Washington ESD denied my claim - what reasons can unemployment be denied?

There are several main reasons Washington ESD denies unemployment claims. The most common ones are: voluntary quit without good cause, fired for misconduct, not available for work, not actively seeking work, refusing suitable work, and not meeting the base period wage requirements. Your situation with reduced hours might actually qualify as constructive discharge, which could be good cause for quitting.

There are several common reasons Washington ESD denies claims. Most frequent ones include: insufficient work history (you need qualifying wages in your base period), being fired for misconduct, quitting without good cause, not being able and available for work, or failing job search requirements. Did you check your quarterly wage statement to make sure you have enough earnings?

I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks about my denied claim but can never get through. The automated system just hangs up on me after being on hold forever. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there?

ugh same thing happened to me last year. turned out they flagged me for 'job separation issues' even though I was clearly laid off. sometimes their system just gets it wrong and you have to appeal

The denial reasons I know about include: quitting without good cause, being fired for willful misconduct, not being able and available for work, failing to register with WorkSource, not conducting an adequate job search, refusing a suitable job offer, and earnings that exceed your weekly benefit amount. There are also issues with identity verification and base period wages that can cause denials.

If you can't get through to Washington ESD to clarify the denial reason, try Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help people get through to ESD agents when the phone lines are jammed. I used them when my claim was stuck in adjudication and finally got answers. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Don't give up on your appeal! I was initially denied for 'voluntary quit' but won my appeal hearing. The key is proving you had good cause to quit. Document everything - emails about hour reductions, financial hardship caused by the cut hours, any attempts you made to resolve the situation with your employer first.

Other denial reasons include: not registering with WorkSource within required timeframe, having an active disqualification from previous claims, earning too much money during your claim week, or identity verification issues. Check if there are any 'to-do' items in your account that you missed.

omg same thing happened to me last year!! they said I quit voluntarily but my manager basically forced me out by cutting my schedule to nothing. so frustrating

Did you quit or were you actually fired? Sometimes what employers report to ESD doesn't match what really happened. If your employer said you quit when you were really laid off, that would definitely cause a denial.

Other denial reasons include: being unavailable due to illness without proper documentation, being in school without approved training programs, having unreported income, living outside Washington state, immigration status issues, and pension deductions that reduce benefits to zero. Each case is different though.

WASHINGTON ESD DENIES CLAIMS FOR THE STUPIDEST REASONS! I got denied because apparently I didn't earn enough in the 'right' quarters even though I worked full time. Their base period calculation is ridiculous and confusing.

For anyone struggling to reach Washington ESD about denials, I mentioned Claimyr earlier but wanted to add that they're especially helpful for complex cases like appeals and adjudication issues. When you need to explain your situation to an actual person instead of navigating the automated system, it's worth checking out.

honestly the whole system is set up to deny people. they find any excuse they can. probably better to just appeal and force them to explain their reasoning properly

One thing people don't realize is that even if you're denied initially, you can often still collect benefits during the appeal process if you continue filing weekly claims. Don't stop filing just because you got a denial - keep documenting your job search activities.

The system is set up to deny as many people as possible initially. They figure most people won't appeal and they'll save money. It's disgusting how they treat people who are already struggling financially.

Update: I tried that Claimyr service mentioned earlier and actually got through to someone at Washington ESD today! Turns out my denial was because they didn't have all the information about why I left my job. The agent helped me understand what documentation I need for my appeal.

Been through this whole mess before. Common denial reasons: quit without good cause, fired for misconduct, not available/able to work, insufficient wage credits, refusing suitable work, not actively seeking work, and identity/eligibility issues. The good news is most of these can be successfully appealed if you have proper documentation.

Make sure you understand the difference between being 'denied' and being 'disqualified.' A denial usually means you don't meet basic eligibility requirements, while a disqualification means you did something that makes you temporarily ineligible. The appeal process is different for each.

Don't forget about the work search requirements! I know someone who got denied because they weren't doing enough job search activities each week, even though their claim was approved initially. You have to log your job searches and make sure you're meeting the minimum requirements.

just wanted to say thanks for asking this question. I'm in a similar situation and this thread has been super helpful. Going to gather my documentation and file my appeal this week

One more denial reason that catches people off guard: if you receive severance pay or vacation payouts, it can make you ineligible for benefits during certain weeks. The timing of when you receive these payments matters for your claim.

Final tip for anyone dealing with Washington ESD denials: keep detailed records of everything. Every phone call attempt, every document you submit, every interaction with the system. You'll need this documentation for your appeal, and it helps show you're taking the process seriously.

Another common reason is failing the 'able and available' requirement. If you have any restrictions on when/where you can work, or if you're not actively seeking work, they'll deny your claim. Also, if you're attending school full-time without approval, that's grounds for denial.

Wait, how long were you at your job? You said 18 months but Washington ESD looks at your earnings over a longer period. If you had gaps in employment before that job, it might affect your base period wages.

Drug test failures, criminal background issues, and immigration status problems can also cause denials. Plus if you're receiving other benefits like worker's comp or disability, that might conflict with UI eligibility.

def appeal it. worst case they uphold the denial but at least you'll get a detailed explanation. best case you win and get your benefits. the appeal process forces them to actually review your case properly

I've seen people get denied for really weird reasons like their SSN not matching their records exactly, or having an old overpayment from years ago that was never resolved. Sometimes it's just bureaucratic nonsense.

The fact that you were laid off due to company downsizing should make you eligible unless there's something else going on. Document everything about your layoff - emails, notices, anything that proves it wasn't your fault.

Sometimes Washington ESD just auto-denies claims that need manual review. I've heard of people getting denied initially then approved within days of appealing because someone actually looked at their case.

whatever you do dont wait around hoping theyll fix it on their own. file that appeal asap and keep documenting everything. the system is broken but you can fight it if you stay on top of it

Since you're having trouble getting through, seriously consider that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. When you're dealing with a denial, talking to an actual ESD agent can clarify things quickly instead of guessing what went wrong.

One more thing - make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even while appealing if the system lets you. Sometimes people stop filing and then have issues later even if they win their appeal.

Good luck with your appeal! The system is frustrating but if you were legitimately laid off with good work history, you should eventually get approved. Just takes patience and persistence.

keep us updated on how it goes! these denial situations help other people understand what to watch out for

This thread should be pinned or something. Denial reasons are one of the most confusing parts of the whole unemployment process and Washington ESD doesn't explain things clearly in their letters.