How to write a appeal letter for unemployment - Washington ESD denied my claim

You definitely need to appeal this! The appeal letter doesn't have to be fancy but it needs to clearly state that you disagree with the decision and explain why. Include your claim number, the date of the denial, and keep it factual. Mention that you were laid off, not quit voluntarily.

same thing happened to me earlier this year! washington esd marked mine as voluntary quit when i was clearly terminated. took forever to get through on the phone to explain

Here's what you need in your appeal letter: 1) Your name and claim number 2) Statement that you're appealing the decision dated [date] 3) Clear explanation of why the decision is wrong 4) Any supporting evidence you have 5) Your signature and date. Keep it simple but thorough.

THE SYSTEM IS SO BROKEN!!! They automatically deny half the claims just hoping people won't appeal. It's disgusting how they treat people who are already struggling.

Make sure you understand exactly why they denied you. Was it because they think you quit or because of some other issue? The appeal letter needs to address their specific reasoning. Also gather any witnesses who can testify about your layoff.

just went through this myself! here's a template that worked for me: 'I am writing to formally appeal the denial of my unemployment benefits claim #[number] dated [date]. I disagree with the determination that I voluntarily quit my employment. I was laid off due to [reason] as documented in the attached termination letter. I request a hearing to present evidence supporting my eligibility for benefits.

btw make copies of everything you send. i learned that the hard way when they claimed they never got my first appeal

One more thing - don't wait until the last minute to submit. The deadline is firm and if you miss it, you lose your right to appeal. Submit it at least a few days early if possible.

Does anyone know if you can still file weekly claims while the appeal is pending? I don't want to mess up my case but I also need to keep claiming if I'm eligible.

This reminds me of when my brother got denied for 'job abandonment' when he was actually in the hospital. Sometimes their initial decisions are completely wrong and the appeal is your only chance to set the record straight.

For anyone else reading this thread, the key is being specific and factual in your appeal letter. Don't get emotional or go off on tangents. Stick to the facts of why the decision was wrong.

OP - have you tried calling Washington ESD to see if there was some kind of error in how they processed your initial claim? Sometimes it's just a miscommunication that can be fixed without going through the whole appeal process.

Make sure you address the letter to the right office! The appeal address should be on your denial notice. Don't send it to the regular Washington ESD office or it might get delayed.

Also document everything from here on out - dates you submitted the appeal, confirmation numbers, who you talked to, etc. This creates a paper trail in case there are any issues later.

curious how long people usually wait for appeal hearings? i filed mine 3 weeks ago and haven't heard anything yet

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I'm going to write my appeal letter tonight using the template someone provided and fax it tomorrow morning. Feels much less overwhelming now that I know what to include.

One last tip - if you win your appeal, they'll owe you back pay for all the weeks you were wrongly denied. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims during the process!

Just to follow up on the claimyr thing - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works for getting through to Washington ESD. Might be worth checking out if you want to try talking to someone before your hearing.

Hope everything works out for you OP! The appeal process can be stressful but it sounds like you have solid evidence on your side.

this thread has been super helpful! i'm bookmarking it in case i ever need to file an appeal myself