Washington ESD denied my unemployment claim - need help when appealing unemployment benefits denial

You absolutely need to appeal this ASAP! The appeal window is only 30 days from the date on your denial notice. Gather all your documentation - the HR paperwork, any emails about layoffs, witness statements if you have them. The key is proving the separation wasn't due to misconduct on your part.

Same thing happened to me - got denied for 'misconduct' when I was actually terminated for attendance issues due to a medical condition. The appeal process is no joke, you need to be prepared.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD to discuss your appeal options, I found this service called Claimyr that actually gets you through to speak with an agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Might be worth checking out since their phone lines are always jammed.

The whole system is rigged against us. They'll find any excuse to deny claims and make you jump through hoops to get what you're entitled to. Washington ESD rubber stamps these denials without really investigating.

For your appeal, make sure you clearly state that the separation was due to lack of work, not misconduct. Include dates, names of supervisors, and any company-wide communications about layoffs. The burden is on Washington ESD to prove misconduct occurred.

omg the exact same thing happened to my friend last year!! she was laid off but they said misconduct too. so frustrating

When filing your appeal, be very specific about why the determination is wrong. Don't just say 'I disagree' - explain exactly what happened and provide timeline of events. The more detailed and factual your appeal, the better your chances.

The appeal hearing will be by phone usually. Make sure you have all your documents organized and ready to reference. The judge will ask questions and you want to sound prepared and professional.

Just want to add that even if you lose the initial appeal, you can request a review by the Board of Appeals. Don't give up if the first level doesn't go your way.

This is why I always document everything at work. You never know when you'll need it for something like this.

Just to follow up on the Claimyr thing - I've used it twice now when I needed to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD about complex issues. Much easier than the regular phone system and you actually get through to a human who can help.

Make sure you file your appeal before the deadline! I know someone who missed it by one day and had to start all over with a new claim. Washington ESD is strict about those dates.

One more tip - if you had any performance reviews or commendations from your employer, include those too. It helps show you weren't terminated for misconduct if you had good performance ratings.

The waiting is the worst part. Even when you win the appeal, it takes so long to get your benefits started. Hope you have some savings to get by.

Don't let them intimidate you during the hearing. Stick to your story and present your evidence clearly. The judges are supposed to be neutral arbiters.

washington esd is a mess right now anyway, they're making mistakes left and right with these determinations

I went through this exact situation last year. Had all my paperwork ready, employer didn't even show up to the hearing, and I won easily. Sometimes these things work out better than expected. Stay positive!

The whole misconduct thing is way overused by Washington ESD. Half the time they don't even understand what actually happened. Good luck with your appeal!

One last thing - if you do need to speak with Washington ESD about your appeal status or have questions, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really does work. Saved me hours of frustration trying to get through their regular lines.

Update us on how it goes! Always good to hear success stories from people who fought these bogus denials.