Quit Amazon delivery job due to age/physical demands - will ESD approve my claim?
So I just finished speaking with someone at ESD about my unemployment claim. I had to report 3 days of income from my last job before I quit. During the interview, they specifically asked why I left my position as an Amazon delivery driver. I was honest and told them that at my age, the physical demands of the job were too much for me - carrying all those packages up stairs, running between houses, and meeting those tight delivery quotas was killing my back and knees.\n\nNow I'm just waiting for their decision and I'm super anxious. Has anyone quit a physically demanding job because it was too strenuous and still qualified for benefits? From what I've read, quitting usually disqualifies you, but I'm hoping the physical limitations might be considered a valid reason. Should I expect a victory or defeat here? The bills are piling up and I really need this to go through.
17 comments
Yara Khoury
hate to be the bearer of bad news but i quit a warehouse job last yr bc of back probs and got DENIED. ESD said i should have asked for accommodations first before quitting. did u ever ask amazon for lighter routes or anything??
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Connor O'Reilly
Oh no, that's what I was afraid of. I did mention to my supervisor a couple times that I was struggling, but I never formally requested accommodations through HR. Do you think I should call ESD back and tell them that?
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Keisha Taylor
You may have a difficult case, but it's not impossible. ESD typically looks for three things when you quit:\n\n1. Did you exhaust all alternatives before quitting (requesting accommodations, different position, etc.)\n2. Did you have a doctor document that the job was harmful to your health\n3. Would any reasonable person in your situation have quit\n\nUnfortunately, just saying the job was too physically demanding without medical documentation or formal accommodation requests first often leads to a disqualification. You may want to gather any medical records that show pre-existing conditions that were exacerbated by the delivery job. Did you visit a doctor about this issue?
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StardustSeeker
This!! ⬆️ I work in HR and deal with this all the time. Amazon & other delivery companies have reasonable accommodation processes specifically for this reason. Without documentation that you tried to keep your job through official channels, ESD usually rules it as a voluntary quit without good cause. Did you file any injury reports while working there? Those could help your case.
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Connor O'Reilly
I did see my doctor twice while working there for back pain, and he told me the job was making it worse. I have those records, but I didn't submit them to Amazon or request an official accommodation. Should I send these medical records to ESD now? Or is it too late since they're already making a decision?
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Paolo Marino
Just wanted to share that I had a similar situation with a different employer (construction) and got approved, but I had documentation from my doctor stating the job was aggravating an existing condition. I also filed a formal accommodation request that was denied before quitting. If you have ANY documentation about your medical issues related to the job, send it to ESD immediately! Even if they're in decision-making process, new evidence can be considered.
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Connor O'Reilly
Thank you! I'll send in my doctor's notes today. Is there a specific way to submit additional documentation? Should I just upload it through my eServices account or call them directly?
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Amina Bah
I'm in the same boat right now waiting for adjudication after quitting my job... been almost 3 weeks and I'm going CRAZY checking my account everyday. Has anyone actually been able to get through to ESD on the phone to check status???? I've called like 80 times and either get disconnected or told the wait is over 2 hours (which I don't have on my cell plan).
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Oliver Becker
Check out Claimyr.com - it helped me get through to ESD when I was in adjudication hell for almost a month. They have a system that holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available. Saved me literally hours of hold time. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 that shows how it works. Totally worth it when you need to actually talk to someone at ESD about your specific situation.
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Connor O'Reilly
That sounds like exactly what I need too! I've been trying to get through for days. Going to check this out right now, thanks!
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Natasha Petrova
Quick tip: If your claim is denied (which is unfortunately likely based on what you've shared), immediately file an appeal. Don't wait! You only have 30 days from the denial date. The Office of Administrative Hearings is separate from ESD and often overturns denials if you can show medical necessity. Also, continue filing your weekly claims during the appeal process - if you win, they'll pay those weeks retroactively.\n\nDuring your appeal hearing, focus on:\n1. Any medical documentation\n2. How the job affected your health (be specific about deliveries per day, weight of packages, etc.)\n3. Any attempts to resolve the issue before quitting\n\nGood luck!
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Connor O'Reilly
This is really helpful, thank you! I'll definitely appeal if denied. For the appeal hearing, should I get a letter from my doctor specifically saying the job was too physically demanding? Or would my previous appointment notes be enough?
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Javier Hernandez
my cousin work for amazn and he got put on lighter duty when he hurt his back they have tons of warehouse jobs that dont need much lifting have you check with them jobs before quit?? they probably gonna say u had other options sorry man thats how they roll
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Yara Khoury
^^ this is what happened to me! the adjudicator asked if i tried to transfer to a different position within the company and when i said no they said i didn't exhaust reasonable alternatives. voluntary quit = no benefits 😤
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Connor O'Reilly
Ugh, that's frustrating. I didn't know about warehouse transfers being an option. I was just focused on getting out of there because I was in so much pain every day. I wonder if it's worth mentioning in my appeal (if denied) that I wasn't made aware of these options by management?
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Keisha Taylor
Update on my earlier comment - if you do have those doctor visits documented during your Amazon employment, submit them to ESD ASAP through your eServices account under
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Connor O'Reilly
Just submitted everything through eServices! I included details about how many packages (150-200 daily), stairs climbed (50+ apartment buildings on my route), and how that affected my specific back condition. Now more waiting I guess... I've been filing my weekly claims religiously. Thanks for all the help everyone.
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