Got denied unemployment - what does disqualifying separation mean for Washington ESD claims?

A disqualifying separation basically means Washington ESD determined you left your job voluntarily without what they consider 'good cause.' Unfortunately, quitting to attend school usually doesn't qualify as good cause under Washington unemployment law. However, if your employer changed your work schedule after you were hired and it conflicts with a pre-existing commitment like school, you might have grounds for an appeal.

same thing happened to my friend last year, the disqualifying separation thing is really frustrating

You definitely need to appeal this determination if you believe the employer changed your working conditions after hiring you. Washington ESD considers voluntary quit with good cause when there's been a substantial change in working conditions. The key is proving that your class schedule was discussed and accommodated initially. I had success appealing a similar situation by using Claimyr to get through to an Washington ESD agent who helped explain the appeal process. Check out their website at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how they help people reach Washington ESD representatives.

The whole disqualifying separation thing is ridiculous. Washington ESD makes it so hard for people who legitimately need help. I got denied too for supposedly being fired for misconduct when really my employer was just trying to avoid paying unemployment.

Wait, I'm confused about something. Is disqualifying separation the same as being fired for cause? Because I thought voluntary quit was different from being terminated.

I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks about my own disqualifying separation issue but can never get through. The phone lines are always busy or I get disconnected after waiting forever.

For anyone dealing with disqualifying separation appeals, make sure you file within 30 days of your determination letter date. Miss that deadline and you're out of luck.

honestly the whole unemployment system is broken, they deny everyone first and make you fight for benefits you deserve

Quick question - if someone appeals a disqualifying separation decision, can they still file weekly claims while waiting for the hearing?

Update: I found some emails between me and my manager about my class schedule from when I first started. Hopefully this will help prove they knew about my school commitment from the beginning.

I had a disqualifying separation overturned last year. The hearing was conducted over the phone and took about 45 minutes. The judge asked detailed questions about why I left and what my employer's policies were.

Still haven't been able to reach anyone at Washington ESD about my case. This is getting ridiculous.

Does anyone know if having a disqualifying separation affects future unemployment claims? Like if I get laid off from my next job, will this denial impact that claim?

The Washington ESD determination letters are so confusing with all their legal language. I had to read mine like 5 times to understand what they were saying.

For what it's worth, I think you have a decent chance on appeal if you can prove your employer changed your schedule after agreeing to accommodate your classes. That sounds like a substantial change in working conditions to me.

make sure when you appeal you stick to the facts and don't get emotional even though the whole situation is frustrating

I work for a company that deals with Washington ESD appeals and I see cases like yours regularly. The schedule change issue is often successful on appeal if you have documentation showing the original agreement.

Just want to add that even if your appeal gets denied at the hearing level, you can still appeal to the Board of Appeals. Don't give up if the first appeal doesn't go your way.

One thing I learned from my disqualifying separation case is to request a copy of your complete claim file from Washington ESD. Sometimes there's information in there that wasn't in your determination letter.

Hope your appeal goes well! The fact that you have email documentation should really help your case. Keep us updated on how it turns out.

I went through a similar situation last year with a disqualifying separation due to schedule changes. The key thing that helped me win my appeal was having documentation that showed my employer agreed to my availability restrictions when I was hired, then later violated that agreement. Since you have those emails showing you discussed your class schedule during the hiring process, you're in a much better position than I was initially. Make sure to organize all your evidence chronologically - the original schedule discussion, any written agreements, and then documentation of when they started scheduling you during class times. The hearing officer will want to see a clear timeline of how your working conditions changed. Also, be prepared to explain why you tried to work with your employer before quitting (if you did) and what alternatives you explored. Good luck with your appeal!