How to collect Washington ESD unemployment if you quit - is it possible?

I have some emails saved but I never filed a formal complaint with HR because I was afraid it would make things worse. Will that hurt my case?

The emails will help, but Washington ESD will want to see that you tried to resolve the issue first. It's not necessarily a deal breaker though - they look at the whole situation.

How long did the investigation take? I'm worried about how long I'll have to wait for benefits.

Mine took about 3 weeks for the adjudication process. They called both me and my former employer to get statements.

I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com - they help you get through to Washington ESD agents. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

Really? That sounds too good to be true. How does it actually work?

It's legit - they basically handle the waiting on hold part for you and connect you when an agent is available. Way better than spending all day redialing.

What are the specific criteria they use? I want to make sure I present my case properly.

Good cause includes things like harassment, unsafe conditions, significant changes to your job duties, or domestic violence situations. The key is proving you had no reasonable alternative but to quit.

I feel you. Nobody should have to choose between their mental health and being able to pay bills.

That's exactly where I was. I finally couldn't take it anymore and had to leave for my own sanity.

Good point. I was wondering if I should try to frame it differently but honesty is probably the best approach.

Definitely be honest. Lying on your unemployment application is fraud and can get you in serious legal trouble.

How long does the appeal process take? I'm already stressed about money and can't afford a long battle.

It varies but mine has been going on for 4 months now. I have a hearing scheduled next month. The good news is if you win the appeal, you get back pay from when you first filed.

You might want to try that Claimyr service to talk to someone at Washington ESD about the status of your appeal. Sometimes they can expedite things if you can actually get through to them.

Collect any emails, text messages, witness statements, medical records if health was affected, photos of unsafe conditions, records of complaints filed, etc. Basically anything that supports your reason for quitting.

Should I get witness statements from coworkers who saw what was happening?

Yes, but make sure they're willing to be contacted by Washington ESD investigators. Their statements need to be detailed and factual, not just opinions.

The length of employment doesn't affect whether you can get benefits for quitting with good cause, but you still need to meet the base period earnings requirements like any other unemployment claim.

What are the base period requirements in Washington?

You need to have earned at least $1,000 in your base period and your total base period earnings must be at least 1.25 times your highest quarter earnings. Check your Washington ESD account for your specific numbers.

That's frustrating. Did you appeal the decision?

No, I was too discouraged and needed to find another job quickly. Looking back, I probably should have fought it.

You can sometimes reopen old cases if you have new evidence. Might be worth looking into if you still have documentation.

Good to know. I was wondering about that. How many job contacts do you need per week in Washington?

It depends on your situation but usually 3 job search activities per week. Could be applications, interviews, networking events, etc. Keep detailed records.

Try calling right when they open at 8am or use that Claimyr thing people mentioned. I finally got through last week after weeks of trying.

what's claimyr again? is it free?

It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Not free but way cheaper than missing work to sit on hold all day. Check out claimyr.com

That's probably true but don't let it discourage you from trying. If you really had good cause, it's worth fighting for.

I'm definitely going to try. The worst they can do is say no, and I'm already not getting benefits anyway.

How do you prove something was 'intolerable' versus just difficult? That seems pretty subjective.

They look for objective evidence - documented harassment, unsafe conditions that violate OSHA standards, illegal activity, etc. Your word alone usually isn't enough.

This is why it's so important to document everything while it's happening, even if you're not planning to quit at the time.

That's different from my situation but good to know there are various types of good cause. Did you have to provide pay stubs as proof?

Yes, I had to show my pay history to prove the reduction in hours. Washington ESD was pretty thorough about verifying everything.

I'm worried about that. My former boss definitely won't want to pay higher unemployment taxes if I get approved.

Don't let that stop you from filing. Washington ESD makes the decision based on facts, not what your employer wants. If you have good cause, you deserve benefits.

Plus the increase in their unemployment taxes is usually pretty minimal compared to what you need to survive.

You're right, I've been putting it off because I wasn't sure if I qualified. I should just file and let Washington ESD make the determination.

Exactly. You can't get benefits for weeks you don't claim, even if you win an appeal later. File now and fight later if needed.