What are valid reasons for collecting unemployment benefits in Washington state?

Thanks! What counts as misconduct that would disqualify you? I'm worried about some attendance issues I've had recently.

Misconduct has to be willful and work-related. Isolated incidents or honest mistakes usually don't count, but repeated violations of company policy after warnings can be misconduct.

Oh really? How much do your hours have to be reduced for that to kick in?

Generally if you're working less than your full-time hours and earning less than your weekly benefit amount plus $5, you might qualify for partial benefits. You still have to meet all the other requirements though.

How long did it take for them to approve your claim after you quit?

About 3 weeks after the adjudication interview. The hardest part was actually getting someone on the phone to explain my situation in detail.

What kind of documentation did you need for the hostile work environment claim?

What's standby status? I've never heard of that one.

Standby is when you're temporarily laid off but have a definite return date within 8 weeks. Common in seasonal industries. You don't have to do job searches but you do have to be available if called back.

Did you win the appeal? What made the difference?

yeah finally won but it was a nightmare. had to get statements from coworkers and show i tried to resolve things with management first

That's exactly right - you usually need to show you tried to resolve the issue with your employer before quitting for good cause.

Interesting, I didn't know that was covered.

Yes, lockouts generally qualify but strikes typically don't. There are specific rules about labor disputes.

Work-related injuries are tricky. You might qualify for unemployment if you can do other types of work but can't return to your specific job. But you'd need medical documentation showing you're able and available for suitable work.

Thanks, that's helpful. The whole system is so confusing when you're dealing with multiple agencies.

That's good to know! I was worried about some punctuality issues I've had.

The key is whether the lateness was willful and whether you were properly warned. Isolated incidents or circumstances beyond your control usually don't count as misconduct.

How do you prove you're unable to work but will be able to return soon?

You need medical documentation from your doctor stating you're temporarily unable to work and an expected return date. I had to submit forms every few weeks.

What are the wage requirements? I only worked for about 8 months at my current job.

You need to have earned at least $1,960 in your base period and earned at least $1,308 in your highest quarter. If you don't meet that, you might qualify under the alternate base period.

What's claimyr? I keep seeing people mention it.

its a service that helps you get through to unemployment offices. worked great for me - finally got to talk to an actual person who could look at my case

I was skeptical at first but tried it when I couldn't reach ESD for 2 weeks. Got connected to an agent the same day and sorted out my adjudication issue.

That's a complex situation. If you're fired solely because of an arrest (not conviction) for something unrelated to work, it might not be considered misconduct. But if you were convicted of a crime related to your job duties, that could disqualify you.

It was completely unrelated to work and charges were dropped. Thanks for the info.

Really? I didn't know family care could qualify you.

Yes, caring for an immediate family member with a serious health condition can be good cause for quitting. You need medical documentation and proof that no other care arrangements were available.

Significant changes to your work schedule or hours can be good cause for quitting, especially if it affects your ability to care for children or creates transportation issues. You'd need to show you tried to work with your employer first.

That's exactly my situation. They moved me from 8-5 to 11pm-7am with only a week's notice.

Any tips for the adjudication interview? I'm nervous about that part.

Be honest, stick to the facts, and have your documentation organized. They'll ask about your work history, why you left, and whether you've been looking for work. Don't volunteer information they don't ask for.

How many job contacts do you have to make each week?

3 job contacts per week is the standard requirement. you log them in your eservices account

That's important information. I'm glad the state has protections for those situations.

Yes, and you can request that certain information be kept confidential from your employer during the claims process.

Temp assignments ending can qualify you if you were available for additional assignments but none were offered, or if you were only available for assignments similar to your previous work. The temp agency has to verify they had no suitable assignments available.

good to know, my agency says they might not have anything for a few weeks

That's a relief. I was worried that any kind of firing would disqualify me.

Exactly. Poor performance, inability to do the job, or not being a good fit are different from misconduct like theft, insubordination, or repeatedly violating clear policies.

Good luck! Remember to document everything and try to resolve issues with your employer first if you're thinking about quitting for good cause.

And if you need to talk to ESD about your specific situation, don't waste weeks trying to call. Use claimyr.com to get through - it saved me so much time and stress.

This is really important info! I've been dealing with what feels like retaliation after I reported some safety concerns. My supervisor has been giving me impossible deadlines and excluding me from team meetings. How much documentation do you typically need to prove constructive dismissal?