ESD denied my benefits - quit job due to mental health but got disqualified

Hi there, I'm really sorry you're going through this. Mental health situations can be complicated with ESD, but they ARE considered good cause to leave employment if properly documented. When you appeal (which you should!), make sure you have these documents ready: 1. Your therapist's letter (which you already have) 2. A letter from your regular doctor if possible 3. Any documentation of workplace issues (emails, texts, etc.) 4. A written timeline of events showing how your mental health deteriorated specifically because of work The key is connecting your mental health condition directly to why you couldn't continue that specific job. You have 30 days from the denial date to file your appeal. Don't miss that deadline!

File your appeal ASAP!!!! I went thru almost the EXACT same thing last yr - denied benefits when I quit due to anxiety/depression that was CAUSED by my toxic manager. Make sure your dr letter specifically states that you were UNABLE to continue that employment due to mental health conditions. ESD denied me at first cause they said I didn't try to "preserve the employment relationship" before quitting. On appeal I won because my dr wrote that it would have made my condition WORSE to stay at that job. The judge actually ruled that my mental health issue qualified as good cause to leave under RCW 50.20.050(2)(b)(ii). Good luck!!

You need to appeal this decision and request a hearing with the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH). Mental health conditions can qualify as "good cause" to quit under Washington unemployment law, but the documentation needs to be very specific. Make sure your therapist's letter explicitly states: 1. The specific diagnosis 2. That continuing the job would have worsened your condition 3. That you were medically advised to leave that specific job Also, be prepared to explain why you didn't attempt to resolve the situation before quitting (like requesting accommodations or transfer). The judge will likely ask about this. File your appeal online through your eServices account or by mail using the form that came with your denial letter. You have 30 days from the date of the denial to appeal.

hey not sure if this helps but i was in kinda the same boat last year. Quit my job bcuz of anxiety attacks at work and got denied. But here's the thing - after like 2 months of getting nowhere with ESD phone lines I finally got thru to an actual person who could help explain why i got denied. try using claimyr.com to get thru to ESD faster (they have a video showing how it works https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3). The agent explained EXACTLY what medical proof I needed and how to word my appeal. Got approved after that! Sometimes u just need to talk to the right person who actually knows the rules.

why didnt u just apply for FMLA or short term disability instead of quitting? unemployment is for when u lose ur job not when u quit. not trying to be mean but thats probably why u got denied

did they even review ur medical documents????? i swear ESD just auto-denies everything!! I got denied for a completely different reason initially and I called and called and FINALLY some lady actually LOOKED at my file and fixed it right away. its like they hope people give up

Quick follow-up: when you have your hearing, be VERY prepared and organized. Write down key points you want to make. Have dates and documentation ready. When the judge asks questions, answer directly and specifically - don't ramble. Focus on the connection between your mental health and THAT specific job. Don't talk about general life stress. I attended my hearing by phone and it lasted about 45 minutes. The judge will likely ask why you didn't try other solutions before quitting. Have an answer ready about why accommodations wouldn't have helped or weren't possible. Good luck!

I work in mental health and frequently help patients with these exact situations. Here's what's missing from your current approach: you need to establish that 1) you had a diagnosed condition BEFORE the job issues started, 2) you made reasonable efforts to address the workplace situation, and 3) a medical professional specifically advised you that leaving was necessary for your health. Without all three elements, ESD often denies these claims. Get your therapist to clarify their letter to address all three points specifically. Also, documented attempts to resolve workplace issues (emails to HR, accommodation requests) significantly strengthen your case. Appeals can take 6-8 weeks to be scheduled, so file immediately and use that time to gather stronger documentation.

The same thing happened to me... I was so depressed I couldn't get out of bed but they still said I didn't have "good cause" to quit. I appealed and lost because my doctor's note wasn't "specific enough" whatever that means. The whole system is designed to deny people benefits. Im still mad about it. Hope you have better luck than I did :