How can you get denied unemployment benefits in Washington?

There are several main reasons Washington ESD denies unemployment claims. The most common ones are: 1) Being fired for misconduct (like theft, attendance issues, or violating company policy), 2) Quitting without good cause (you need a valid reason like unsafe working conditions or harassment), 3) Not meeting the work history requirements (you need sufficient earnings in your base period), 4) Being unable or unavailable to work, and 5) Refusing suitable work offers. The adjudication process investigates these issues thoroughly.

dont forget about the work search requirements too! you have to be actively looking for work and available to accept suitable employment. if you're not doing your job searches or turn down a job offer that washington esd considers suitable, they can deny your claim

If your friend is dealing with a denial, she should definitely appeal if she thinks Washington ESD made an error. I had success getting through to an actual ESD agent using Claimyr (claimyr.com) when I needed to understand my adjudication status. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Sometimes talking to a real person can clarify what went wrong and whether an appeal is worth pursuing.

Another thing people don't realize is that you can get denied even if you think you did everything right. Like, I got denied initially because my employer claimed I was fired for cause, but I was actually laid off due to budget cuts. Had to go through the whole adjudication process to prove it. The system isn't perfect and employers sometimes give incorrect information.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO DENY PEOPLE!!! They make it so complicated and confusing that people mess up their applications and get denied for stupid technicalities. Like not reporting some tiny amount of income or missing a weekly claim deadline by one day.

also if you're not a US citizen or authorized to work, that's an automatic denial. and if you're receiving certain other benefits like workers comp or pension payments, that can affect your eligibility too

One thing that trips people up is the 'able and available' requirement. If you're on vacation, sick, or have other obligations that prevent you from working, you can't collect benefits for those weeks. Some people think they can just file weekly claims regardless of their availability status.

For anyone dealing with confusing denials or adjudication issues, I really recommend trying to get through to Washington ESD directly. I used Claimyr again recently when my weekly claim got stuck in pending status, and they helped me get connected to resolve it quickly. Much better than waiting weeks for a callback that might never come.

My sister got denied because she quit her job to take care of our sick mom, but Washington ESD said that wasn't 'good cause' for leaving. She's appealing now because apparently family care situations can qualify under certain circumstances.

Don't forget about the earnings requirements too. You need to have worked and earned enough wages during your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 quarters). If you haven't worked enough or earned enough, you won't qualify regardless of why you lost your job.

i got denied because i didn't register with WorkSource within the required timeframe. nobody told me about that requirement when i first filed!

Another reason for denial is if you're attending school full-time. Generally you need to be available for work, and being a full-time student can be seen as a conflict with that requirement unless you meet certain exceptions.

Just want to add that even if you get denied initially, don't give up if you think you're eligible. The adjudication process can be lengthy but if you have a legitimate claim, it's worth fighting for. Keep detailed records and be persistent.

oh man this thread is making me paranoid about my own claim. i thought i did everything right but now im worried about all these potential pitfalls

One more thing - if anyone is having trouble understanding their denial letter or adjudication status, getting through to Washington ESD by phone can really help clarify things. I've used Claimyr multiple times now and it's been a game-changer for actually reaching someone who can explain what's happening with your claim.

Thanks everyone for all this information! This gives me a much better understanding of how the system works and what to watch out for. Hopefully my friend can get her situation sorted out with an appeal.