What can disqualify you from Washington ESD unemployment benefits - complete list?

There are quite a few reasons Washington ESD can disqualify you. The main ones are: quitting without good cause, getting fired for misconduct, refusing suitable work, not being able and available for work, not actively searching for work, and fraud. Each one has specific definitions though.

Don't forget about the work search requirements! You have to apply to at least 3 jobs per week and keep a log. If you don't meet that requirement they can disqualify you.

I've been dealing with Washington ESD for months and their phone system is impossible. If you need to talk to someone about disqualification issues, I found this service called Claimyr that actually gets you through to an agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

Here's the complete list of disqualification reasons from Washington ESD: 1) Voluntary quit without good cause 2) Discharge for misconduct 3) Refusing suitable work 4) Not able and available 5) Insufficient work search 6) Fraud or misrepresentation 7) Labor dispute participation 8) School attendance (in some cases) 9) Self-employment without approval 10) Receiving other benefits that conflict

The misconduct thing is really specific. I got fired for attendance issues but still got approved because Washington ESD said it wasn't willful misconduct. Missing work due to car trouble or sick kids doesn't count as misconduct usually.

refusing suitable work is a big one people don't think about. If Washington ESD refers you to a job and you turn it down without good reason, you can get disqualified. The job has to pay at least minimum wage and be within reasonable commuting distance.

FRAUD is the worst one. If they think you lied about anything on your application or weekly claims, they'll not only disqualify you but make you pay back everything plus penalties. I've seen people owe thousands.

Labor disputes can disqualify you too. If you're on strike or there's a lockout at your workplace, you usually can't get benefits until it's resolved.

The able and available requirement trips up a lot of people. You have to be physically and mentally able to work and available for full-time work during normal business hours. If you have restrictions that limit your availability too much, you might not qualify.

I had to use Claimyr again last week when I got a confusing letter about my work search requirements. Their system got me through to an agent in like 10 minutes instead of the usual 2+ hour wait. Definitely worth it when you need answers fast.

Don't forget about the waiting week requirement. In Washington you don't have to serve a waiting week anymore but some people still think you do.

Self-employment can disqualify you too if you don't report it properly. Even small side gigs need to be reported on your weekly claims.

The key thing is to always be honest on your weekly claims and report any work or income. Most disqualifications happen because people don't report things they should have.

If you do get disqualified, you can always appeal. The appeals process gives you a chance to explain your side of the story. Many disqualifications get overturned on appeal.

I got disqualified once for 'not actively seeking work' even though I was applying to jobs every day. Turned out I wasn't using WorkSourceWA correctly to log my job searches. After I fixed that and appealed, they reinstated my benefits.

Another reason for disqualification is if you're receiving workers comp or disability benefits that conflict with unemployment. You usually can't get both at the same time.

The bottom line is Washington ESD has pretty strict rules but they're all designed to make sure benefits go to people who are genuinely unemployed through no fault of their own and are actively looking for work. As long as you're honest and follow the rules, you should be fine.

One more thing - if you need to speak with Washington ESD about any of these issues, definitely try Claimyr. I've recommended it to several friends and they've all had success getting through to agents quickly. Way better than the endless busy signals.

Great thread, lots of good info here. Bookmarking this for future reference!