doctors expect me to recover with proper treatment, which I'm finally getting. That's why I'm going through ESD rather than applying for disability.

It's scheduled for August 18th, so I have two weeks to prepare. I'm definitely going to write everything down. Did they ask you really specific questions about your medical condition?

oh yeah they asked super specific stuff. like exactly what symptoms i had on which days, how it affected specific job duties, if i could have done ANY kind of work even part time, why i couldnt just take medication and keep working, all kinds of detailed questions. they were respectful but really thorough.