Washington ESD denied my claim - what are the main reasons why unemployment can be denied?

There are several common reasons Washington ESD denies claims. The most frequent ones are: not earning enough wages during your base period, being fired for misconduct, quitting without good cause, not being able and available for work, or failing to meet the job search requirements. Did your denial letter mention any specific disqualification code?

The wage requirements can be tricky. Even if you worked 8 months, if your hours were really low or you started recently, you might not have enough qualifying wages. Washington ESD looks at specific quarters, not just how long you worked at one job.

I had a similar situation last year where I couldn't get through to Washington ESD to understand my denial. After weeks of busy signals, I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to a real person at Washington ESD. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Finally got my questions answered about the denial reason.

Other common denial reasons include: being fired for violating company policy, not registering with WorkSource within the required timeframe, having an unresolved identity verification issue, or if you're not a US citizen or authorized to work. The letter should have a specific reason code.

washington esd is a nightmare to deal with!! they denied my claim twice for bogus reasons. first time they said i quit (i was laid off) second time they said insufficient wages even though i worked full time. had to appeal both times and won but took MONTHS

Don't panic yet. Sometimes Washington ESD makes clerical errors or misinterprets information from employers. Since you mentioned being laid off due to reduced hours, that should qualify as involuntary separation. Make sure you have documentation of the layoff - any emails, texts, or written notice from your employer.

I work in HR and see this a lot. Sometimes employers incorrectly report the reason for separation to Washington ESD. They might mark it as 'quit' when it was actually a layoff, or they might dispute the claim even when the separation was legitimate. This creates delays and denials.

Also check if you have any outstanding issues on your account. Sometimes there are ID verification requests or other requirements that need to be completed before your claim can be approved. Log into your Washington ESD account and look for any pending items.

been there done that. washington esd denied me for 'able and available' issues because i mentioned i was taking online classes. apparently going to school makes you not available for work? had to prove i could still work full time while studying

The appeal process isn't as scary as it sounds. You have 30 days from the date on your denial letter to file an appeal. You can do it online through your Washington ESD account or mail in the appeal form. Include any documentation you have about your layoff.

Another thing - make sure you're still filing your weekly claims even while your appeal is pending. If you win the appeal, you'll get back pay for those weeks, but only if you kept filing.

I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier when I had issues with my claim. Really helpful for getting through to someone who could explain exactly why my claim was denied. Sometimes the letters are so vague you need to talk to a real person to understand what's going on.

Don't give up! I was denied twice before finally getting approved. First denial was for 'insufficient wages' even though I had worked full time. Second was for 'voluntary quit' when I was clearly laid off. Both times I appealed and won. The system makes mistakes all the time.

Also worth noting - some people get denied because they don't meet the 'actively seeking work' requirement. You need to be making a genuine effort to find employment and document your job search activities. But that wouldn't apply to your initial claim determination.

sometimes the issue is with the quarterly wage reporting. if your employer was late reporting your wages to washington esd or reported them incorrectly, it can affect your claim. this happened to a coworker of mine

Just remember that even if your initial claim is denied, you can still potentially qualify for benefits if you win your appeal. The denial isn't necessarily the end of the road. Many people successfully overturn denials when they provide the right documentation.

One more thing - if you do appeal and it goes to a hearing, don't be intimidated. It's usually done over the phone and you just need to clearly explain your situation. Having your documentation ready is key.

Reading through all this, it sounds like you have a solid case for appeal. Laid off due to reduced hours, have documentation, worked for 8 months at decent wages. I'd be surprised if you don't win the appeal.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I really appreciate the support. Going to file my appeal and keep my fingers crossed. Will update this thread once I hear back from Washington ESD.