Washington ESD denied my claim - quit job to move closer to home - any options?

That's so frustrating. The commute was literally costing me more than I was making some weeks.

I feel you but they only accept specific reasons like unsafe working conditions or significant changes to your job duties

I kept gas receipts and have my old work schedule showing the hours. Would that help?

Yes definitely gather all that! Also calculate the total time lost per week and any vehicle wear costs.

My cousin won an appeal for a similar situation but her commute was like 4+ hours daily and she had medical issues that made it worse

You should try Claimyr - it's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. I found out about it when I was having the same problem reaching them about my adjudication. Check out claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Never heard of that but I'm desperate at this point. Does it actually work?

Yeah it worked for me. Saved me hours of redialing and I actually got to speak with someone who could explain my claim status.

Harassment at work is actually good cause if you documented it properly. Did you file complaints with HR or anything?

Yeah I had emails and everything but Washington ESD said I should have tried to resolve it first before quitting

That sucks, sounds like you might have had grounds for an appeal if you showed you tried internal remedies first

What about if the commute was affecting my health? I was getting stress headaches and my doctor said the long drives weren't helping.

If you have medical documentation linking your health issues to the commute that could strengthen your case significantly

How long did your appeal take to get resolved?

About 8 weeks total but they did approve it eventually. Had to do a phone hearing and everything.

8 weeks? That's crazy long when people need money now

I asked about working from home but they said no. Didn't think to ask about transfers though.

Document that you asked! It shows you tried to make the job work before leaving.

Really? I might have to try that for my appeal then. How much does it cost?

I don't want to get into pricing but honestly it was worth it just to save the frustration of calling over and over

Sounds kind of sketchy to me, why would you pay someone to make a phone call?

I was skeptical too but after weeks of getting nowhere I was willing to try anything

My commute was definitely creating financial hardship. Gas alone was $400+ a month.

That's a strong point - if you can show the commute costs were eating up a significant portion of your wages that helps your case

That's depressing. Did he have documentation of his costs?

not really, he just kept receipts but didn't have medical stuff or anything

Good point. I was spending 15+ hours a week just driving and barely seeing my kids.

Exactly! Frame it as affecting your ability to care for your family - that can be compelling good cause

Wait, does family care count as good cause for quitting? I might have a case then

This is solid advice. I learned this the hard way when my claim got denied

Yeah Washington ESD really scrutinizes whether you exhausted all options before leaving

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm going to gather everything I can and file the appeal this week.

Good luck! Remember to be specific about dates, amounts, and how the situation affected you personally

I mean, they have to follow the law though. Voluntary quits are different from layoffs for a reason

Sure but they could be more reasonable about what counts as good cause

I keep seeing people mention this. Is it legit or some kind of scam?

It's legit - they just help you get through the phone queue faster. There's a demo video that explains exactly how it works

I used it too when I couldn't reach anyone about my pending adjudication. Worked exactly as advertised

That gives me hope! Mine was definitely over 25% some months with gas prices.

Make sure you calculate everything - gas, vehicle maintenance, time costs. Present it as a complete financial analysis

Did you have to do a phone hearing or just submit paperwork?

Had to do a hearing but it was pretty straightforward. Just explained my situation and showed my documentation

Yes, definitely keep looking for work! That actually helps show you're serious about finding employment

Thanks, wasn't sure if it would look bad or something

That's really helpful framing. I'll make sure to emphasize the unsustainable nature of the situation.

Exactly - focus on harm, not just preference. Good luck with your appeal!

Definitely file! Worst case they deny it but at least you tried.

Agreed - don't let fear stop you from applying for benefits you might deserve

Thanks everyone, this community is amazing for sharing real experiences