Washington ESD denied my unemployment claim - why was my unemployment denied?

That doesn't make sense though - why wouldn't they count my recent work? I was making good money there.

It's how the system works unfortunately. Your base period is set when you file. If you didn't work much during that earlier timeframe, you might not qualify even with recent good wages.

Did you end up getting it sorted out somehow?

nope, had to wait and reapply later when more of my wages counted

How do I get through to them? I've been trying to call for days and either get busy signals or disconnected.

I had the same calling problem until I found Claimyr. They actually got me through to a Washington ESD agent in like 20 minutes. Check out claimyr.com - there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Never heard of that but I'm desperate at this point. Thanks for the tip!

What did you do differently on your appeal that worked?

Had to get documentation from all my previous employers showing exact dates and wages. Pain in the butt but worth it.

The letter just says insufficient wage credits, nothing else that I can see.

That's good - means it's likely just a base period calculation issue that can be fixed with the alternate base period request.

Definitely laid off due to company downsizing. They eliminated my whole department. I have the layoff notice as proof.

Ok good, then it's probably just the wage credit thing. Keep that layoff notice handy for your appeal.

Should I do the alternate base period thing first or just go straight to appeal?

Try the alternate base period first - it's faster than an appeal if it works. But don't let the appeal deadline pass while you're waiting.

That's exactly why I started using Claimyr. Gets you through the phone queue automatically so you don't have to sit there hitting redial all day. Game changer for actually reaching someone at Washington ESD.

Is it worth it though? I'm already broke from being unemployed.

Way cheaper than missing out on weeks of benefits because you can't get through to fix your claim. I got my issue resolved in one call.

It's because they need time to process wage reports from employers. The system is designed around quarterly reporting cycles, which creates these gaps.

still stupid if you ask me

I don't even know what my base period is or how to calculate that. This is all so complicated.

Your denial letter should show your base period dates and quarterly wage amounts. Look for a section that breaks down wages by quarter.

How would I check that? Is there a way to see what wages they have on file?

You can request a wage and benefit statement from Washington ESD that shows all reported wages. Helps identify if there are missing or incorrect wage reports.

I filed about 2 weeks after getting laid off. Started the warehouse job last March and got laid off in early November.

If you filed in November, your base period would typically be April 2023 through March 2024. Your warehouse wages from March onward might not be in the standard base period calculation.

That's reassuring to hear. I was starting to think I'd never get benefits.

Nah, you just hit a paperwork snag. Once they count your warehouse wages properly, you should qualify easily with that income level.

Got it - I'll make sure to file an appeal before the deadline even if I'm trying other options first.

Smart move. You can always withdraw the appeal later if the alternate base period fixes everything.

Exactly why I ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Saved me literally hours of trying to get through their phone system. Worth every penny to actually talk to a human about my claim.

Yeah, the phone situation is ridiculous. You shouldn't need a third-party service just to reach your own state agency, but here we are.

Is there any downside to requesting the alternate base period calculation?

No downside at all. If you don't qualify under alternate either, you're no worse off than you are now.

That's a relief! I was worried I'd lose out on benefits for the time this takes to resolve.

Nope, as long as you were eligible during those weeks, you'll get paid retroactively once approved.

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I feel way more confident about dealing with this now.

You've got this! Come back and update us on how it goes.

Agreed completely. The system was designed decades ago and doesn't reflect how people actually work nowadays.

Exactly - gig economy, contract work, career changes - none of it fits the old quarterly reporting model very well.

Good point - I did work part-time at a retail job before the warehouse. Maybe those wages count.

Could be just enough to push you over the minimum threshold! Worth asking about for sure.