How to protest unemployment claim denial - Washington ESD appeal process help needed

You need to file an appeal within 30 days of the denial date on your letter. Don't wait - that deadline is firm. You can appeal online through your Washington ESD account or mail in the appeal form that should have come with your denial notice.

been there with the appeal process, it's stressful but doable. make sure you keep copies of everything you submit to washington esd

I had to appeal a Washington ESD decision last year and honestly the hardest part was just getting through to someone to ask questions. Spent hours on hold trying to reach an agent. Recently discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that handles the calling for you - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Might be worth checking out if you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about your appeal.

THE WASHINGTON ESD APPEAL PROCESS IS A JOKE! They denied my claim for 'voluntary quit' when I was obviously laid off due to company restructuring. Filed my appeal with mountains of documentation and still had to fight for months. System is rigged against workers.

For misconduct denials specifically, you'll want to gather any performance reviews showing good work history, witness statements from coworkers if possible, and documentation of the actual reason for termination. Washington ESD has to prove misconduct, not just accept the employer's word.

same thing happened to my cousin except with washington esd saying she quit when she was actually fired, took forever to get resolved

One thing to remember is that you can continue filing your weekly claims while your appeal is pending. Even if Washington ESD isn't paying you yet, you need to keep filing to preserve those weeks for back pay if you win.

Wait I'm confused - is protesting the same as appealing? I got a different kind of letter about my job search requirements.

I work in HR and see these situations all the time. Make sure you have documentation of exactly what your employer told you about the termination. Many times there's a disconnect between what HR processes and what gets reported to Washington ESD.

don't let washington esd intimidate you with all their legal language, the appeal process is designed for regular people to navigate

My brother went through this exact situation last year with Washington ESD claiming misconduct when he was laid off. He used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier to actually get through to an agent who helped explain the appeal process. Worth the money if you're stuck.

Also make sure you understand the difference between the first level appeal (reconsideration) and the second level appeal (hearing). If you lose the first one, you can still request a hearing with an administrative law judge.

washington esd denied my claim too but for different reasons, took 2 appeals before i finally got approved, hang in there

One more tip - if you need to submit additional evidence after filing your appeal, Washington ESD will usually accept it up until the hearing date. Don't think you're stuck with just what you submitted initially.

The whole system is so confusing! I mixed up appeals and protests when I first started dealing with Washington ESD. They really need to make this process clearer for people.

I had success with my Washington ESD appeal by being very detailed in my written statement. Don't just say the decision is wrong - explain exactly why with specific dates and events.

AND ANOTHER THING - Washington ESD takes forever to process appeals. Don't expect quick results. They're understaffed and overworked but that's no excuse for the delays.

Just wanted to say good luck with your appeal! The system can be frustrating but don't give up. You know the real reason you were terminated.

If anyone else is dealing with Washington ESD appeal issues, that Claimyr thing really does work. Used it myself when I couldn't get through to ask about my hearing date. Much better than sitting on hold for hours.

remember to keep detailed records of everything - when you submitted your appeal, what documents you included, any correspondence from washington esd. helps if there are any issues later