Washington ESD denied my claim - can I reapply or do I need to appeal?

You can't just reapply after a denial - you need to appeal the decision if you think it's wrong. You have 30 days from the date on the denial letter to file an appeal with Washington ESD. Don't wait because once that deadline passes, you're out of luck.

what was the reason for denial? that makes a difference in whether an appeal will work

I had a similar situation where Washington ESD initially denied my claim due to incorrect separation information. The appeal process took about 6 weeks but I eventually got approved and received all the back pay. You definitely want to appeal rather than reapply - a new application would just get denied for the same reason.

Before you appeal, you might want to try calling Washington ESD to clarify what exactly caused the denial. Sometimes it's a simple misunderstanding that can be corrected. I used claimyr.com to get through to an actual agent when I couldn't get through on my own - they have a callback service that actually works. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

THE WASHINGTON ESD SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!! They deny people for no reason and then make you jump through hoops to get what you deserve. I've been fighting them for MONTHS over a bogus overpayment claim. The whole system needs to be overhauled!!!

Just want to clarify something important - you absolutely cannot reapply for unemployment after a denial. The only options are to appeal the decision or, in very rare cases, reopen a claim if there were technical issues with the original application. But reapplying would just result in another denial.

been there! my claim got denied because my previous employer lied about why i was terminated. took 3 months to get it sorted out through appeals but i got all my back benefits. definitely worth fighting if you know you're right

One more thing to consider - if your appeal is successful, you'll get paid retroactively from when you first filed. So don't think you're losing out on benefits while the appeal is pending. Just make sure you continue to file your weekly claims even though you're not getting paid yet.

I work in HR and see this all the time. Most denials are due to miscommunication about the separation reason. Make sure your appeal letter is very specific about the circumstances of your job loss and include any documentation you have.

This reminds me of when my sister got denied unemployment. She panicked and thought she was out of options but the appeal was actually pretty straightforward. The key is acting fast on that 30-day deadline.

Has anyone tried that Claimyr service mentioned earlier? I'm dealing with Washington ESD issues too and can't get through on the phone to save my life.

The appeal process isn't that scary. I did one last year and it was basically just a phone hearing where I explained what happened. The hearing officer asked some questions and made a decision. Just be honest and have your paperwork ready.

whatever you do don't give up! i almost didn't appeal my denial because i thought it was hopeless but i'm so glad i did. got approved and received over $4000 in back benefits

Make sure you understand exactly why you were denied before filing your appeal. If it's a voluntary quit issue, you'll need to prove it was for good cause. If it's about work availability, that's a different type of evidence you'll need.

I'm going through something similar right now. Filed my appeal two weeks ago and still waiting for a hearing date. The uncertainty is killing me but everyone says it's worth fighting for.

Pro tip: when you file your appeal, also request any documents that Washington ESD used to make their decision. Sometimes employers provide false information and you need to see what they said to properly counter it.

One thing people don't realize is that even if you lose your first appeal, you can appeal again to the Board of Appeals. So don't give up if the initial hearing doesn't go your way.

Bottom line - appeal the denial, keep filing weekly claims, and gather any documentation that supports your case. The system is frustrating but it does work if you follow the process correctly.

Just to add one more resource - if you need help getting through to Washington ESD to ask questions about your appeal, that Claimyr service really does work. I tried it when I was going crazy trying to reach someone and got a callback the same day.

Wishing you the best with your appeal! The waiting is the worst part but hang in there. Most people with legitimate cases do win eventually.