Washington ESD denied my claim saying I quit for non-wage reasons - what is real wage unemployment?

This sounds like they're referencing the 'constructive dismissal' provision in Washington unemployment law. You can quit and still qualify for benefits if there's a substantial change in your working conditions, including significant wage reduction. A cut from $18 to $12 per hour is a 33% reduction which should qualify. Did you document the wage change with your employer?

Wait, 'real wage unemployment' isn't a thing I've heard of. Are you sure that's what they said? Washington ESD usually uses terms like 'good cause' or 'constructive dismissal' when talking about quitting for valid reasons.

I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for weeks about my own adjudication issue and their phone system is absolutely useless. Finally found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually got me through to a real person at Washington ESD. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Might be worth trying if you need to talk to someone about your appeal.

Your situation sounds exactly like constructive dismissal to me. Washington ESD should approve benefits when there's a significant reduction in wages or hours. The fact that they cut both your hourly rate AND your hours is a double whammy that definitely qualifies.

You need to appeal this immediately and request a hearing. At the hearing, you'll be able to present your case directly to an administrative law judge. Make sure you have documentation of the wage and hour changes, and be prepared to explain how this constituted a substantial change in your working conditions.

This is exactly the kind of bureaucratic nonsense that makes dealing with Washington ESD so frustrating. They deny valid claims and then make you jump through hoops to get what you're entitled to. The system is broken.

For your appeal, focus on these key points: 1) Document the exact wage reduction ($18 to $12/hour), 2) Document the hour reduction (40 to 15 hours/week), 3) Calculate the total weekly pay reduction ($720 to $180), 4) Explain that this created an unreasonable working condition that any reasonable person would find unacceptable.

I had a similar situation last year where my employer reduced my hours significantly. Washington ESD initially denied my claim but I won on appeal. The key was showing that the reduction was substantial enough that any reasonable person would have quit.

The term 'real wage unemployment' doesn't exist in Washington unemployment law. You're probably thinking of 'good cause' which is what Washington ESD uses to determine if someone had a valid reason to quit their job.

Make sure you file your appeal within 30 days of the denial date. If you miss that deadline, you'll lose your right to appeal and won't be able to get benefits for this claim period.

Just want to echo what others have said about that Claimyr service. I used it last month when I couldn't get through to Washington ESD about my adjudication issue. Worth every penny to actually talk to a human being who could help resolve my problem.

Your case sounds like a slam dunk for appeal. A 75% reduction in weekly pay is absolutely grounds for good cause. Washington ESD made an error in their initial determination.

Has anyone else noticed that Washington ESD seems to deny more claims lately? I feel like they're being extra strict about everything.

When you file your appeal, request all the documentation Washington ESD used to make their decision. Sometimes they make errors based on incomplete information.

The bottom line is that Washington ESD made a mistake. A 33% wage reduction plus hour cuts absolutely qualifies as good cause. File your appeal and don't let them intimidate you.

One thing I learned from my own appeal is to be very specific about dates and amounts. The more documentation you have, the stronger your case will be.

If you need help reaching Washington ESD during your appeal process, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier really does work. I was skeptical at first but it saved me so much time and frustration.

Remember that if you win your appeal, Washington ESD will owe you benefits for all the weeks since you first filed. So even though the process takes time, you won't lose money if you're ultimately approved.

Your situation is exactly why the appeal process exists. Washington ESD makes mistakes and the appeal process is there to correct them. Don't be discouraged by the initial denial.

Just to clarify the terminology - Washington ESD uses 'good cause' for voluntary quits and 'misconduct' for involuntary terminations. Your situation falls under good cause since you voluntarily quit due to substantial changes in working conditions.

I went through something very similar with Washington ESD last year. The term you're looking for is "good cause" - that's the legal standard they use to determine if you had a valid reason to quit and still qualify for benefits. A reduction from $18 to $12 per hour (33% cut) combined with cutting your hours from 40 to 15 per week is absolutely textbook good cause. Your total weekly pay dropped from $720 to $180 - that's a 75% reduction! No reasonable person could be expected to continue working under those conditions. The adjudicator clearly made an error. File your appeal immediately and gather all documentation showing the wage and hour changes. This should be an easy win on appeal.