Washington ESD unemployment after forced resignation - am I eligible?

You might still qualify! Washington ESD considers 'constructive discharge' as potentially eligible for benefits. When you were forced to resign due to intolerable working conditions or facing termination, it's not the same as voluntary resignation. You'll need to explain the circumstances when you file your claim.

same thing happened to me 6 months ago, my boss said resign or get fired for attendance even though i had doctors notes for everything. filed anyway and got approved after like 3 weeks of adjudication

The key is proving you had no reasonable alternative but to resign. Washington ESD looks at whether a reasonable person in your situation would have felt compelled to quit. Document everything - emails, witness statements, timeline of events. If you can show the working conditions were intolerable or you faced imminent termination for fabricated reasons, you have a strong case.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks about my own claim issues. The phone lines are constantly busy and when I do get through, I get disconnected. Recently found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually got me connected to an agent within minutes. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Might be worth checking out if you need to speak with someone about your specific situation.

FILE IMMEDIATELY! Don't wait thinking about it. Even if Washington ESD initially denies your claim, you can appeal. The worst thing you can do is not file at all. Constructive discharge is a legitimate reason for unemployment benefits in Washington state.

Been there. My old job was toxic as hell and they basically forced me out too. Washington ESD approved my claim after I explained the whole situation. The adjudication took about a month but I got backpay for the waiting period. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even while it's under review.

ugh the job market is so brutal right now, employers think they can treat people however they want because they know we need the income. glad you got out of that toxic situation even if it wasn't ideal

I work in HR and see this all the time. What your employer did is textbook constructive discharge. Washington ESD is pretty good about recognizing these situations, especially when there's a pattern of setting unrealistic expectations or creating hostile work environments. Your email evidence will be crucial.

Whatever you do, don't let them guilt you into thinking you don't deserve benefits. If they forced you to choose between resigning and being fired, that's not a real choice. Washington ESD understands this distinction.

File online through the Washington ESD website as soon as possible. Make sure you have all your employment information ready - dates, wages, reason for separation. When it asks about reason for leaving, there should be an option for 'forced to resign' or similar. If not, choose 'other' and explain in detail.

Just went through this whole process myself. The key thing is during the adjudication interview, they'll ask your former employer for their side of the story too. If your employer tries to claim you quit voluntarily, your documentation will be essential to prove otherwise.

The whole system is designed to make you feel like you don't deserve help. Don't fall for it. You paid into unemployment insurance through your paychecks - it's not charity, it's insurance you paid for. Use it.

I tried calling Washington ESD for weeks about my adjudication and could never get through. Finally used Claimyr and got connected to an agent the same day. They were able to explain exactly what documentation I needed and expedited my review. Definitely recommend if you need to speak with someone directly about your case.

Document everything moving forward too. If you have any contact with your former employer, save it all. Sometimes they'll try to change their story later about why you left.

The adjudication process can be nerve-wracking, but remember that Washington ESD sees these cases all the time. They're trained to spot the difference between someone who quit because they wanted to leave and someone who was forced out. Your situation sounds like a clear case of constructive discharge.

Similar thing happened to my friend last year - impossible deadlines, constant criticism, then the 'resign or be fired' ultimatum. Washington ESD approved her claim after about 4 weeks of adjudication. Having email evidence really helped her case.

One more thing - when you file, make sure you register with WorkSource too. Washington ESD requires job search activities and registration with WorkSource as part of maintaining eligibility for benefits. Better to get that done upfront.

Best of luck with your claim! From everything you've described, you have a strong case for constructive discharge. Don't let your former employer's behavior make you doubt whether you deserve these benefits - you absolutely do.

Actually had success with Claimyr too when I needed to get through to Washington ESD about my own forced resignation case. The regular phone lines were impossible, but through their service I got connected immediately and was able to explain my situation directly to an agent. Really made the difference in getting my claim processed quickly.

I went through something very similar about a year ago - my manager created an impossible situation where I was set up to fail, then gave me the "resign or be terminated" ultimatum. I was terrified about filing for unemployment because I had technically resigned, but it turned out Washington ESD was really understanding about constructive discharge situations. The key is being completely honest about the circumstances and having documentation ready. In my case, I had saved emails showing the unreasonable demands and the ultimatum itself. The adjudication took about 5 weeks, but I was approved and received backpay for the entire period. Don't let your employer's manipulative tactics prevent you from claiming benefits you're entitled to - what they did to you is exactly why these protections exist.