Washington ESD what disqualifies you from unemployment - need to know all the reasons

The main disqualifications from Washington ESD are: 1) Quitting without good cause, 2) Getting fired for misconduct, 3) Not being able and available for work, 4) Refusing suitable work, 5) Not actively looking for work, 6) Earning too much in part-time work, 7) Not reporting earnings honestly. There are also temporary disqualifications for things like going to school full-time or being out of state without approval.

Don't forget about the earnings disqualification - if you make more than your weekly benefit amount minus $5, you won't get any UI payment that week. And if you work more than full-time hours (even at minimum wage), you're automatically disqualified for that week.

I got disqualified for 'not being available for work' because I told them I could only work certain days due to childcare. Apparently you have to be available for full-time work Monday through Friday or they consider you not available.

Here's something that helped me when I was fighting a disqualification - I used Claimyr to actually get through to a Washington ESD agent. Trying to call them directly was impossible, but Claimyr got me connected within minutes. Check out their site at claimyr.com and they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works.

DONT FORGET ABOUT THE JOB SEARCH REQUIREMENTS! You have to make at least 5 job search contacts per week and keep a log. If you can't prove you're actively looking for work, they'll disqualify you. And the job searches have to be for suitable work - you can't just apply for jobs you're overqualified for to meet the requirement.

Another big one is fraud - if Washington ESD thinks you lied about anything on your application or weekly claims, they'll disqualify you AND make you pay back everything plus penalties. This includes not reporting work, lying about why you were laid off, or claiming benefits while out of state.

i got disqualified for refusing a job offer that paid way less than my old job. apparently after a few weeks on unemployment you have to take jobs that pay like 75% of what you used to make. didn't know that rule existed until it was too late

Going to school can also disqualify you unless you get approval first. If you're in school full-time, Washington ESD considers you not available for work. There are some exceptions for approved training programs, but you have to get permission before you start.

Medical issues can be tricky too. If you have a health condition that prevents you from working, you might not qualify for regular unemployment. You might need to apply for disability instead. But if you can work with accommodations, you can still get UI as long as you're actively looking for work you can do.

Criminal background can also affect your eligibility for certain types of jobs, which might impact your job search requirements. Washington ESD expects you to look for work you can realistically get, but you still have to prove you're making good faith efforts.

Here's one people don't know about - if you're getting certain types of pension payments, it can reduce or eliminate your unemployment benefits. Social Security usually doesn't affect it, but other pensions might.

TRAVEL CAN DISQUALIFY YOU TOO! If you leave the state without telling Washington ESD, they can stop your benefits. You're supposed to be available for work in Washington, so if you're on vacation or visiting family out of state, you can't claim those weeks.

drug testing can be an issue too depending on the job. if you fail a drug test for a job offer, that might count as refusing suitable work and disqualify you. washington is pretty chill about marijuana but other drugs are still a problem

Union issues can also cause problems. If you're in a union and there's work available through the union that you refuse, that might disqualify you. Union members have special rules about suitable work and job search requirements.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD to clarify any of these rules or fight a disqualification, definitely try Claimyr. I used it twice when I was dealing with a misconduct disqualification and it saved me so much time and frustration. Way easier than trying to get through on your own.

Self-employment income can also be tricky. If you do any freelance or gig work, you have to report it even if you haven't been paid yet. The week you do the work counts, not when you get paid. And if you make too much, you'll lose benefits for that week.

One more thing - if you're not a US citizen or don't have work authorization, you won't qualify for unemployment benefits. You have to be legally authorized to work in the US to receive UI benefits in Washington.

Another thing that can mess you up is not responding to requests for information. If Washington ESD asks for documents or wants you to do a phone interview and you don't respond, they'll automatically disqualify you. Always respond to everything they send you, even if you think it's wrong.

thanks everyone this is really helpful. i had no idea there were so many ways to get disqualified. makes me nervous about filing weekly claims now lol

The key thing to remember is that most disqualifications can be appealed if you disagree. Don't just accept it if you think Washington ESD made a mistake. You have the right to a hearing and can present evidence to support your case.