Washington ESD unemployment eligibility - quit job last month, need help understanding rules

What kind of documentation would I need? I have some text messages from coworkers about the situation but not much else.

Text messages are good! Also any emails, witness statements, or records of complaints you made to HR. The more evidence the better for the adjudication process.

6 weeks is a long time to wait though. Were you able to get through to someone at Washington ESD to check on your claim status?

lol good luck calling them, i tried for weeks and never got through. just had to wait it out

Never heard of that service before. How much does it cost to use?

They focus on value rather than cost - honestly when you're stuck in adjudication limbo for weeks it's worth whatever they charge to finally talk to someone who can move your claim forward.

I'm always skeptical of services like this but if it actually works... the Washington ESD phone system is absolutely broken

I did try talking to my manager about the issues but they just brushed me off. Should I have gone higher up the chain?

Ideally yes, but if your manager was the problem and there was no HR department or higher management accessible, that could work in your favor. Document everything you can remember about your attempts to resolve it.

3 months is way too long for adjudication. Have you tried filing an appeal or complaint about the delay?

How do I even do that when I can't get through to anyone? The whole system is designed to make you give up.

This is exactly why I used Claimyr - after 2 months of trying to reach Washington ESD myself, they got me connected within a day and I found out my claim was missing one document that was holding everything up.

Good point. The manager was making discriminatory comments and scheduling me for shifts I couldn't work after I told them about my class schedule.

that's much better! discriminatory comments and refusing reasonable accommodation requests are both good cause. make sure you mention those specifically

Will my employer know that I filed for unemployment? I'm worried about burning bridges if I need a reference.

Yes, employers are notified when former employees file claims. But if you truly had good cause to quit, you shouldn't worry about protecting an employer who created a hostile environment.

exactly! if they were treating you badly enough that you had to quit, they probably aren't going to give you a good reference anyway

That's a good point. I've been putting it off because I wasn't sure if I qualified but I should just go ahead and apply.

Exactly. The worst they can say is no, and if you have legitimate good cause reasons, you'll probably win on appeal even if the initial decision goes against you.

8 weeks is better than never getting approved I guess. Did she have to do anything special during the waiting period?

She kept applying for jobs and documenting her job search in case they asked for it later. Also gathered more evidence while waiting for the decision.

Great, that's not encouraging. Did you eventually get through to talk to someone about the delay?

nope never got through by calling normally. honestly thinking about trying that claimyr thing people mentioned

How long did the appeal process take? And did you need a lawyer?

Appeal took about 6 weeks and I didn't use a lawyer. Just organized my evidence well and was clear about the timeline of events. The hearing was over the phone and lasted maybe 30 minutes.

I definitely won't lie about it. I'm just trying to figure out the best way to explain the situation so they understand it was justified.

Focus on objective facts rather than how the situation made you feel. 'Manager made discriminatory comments on X date' rather than 'Manager made me feel uncomfortable.

How many job applications do I need to submit per week? I've been applying but not keeping detailed records.

I think it's 3 per week minimum but check the current requirements on the Washington ESD website. Keep records of where you applied, when, and what position.

That's encouraging! So it's worth trying even for quit-related claims that are stuck in adjudication?

Definitely. The agent was able to see exactly what was holding up my claim and what I needed to do to move it forward. Much better than guessing.

How do you know it's moving forward? Did you get some kind of update from Washington ESD?

yeah they sent a letter asking for more info about the circumstances of my quit. annoying but at least someone is looking at it

You're right, I need to stop overthinking it and just submit the application. Thanks for the push!

Good luck! Just remember to be thorough with your documentation and specific about what made quitting necessary.

That's exactly what I needed to hear! I'm going to try Claimyr too since regular calling isn't working.

Do it! The peace of mind from actually talking to someone who can see your file is worth it. No more wondering what's happening with your claim.

ok you all convinced me, going to try this claimyr thing for my stuck claim too