What are valid excuses for not accepting suitable work for unemployment in Washington ESD?

Yes, both health limitations and childcare conflicts can be valid reasons to decline unsuitable work! Washington ESD recognizes several categories of suitable work exceptions. For health issues, you'll need medical documentation that shows the job duties would aggravate your condition. For childcare, if the work schedule conflicts with available childcare and you can't reasonably arrange alternative care, that's also protected.

I had similar issues when I was on unemployment last year. Kept getting calls about warehouse jobs that required lifting 50+ pounds but I have a herniated disc. WorkSource kept referring me anyway until I got my doctor to write a specific letter about my lifting restrictions.

Here's what I learned when I was dealing with Washington ESD about suitable work - there are actually quite a few valid reasons you can decline: health/safety concerns, lack of childcare, transportation issues if the job location isn't accessible by public transit, wages significantly below your previous job (though this has limits), and jobs that conflict with your approved training program. The key is documenting everything.

I was struggling with this exact issue a few months ago - getting referrals for jobs that didn't work with my schedule and being afraid to say no. I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually helps you get through to Washington ESD agents by phone. Used it to talk directly to someone about my situation and they explained exactly what documentation I needed. Way better than trying to figure it out from the website. They even have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ

Just make sure you're documenting EVERYTHING. Every job referral, every interview, every decline and the reason why. Washington ESD can audit your job search activities at any time and if you can't prove you had valid reasons for declining work, they'll hit you with a disqualification.

Don't forget about the 'reasonable commute' rule too. If a job would require you to drive more than an hour each way and there's no public transportation, that can be grounds for declining. Especially if the commute costs would eat up a significant portion of your wages.

ugh the whole suitable work thing is such a nightmare. They expect you to take literally anything after a while even if it makes your life impossible. I got disqualified once for turning down a night shift job when I'm a single parent with no overnight childcare. Had to appeal and it took months to get reinstated.

Another thing to consider - if you're in an approved training program, you have more flexibility to decline jobs that would interfere with your classes. Washington ESD actually encourages this in some cases because completing training can lead to better long-term employment.

Had a friend who declined a job because it required her to work with chemicals and she's pregnant. That was definitely considered a valid health and safety reason. Washington ESD didn't question it at all once she provided a doctor's note.

Pro tip: if you're unsure about whether a reason is valid, document it anyway and decline if necessary for your health/safety/family. It's better to potentially face questions later than to take a job that could hurt you or make your situation worse. You can always appeal if Washington ESD disagrees.

also religious accommodations can be valid in some cases like if a job requires you to work on your sabbath and theres no way to get alternative scheduling

Whatever you do, make sure you respond promptly to any job referrals even if you're declining. Washington ESD tracks response times and non-response can be treated the same as refusing work without cause.

I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it really helped clarify some of these rules. The Washington ESD agent I talked to said the most important thing is being able to show you're genuinely looking for work and only declining for legitimate reasons. Having documentation ready makes the whole process smoother.

Don't forget that suitable work also depends on your skills and experience. You can't be forced to take a job in a completely different field that requires skills you don't have, at least not right away. But this protection also decreases over time.

Been through this whole process twice now and the key is being proactive. Don't wait for Washington ESD to question your decisions - keep detailed records, get medical documentation if needed, and be prepared to explain your reasoning clearly.

The childcare issue is especially important to document well. If you can show that accepting a job would cost more in childcare than you'd earn, or that no appropriate childcare is available for the job's schedule, that's usually considered valid grounds for declining.

One more thing - if you decline a job for valid reasons and Washington ESD still questions it, don't panic. You have appeal rights and if your reasons are legitimate and documented, you should be fine. The system is supposed to protect people from being forced into genuinely unsuitable work situations.