Washington ESD denied my claim - what are reasons to be denied unemployment benefits?

I definitely didn't quit and I wasn't fired for misconduct. Could it be because I only worked 8 months? How many hours do you need to qualify?

For Washington ESD you need to have worked at least 680 hours in your base year OR earned at least $4,200. If you worked full-time for 8 months you should meet that requirement unless there were gaps in your employment.

That's probably what happened! My manager was pretty upset about having to let people go and said some things about us 'not being dedicated enough' during the slow period. Could he have told Washington ESD I was fired?

Yes, employers can and do contest claims all the time. They have to pay unemployment taxes so some try to fight legitimate claims to keep their rates down.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already stressed about money since I'm not getting benefits.

It was worth it for me - much cheaper than losing weeks of benefits while trying to reach them on my own. The peace of mind alone was huge.

Never heard of Claimyr but anything has to be better than calling Washington ESD directly. I've been hung up on so many times I've lost count.

I did register with WorkSource but haven't been doing job searches yet because I thought I had to wait for my claim to be approved first. Was I supposed to start immediately?

You should start job searching right away when you file. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week and they can deny claims retroactively if you don't meet the requirements.

That's horrible! How did you finally get it resolved?

Had to provide medical records and get a statement from my doctor. The whole process was a nightmare but I eventually got all my back pay.

This is really helpful. I definitely didn't quit and wasn't fired for misconduct. It sounds like my employer probably contested the claim and lied about why I was let go.

That's exactly what happened to me at my last job. Manager told Washington ESD I was fired for poor performance when I was actually laid off. Had to appeal and provide documentation showing it was a layoff.

Thank you! I do have some text messages from my manager about the layoffs. Should I include those with my appeal?

Absolutely! Any documentation that shows you were laid off due to lack of work and not fired for cause will help your case.

I had no idea about the 3 activities per week thing. Could this be why I was denied even though it was about separation issues?

They usually list multiple reasons if there are multiple issues. If your denial only mentioned separation issues, that's probably the main problem.

I started working at the restaurant in March 2024 and was laid off in November 2024. Before that I was in school and had a part-time job for about 6 months in 2023.

That timeline should work in your favor. Your base year would include some of your 2023 work plus all of your 2024 restaurant job. The separation issue is definitely the main problem here.

Yes! Used Claimyr last month when my claim was stuck in adjudication. Got through to an agent the same day instead of spending weeks trying to call. Really straightforward to use.

I was skeptical at first but honestly it works. The Washington ESD phone system is so overloaded that services like this are almost necessary now.

None of those apply to me. I'm pretty sure now that my manager lied to Washington ESD about why I was let go. This is so frustrating!

File that appeal as soon as possible. With text messages showing it was a layoff, you should have a good case. Don't let them get away with lying.

That's really helpful advice! I was just going to mail in the appeal form. How do I request a hearing?

There should be a section on the appeal form where you can request a hearing. Make sure to check that box and provide your contact information.

I'm definitely able and available for work. I've been applying to jobs since I got laid off, just not keeping track of it properly apparently.

Start keeping track now even if your claim is denied. If you win the appeal you'll need to show you were job searching during the whole period.

It does feel like the system is designed to deny people. Why would they take the employer's word over mine without even asking for my side?

That's exactly why you need to appeal. The initial determination is often based on limited information from the employer. The appeal process is where you get to present your evidence.

Wait, I can still file weekly claims even though I was denied? I thought I had to wait until the appeal was resolved.

Yes, keep filing! You won't get paid until the appeal is resolved, but if you win you'll get back pay for all the weeks you filed. If you don't file, you lose those weeks forever.

This gives me hope! I was starting to think I'd never get benefits. Did you have to go to a hearing or was it resolved just with documents?

I had a phone hearing. The employer didn't even show up so I just explained my side to the judge and provided my evidence. Won the appeal easily once I could actually tell my story.

Thank you everyone for all the advice and encouragement. I'm going to file my appeal today and start documenting everything properly. This forum has been more helpful than anything I could find on the Washington ESD website!

Good luck! Keep us posted on how the appeal goes. Stories like yours help other people know they're not alone in dealing with this broken system.