Washington ESD claim denied - employer says minimum wage caused job loss, need help with appeal

Thanks! Do I need to prove anything specific about why they let me go, or is their own admission that it wasn't my fault enough?

Their admission should be enough, but gather any documentation you have - your termination letter, emails about layoffs, anything that shows it was a business decision not related to your performance.

I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents by phone. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works. Finally got my adjudication issue resolved after being stuck for a month.

No, that's not how it works. Employers pay into unemployment insurance regardless of why they lay people off. This sounds like either a miscommunication or the employer trying to avoid their UI tax liability somehow.

Gotcha, so the original poster should definitely appeal then. This sounds sketchy on the employer's part.

Thank you! The determination is dated last week so I still have time. Do I need a lawyer for the appeal or can I handle it myself?

You can handle it yourself for most cases. Just be clear about the facts: you were laid off for business reasons, not fired for cause. Include any documentation you have about the layoff.

Sometimes having representation helps though, especially if the employer is being difficult. At minimum, try calling Washington ESD to discuss your case before the appeal hearing.

Did she have to go to a hearing or was it resolved through paperwork?

It was just paperwork initially, but when the employer contested it, she had to do a phone hearing. She won because she had all her documentation organized.

I understand the frustration, but this case sounds winnable. Economic layoffs are clearly covered under UI law. Sometimes you just need to present the facts clearly.

maybe for some people but they seem to find excuses to deny everyone these days

Good point. The letter mentions 'voluntary quit' in one section but then talks about the job shortage thing. Maybe they're confused about what happened?

That's a red flag. If there's confusion about whether you quit or were laid off, that's definitely something to clarify in your appeal. You'll want to be very clear about the timeline and circumstances.

Was it worth it? I'm getting desperate to talk to someone who can explain this denial.

Absolutely. Being able to actually speak with a Washington ESD representative who could look at my file and explain the issues was huge. Saved me weeks of guessing what they needed.

Three other people got laid off the same week as me. Should I mention that in my appeal?

Definitely! That's strong evidence it was a reduction in force, not anything related to your individual performance.

Thanks for the warning! I'm going to file it tomorrow morning.

Exactly right. Whether it's due to minimum wage increases, loss of contracts, seasonal slowdown, or any other business reason, layoffs generally qualify for UI benefits.

I wish I had been better about that. I do have the group email they sent about the layoffs though, so that should help.

Any tips for the hearing if it gets to that point?

Be prepared to answer questions about your last day, any warnings or performance issues (there shouldn't be any in your case), and the circumstances of the layoff. Have your documents ready to reference.

That makes sense. It's frustrating that I have to fight for benefits I legitimately earned just because they want to save money.

Unfortunately it's pretty common. The good news is that cases like yours with clear documentation usually get approved on appeal.

Good reminder! I've been filing them but wasn't sure if I should continue during the appeal process.

Yes, keep filing. If you win the appeal, you'll get paid for all those weeks. If you don't file, you can't get paid for them later.

I hope so! I'm putting together all my documentation now and will file the appeal first thing Monday morning.

Thank you! This thread has been really helpful. I feel much more confident about appealing now.

I was skeptical at first too but after being hung up on 20+ times trying to reach Washington ESD, I tried it and finally got answers about my adjudication. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person who can look at your file.

I might try that if I can't get clarity on my denial letter. There are parts of it that just don't make sense to me.