Washington ESD denied my unemployment claim - how to appeal this decision?
Got a letter yesterday saying Washington ESD denied my unemployment claim. They're saying I was terminated for misconduct but that's not what happened at all. I was let go because of company restructuring, not because I did anything wrong. The letter mentions something about my former employer reporting that I violated company policy but I never got written up or anything like that. Has anyone successfully appealed a denial like this? I really need these benefits and don't understand how they came to this conclusion.
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CyberSamurai
You absolutely can appeal this decision! You have 30 days from the date on the denial letter to file an appeal. The key is gathering documentation that shows you weren't fired for misconduct. Do you have any emails, performance reviews, or witness statements that support your version of events?
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Andre Dubois
•I have my last performance review from 3 months ago that was positive, and some emails about the restructuring. Should I include all of that with my appeal?
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CyberSamurai
•Yes, include everything that supports your case. Also try to get a statement from any coworkers who can verify the real reason you were let go.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
This happened to me too last year. My employer lied about why I was fired and Washington ESD believed them initially. The appeals process is annoying but it works if you have proof.
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Andre Dubois
•How long did your appeal take? I'm worried about how I'll pay my bills while waiting.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
•Mine took about 6 weeks total. If you win the appeal, you'll get back pay for all the weeks you should have received benefits.
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Jamal Carter
The problem is getting through to Washington ESD to actually talk to someone about your case. I've been trying to call for weeks about my own situation and can never get through. The phone system is impossible.
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Mei Liu
•I found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. I was skeptical but it actually got me connected within an hour.
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Jamal Carter
•Really? I've been calling every morning at 8am and still can't get through. How does it work exactly?
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Mei Liu
•They basically handle the calling for you and connect you when an agent is available. Saved me hours of trying to call myself.
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Liam O'Donnell
WASHINGTON ESD ALWAYS SIDES WITH EMPLOYERS INITIALLY! Don't take it personally - they deny tons of legitimate claims and make you fight for what you deserve. The system is designed to discourage people from appealing but don't give up!
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Andre Dubois
•That's so frustrating. Why would they automatically believe employers over workers?
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Liam O'Donnell
•Because it saves them money! They're hoping you'll just give up and not appeal. Fight back!
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CyberSamurai
For your appeal, make sure you request a hearing if you want to present your case in person. You can also submit written evidence if you prefer. The hearing officer will review everything and make a new decision based on the facts.
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Andre Dubois
•Should I get a lawyer for the hearing? I'm worried I'll mess up and say the wrong thing.
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CyberSamurai
•You don't need a lawyer for most unemployment appeals. Just stick to the facts and present your evidence clearly. The process is designed to be accessible to regular people.
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Amara Nwosu
same thing happened to me but mine was because of attendance issues that were actually medical related. took 2 months to get it sorted out
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Andre Dubois
•Did you have to provide medical documentation for your appeal?
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Amara Nwosu
•yeah i had to get letters from my doctor explaining why i missed work. pain in the butt but worth it when i finally got approved
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AstroExplorer
Check your denial letter carefully - it should list the specific reason for denial and what section of Washington law they're citing. This will help you understand exactly what you need to prove in your appeal.
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Andre Dubois
•It says something about RCW 50.20.066 - what does that mean?
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AstroExplorer
•That's the misconduct statute. You'll need to show that what you did (or didn't do) doesn't meet the legal definition of misconduct that would disqualify you from benefits.
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Giovanni Moretti
My sister went through this last year and won her appeal. The key is documenting everything and being persistent. Washington ESD processes thousands of claims so mistakes happen all the time.
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Andre Dubois
•That gives me hope. Did she represent herself at the hearing?
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Giovanni Moretti
•Yes, she did it herself. She said the hearing officer was fair and actually listened to her side of the story, unlike the initial decision.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
Also make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even while your appeal is pending. If you win, you'll need to show you were actively looking for work during that time to get your back pay.
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Andre Dubois
•Wait, I can still file weekly claims even though I was denied?
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Zoe Alexopoulos
•Yes! You need to keep filing to preserve your right to benefits if you win the appeal. Don't stop filing or you'll lose those weeks.
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CyberSamurai
•This is correct. Continue filing weekly claims and keep your job search log updated. If your appeal is successful, you'll get paid for all those weeks.
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Fatima Al-Farsi
I'm dealing with something similar but my employer is claiming I quit when I was actually laid off. It's so stressful trying to prove what really happened.
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Andre Dubois
•Do you have any documentation about the layoff? That seems like it would be easier to prove than misconduct.
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Fatima Al-Farsi
•I have the layoff notice but my employer is now saying I quit before they could lay me off. It's complicated.
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Dylan Cooper
If you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about your specific case, I've had luck using Claimyr to get through. Their system handles the calling and connects you when an agent is available. Way better than spending hours on hold.
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Andre Dubois
•I keep seeing Claimyr mentioned. Is it worth trying for appeal questions?
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Dylan Cooper
•Definitely. I used it to get clarification on my appeal timeline and it was super helpful. The agents can explain the process better than the website.
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Sofia Perez
Don't let this discourage you from filing future claims either. Even if this appeal doesn't go your way, each claim is evaluated separately if you become unemployed again.
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Andre Dubois
•Good point. I was worried this would hurt my chances if I need to file again later.
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Dmitry Smirnov
The appeals process exists for a reason - Washington ESD makes mistakes all the time. I know multiple people who got their denials overturned on appeal. Don't give up!
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Andre Dubois
•Thanks for the encouragement. I was starting to think it was hopeless.
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Dmitry Smirnov
•Not at all! The system is designed to be adversarial but appeals work when you have a legitimate case.
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ElectricDreamer
Make sure you understand the difference between an appeal and a redetermination. Sometimes you can request a redetermination first if there was missing information in your original claim.
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Andre Dubois
•What's the difference? My denial letter just mentions appealing.
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ElectricDreamer
•A redetermination is when they review the decision with new information. An appeal goes to a hearing officer. If you have new evidence, you might want to try a redetermination first.
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Ava Johnson
whatever you do dont miss that 30 day deadline to appeal. they're strict about it and you'll lose your chance if you wait too long
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Andre Dubois
•Good reminder. I need to get this appeal filed ASAP.
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Miguel Diaz
I went through this exact situation 2 years ago. My employer claimed misconduct but it was really just personality conflicts with my manager. Won my appeal and got 6 weeks of back pay.
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Andre Dubois
•That's exactly what I'm hoping for. How did you present your case?
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Miguel Diaz
•I focused on showing that my actions didn't rise to the level of misconduct under Washington law. Had character references and documentation of the real issues.
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Zainab Ahmed
The hearing officers are generally fair but you need to be prepared. Practice explaining your situation clearly and concisely. Don't ramble or get emotional.
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Andre Dubois
•That's good advice. I tend to get nervous and talk too much when I'm stressed.
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Connor Byrne
Also remember that your former employer might not even show up to the hearing. Sometimes they don't bother to defend their position and you win by default.
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Andre Dubois
•Really? That would make things easier. Do they usually show up?
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Connor Byrne
•In my experience, about half the time they don't show up, especially if it's a smaller company. They figure it's not worth their time.
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Yara Abboud
I used Claimyr when I needed to check on my appeal status and couldn't get through the regular phone lines. Really helpful service for getting connected to actual humans at Washington ESD.
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Andre Dubois
•I might try that if I can't get through on my own. The phone system is definitely frustrating.
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PixelPioneer
UPDATE: I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who helped. I filed my appeal yesterday and included all the documentation you suggested. Feeling more confident about my chances now!
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CyberSamurai
•Great job getting it filed! Now just wait for the hearing notice and keep documenting everything. You've got this!
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Zoe Alexopoulos
•Awesome! Make sure you keep filing those weekly claims while you wait. Good luck with your hearing!
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