Washington ESD denied my unemployment claim - how can I be denied unemployment benefits?

There are several reasons Washington ESD can deny unemployment claims. The most common ones are: voluntary quit without good cause, misconduct, not meeting wage requirements, not being able and available for work, or issues with your separation from employment. Since you mentioned they said 'voluntary quit' but you were laid off, it sounds like there might be conflicting information about how your employment ended.

I had a similar situation last year where Washington ESD initially denied my claim because my former employer told them I quit when I was actually terminated. The good news is you can appeal their decision! You have 30 days from the date on the denial letter to file an appeal. Make sure you gather any documentation you have about being laid off - emails, texts, layoff notices, etc.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD to discuss your denial or get help with the appeal process, I recently discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps people get through to ESD agents by phone. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Might be worth checking out since getting someone on the phone can really help clarify these separation issues.

Other reasons people get denied include not earning enough wages during their base period, not actively seeking work, or having issues with their work authorization. But in your case it definitely sounds like an employer misreporting issue. Make sure when you appeal that you emphasize you were laid off due to company downsizing, not a voluntary quit.

this is so frustrating!! same thing happened to my brother and it took him 3 months to get it sorted out. the system is broken

For your appeal, you'll want to request all the documentation Washington ESD used to make their decision. This includes any statements from your employer about your separation. Often you'll see exactly what your employer told them that led to the denial. The appeal process includes a hearing where you can present your side of the story.

Another thing to check - did you maybe sign anything when you left that could be interpreted as a resignation? Sometimes companies have you sign papers during layoffs that might be confusing the situation.

I got denied initially too but it was because I didn't report some part-time work I did. Even though it was just a few hours, Washington ESD requires you to report ALL work activity. Make sure there's nothing like that in your case.

One more tip - when you file your appeal, include a detailed written statement explaining exactly what happened with your layoff. Include dates, names of supervisors, and any witnesses to the layoff announcement. The more documentation you have, the stronger your case will be.

Washington ESD is so backed up right now, definitely try that Claimyr thing someone mentioned if you need to talk to someone urgently about your appeal. I spent literally 8 hours one day trying to get through their phone system.

Don't give up! I know it's stressful but these wrongful denials get overturned all the time when people appeal. Just make sure you meet that 30-day deadline for filing your appeal.

Also make sure you keep 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 continued filing.

had the same issue with my employer lying about why i left. took 2 months but eventually got approved after the hearing. make sure u have all ur paperwork ready

Just to clarify the most common denial reasons for Washington ESD unemployment claims: 1) Voluntary quit without good cause, 2) Discharged for misconduct, 3) Insufficient wages in base period, 4) Not able and available for work, 5) Work refusal, 6) Issues with work search requirements. Your situation sounds like a clear case of employer misreporting.

Whatever you do, don't wait to file that appeal! I made the mistake of thinking I could figure it out on my own first and almost missed the 30-day deadline. File the appeal immediately and then you can gather your evidence.

Question - when you were laid off, did you receive any severance pay or vacation payout? Sometimes that can affect your unemployment eligibility or cause delays in processing.

The appeal hearing will probably be by phone. Make sure you're in a quiet place with good reception and have all your documents organized where you can find them quickly during the hearing.

I work in HR and I've seen this happen when there's confusion between layoffs and resignations in company records. Sometimes payroll or HR departments make errors in their reporting to the state. Your appeal should clear this up.

One thing i learned during my appeal is that you can also submit additional evidence after you file the initial appeal but before the hearing. so if you find more documents later, you can still include them

If you need to reach Washington ESD quickly about your appeal timeline or have questions about the process, that Claimyr service really does work. I was skeptical at first but it saved me so much time and frustration compared to trying to call on my own.

Good luck with your appeal! Most of these employer misreporting cases get resolved in favor of the claimant once all the facts come out in the hearing. Just be honest and thorough in presenting your case.

I went through almost the exact same situation about 6 months ago! My employer somehow reported that I resigned when I was clearly laid off due to restructuring. The key thing that helped me win my appeal was getting a written statement from my former supervisor confirming the layoff details. If you can reach out to your supervisor or any HR contacts who were involved in the layoff decision, ask them to provide a brief written statement explaining what really happened. Even a simple email from them stating you were laid off due to downsizing can be powerful evidence for your hearing. Also, don't stress too much - these cases usually get resolved pretty quickly once the hearing officer sees the real facts.