ESD denied claim because I 'quit without good cause' - did I mess up explaining my job transition?

The resignation date vs last day worked distinction shouldn't be the issue here. The bigger problem is ESD's 'good cause' requirement. When you voluntarily quit, you need to prove you had a good reason - and unfortunately, having another job lined up sometimes isn't enough unless you can prove the new job had substantially better pay/conditions. Did they specifically say the denial was because you quit?

You should definitely appeal this decision. According to WAC 192-150-050, leaving work to accept a bona fide job offer CAN be considered good cause IF the new job provided "better wages or working conditions." You mentioned the new position paid more, which helps your case. The key is proving you had a definite start date and that you actually started the new job. Your paystub should help with that. Make sure to file your appeal within 30 days of the determination letter date. In your appeal, clearly explain that you left your previous employer to accept a better position that unfortunately didn't work out after a short trial period.

ya this happened to my brother last yr. ESD is super picky about dates man. u should explain EVERYTHING in ur appeal. the notice date, last day worked, first day at new job, all of it. dont leave anything out or theyll just deny u again

Former ESD claims specialist here. This is a classic misunderstanding that happens often. When you quit for a new job, ESD requires that: 1. You had a definite job offer before quitting 2. The new job provided better wages or conditions 3. You actually started the new job The issue isn't about your resignation date vs. last day. It's that many claimants don't realize they need to explicitly connect these dots in their responses. In your appeal, clearly state that you quit Job A *because* you had secured Job B, which offered better wages ($2.75/hr more is sufficient). Then explain that despite starting Job B as planned, they terminated you during a probationary period. Also, make sure you're continuing to file your weekly claims during the appeal process.

sorry for jumping in but i got denied for almost the same thing!!! worked 3 yrs at old job, quit for new job, got laid off after 5 weeks. ESD is HORRIBLE to deal with! i called 47 times in one day and kept getting hung up on by their system. this whole process is designed to make u give up!!

ALWAYS APPEAL!!! ESD denies claims all the time hoping people just give up! I got denied when I was laid off because of a date mixup, appealed, and won. They owed me like $8,700 in back benefits. The system is totally broken and they don't care about regular people.

I had a phone hearing with an Administrative Law Judge. It was actually pretty informal - just had to explain my situation and provide my evidence. She reversed the decision on the spot. Make sure you have all your documentation ready - offer letter, resignation email, paystubs from both jobs showing dates/pay rates. The better organized you are, the easier it'll be for them to rule in your favor.

Yes, absolutely continue filing your weekly claims while your appeal is pending! If you win your appeal, ESD can only pay you for weeks that you properly filed a claim. Many people make the mistake of stopping their weekly claims during appeal and lose out on potential benefits. Also, when filing your appeal, request a copy of your claim file so you can see exactly what information ESD used to make their determination. This can help you identify any miscommunications or misunderstandings that led to the denial.

I feel for you, this system is so frustrating! My claim was stuck for THREE MONTHS earlier this year with zero communication from ESD. I finally got desperate and contacted my state representative's office. They have staff who can help with ESD issues and got my claim resolved within a week. Might be worth trying if your appeal gets stuck too.

Hey Caesar, I went through something very similar last year! Got denied for "quitting without good cause" even though I had a legitimate job offer with better pay. The key thing that helped me win my appeal was being super explicit about the connection between quitting my old job BECAUSE I had secured the new position. ESD seems to default to denial unless you spell everything out clearly. In your appeal, make sure to emphasize that this wasn't just you quitting randomly - you had a concrete job offer in hand that provided better wages before you gave notice. The fact that the new employer let you go after 2 weeks is totally separate from whether you had good cause to quit your original job. Also, don't stress too much about the resignation date vs last day worked thing. That's pretty standard - most people give 2 weeks notice. What matters is that you can prove you had the job offer before quitting and that you actually started the new position. Your paystub should be perfect evidence for that.