Washington ESD denied my unemployment claim - can I reapply if I get denied unemployment?

You can't just file a new claim for the same job separation. You need to appeal the denial first. You have 30 days from the date on your denial letter to file an appeal with Washington ESD. If you miss that deadline, you're pretty much stuck unless you have a really good reason for the delay.

Actually, there are some situations where you might be able to file a new claim even after a denial. If you've worked and earned wages since your original claim, you could potentially file a new claim based on that more recent work. But for your current situation with the job separation, you definitely need to appeal first.

I went through something similar last year. Washington ESD denied my claim initially, but I used Claimyr to get through to an actual person who helped me understand the appeal process better. They have a service where they help you get connected to ESD agents without waiting on hold forever. Check out claimyr.com - they even have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

wait so if you get denied you cant just apply again?? i thought you could keep trying until they approve you

This is EXACTLY what happened to me!! Washington ESD denied my claim saying I quit voluntarily when I was actually laid off due to budget cuts. The whole system is set up to deny people first and ask questions later. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to fight for benefits we've earned!

Just to be clear about the timeline - you have 30 days from the mail date of your denial letter to file an appeal. Don't wait until the last minute because if you miss that deadline, it's very hard to get an extension. File online if possible, it's faster than mailing.

One thing to know is that if you do appeal and win, Washington ESD will backdate your benefits to when you originally filed. So you won't lose out on those weeks of benefits while you're waiting for the appeal decision.

For unsafe working conditions, you'll want to gather any documentation you have - emails, photos, witness statements, OSHA complaints if you filed any. The more evidence you can provide that shows you had good cause to leave, the better your chances on appeal.

I'm going through this same thing right now. Filed my appeal two weeks ago and still waiting for a hearing date. The waiting is the worst part when you have bills to pay.

Another important point - if your appeal is successful, you'll need to restart your weekly claim certifications. Make sure you keep filing those weekly claims even during the appeal process, or you'll create gaps in your claim.

Has anyone tried calling Washington ESD to get more information about why they were denied? I feel like sometimes there might be missing information that could clear things up without going through a full appeal.

For what it's worth, 'unsafe working conditions' is definitely considered good cause for leaving a job under Washington unemployment law. You just need to show that you made reasonable efforts to address the situation before quitting.

does anyone know if you can have a lawyer for the appeal hearing? or do you have to represent yourself?

I was in a similar situation but with a different issue - they said I was fired for misconduct when I was actually just not a good fit for the role. Won my appeal but it took 7 weeks total. Hang in there, it's worth fighting if you know you're right.

Quick question - if you appeal and lose, do you have to pay back any benefits you might have received during the appeal period?

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but even if you win your appeal, Washington ESD might still find other reasons to deny benefits. They're really strict about everything these days.

One more thing about the appeal process - they'll likely contact your former employer to get their side of the story. Make sure you have your facts straight and can back up your version of events.

Actually used Claimyr myself when I was dealing with an overpayment issue. They helped me get through to someone at Washington ESD who could explain the situation properly. Saved me weeks of frustration trying to figure it out on my own.

Just remember that even during the appeal process, you still need to be actively looking for work and keeping track of your job search activities. They'll ask about that during the hearing.

To answer your original question directly - no, you can't just reapply if you get denied. You must appeal the denial first. If you win the appeal, your original claim gets approved. If you lose, you'd need to have new qualifying wages from a different job to file a new claim.