Washington ESD unemployment what disqualifies you for unemployment benefits?

The main disqualifications for Washington ESD benefits include: quitting without good cause, being fired for misconduct, refusing suitable work, not being able and available to work, failing to register with WorkSource, and not conducting an adequate job search. For your situation with reduced hours, that might qualify as constructive discharge if the hour reduction was substantial enough.

Don't forget about the income requirements too. You need to have earned enough wages during your base period. Also if you're going to school full-time that can disqualify you because you're not considered available for work.

I've been dealing with Washington ESD for months and honestly the hardest part is just getting through to talk to someone when you have questions about disqualifications. I spent weeks calling and getting busy signals. Finally found this service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to an agent in like 10 minutes. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Drug testing can also disqualify you in certain situations. If you're fired for failing a drug test or if your job requires it and you refuse, that's misconduct. Also lying on your claim or not reporting work/income will definitely get you disqualified and you might have to pay back benefits.

Being in the country illegally will obviously disqualify you. You need work authorization. Also if you're receiving certain other benefits like workers comp you might not be eligible for UI at the same time.

The job search thing is a big one. You have to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log. If you don't do this or can't prove you did it during an audit, they'll disqualify you. WorkSource registration is mandatory too.

Age discrimination isn't a disqualifier but being under 18 can be an issue. Also if you're a student and school is your primary focus rather than work, that can disqualify you even if it's not full-time.

Criminal background can sometimes be an issue if it affects your ability to find work in your field. Not automatically disqualifying but it complicates things, especially for jobs requiring background checks.

Don't forget about the waiting week - you won't get paid for your first week even if you're eligible. Also if you have a pension from your last employer that might reduce your benefits.

Seasonal workers have special rules too. If you work in seasonal industries and there's a reasonable expectation you'll return to the same employer, you might not qualify during the off-season.

If you're self-employed or an independent contractor, you generally can't get regular UI benefits. There might be other programs but not the standard unemployment insurance.

Being pregnant doesn't disqualify you but if you can't work due to pregnancy complications, that affects the 'able and available' requirement. Similarly for other medical conditions that prevent you from working.

This is really helpful everyone. Sounds like my situation with the hour reduction should be okay. I'm definitely going to document everything carefully and make sure I understand the job search requirements before I file.

One thing people don't realize is that even getting fired doesn't automatically disqualify you. It has to be for misconduct. Poor performance or not being a good fit usually doesn't count as misconduct.

The job search thing is what gets most people. Three contacts per week doesn't sound like much but you have to actually keep track of everything. I use a spreadsheet with dates, companies, positions, how I applied, any follow-up, etc.

I had issues understanding my disqualification notice and couldn't get through to Washington ESD to ask questions. Used Claimyr to connect with an agent who explained everything clearly. Really wish I'd known about that service earlier instead of stressing for weeks.

Don't forget about voluntary quit situations. Even if you have a good reason, you need to prove it was good cause connected to the work. Personal reasons usually don't qualify unless they're really serious.

The income calculation is tricky too. They look at your base period wages and you need a minimum amount in total and in at least two quarters. If you haven't worked enough or recently enough, you won't qualify even if everything else is fine.

Just want to add that if anyone is struggling to reach Washington ESD about disqualification questions, Claimyr really does work. I was skeptical at first but after trying for days to get through on my own, it was a lifesaver. The peace of mind from talking to an actual agent was worth it.

Remember that even if you get disqualified initially, you can often appeal and provide additional documentation. Don't assume the first decision is final, especially for complex situations like constructive discharge or good cause quits.