What can stop you from getting unemployment benefits in Washington state?

Wow that's more complicated than I thought. What counts as 'good cause' for quitting?

Good cause includes things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, significant changes to your job duties or schedule, medical reasons, or domestic violence situations. But you have to prove it with documentation.

ugh the job search thing is so confusing! do you have to apply for jobs you're overqualified for too?

Yeah you can't just apply for your dream jobs. They expect you to apply for 'suitable work' which includes jobs that pay less than what you made before.

How do you appeal something like that? She's been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks but can't get through.

I had the same problem trying to reach Washington ESD about my disqualification. Spent hours on hold just to get hung up on. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that connects you directly to Washington ESD agents. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Got through to someone in 20 minutes instead of spending days trying.

That actually sounds helpful. Did they help you with your appeal?

Wait so if I have a doctor's appointment I need to say I'm not available that day?

For a few hours probably not, but if it affects your ability to accept work that day then yes. Better to be honest than get caught in a lie later.

Depends on the circumstances. If you had legitimate reasons (illness, family emergency) and followed your employer's policies for reporting absences, probably not misconduct. If you just didn't show up without calling, that's likely misconduct.

This is exactly why I hate dealing with Washington ESD. Everything is 'it depends' and they never explain the rules clearly.

Yeah I think you can earn up to like 1/3 of your weekly benefit amount without affecting your payment, but anything over that reduces it dollar for dollar.

Something like that. The math always confuses me but the important thing is to report ALL your earnings honestly.

How do you prove your identity to them? Do you have to go in person?

Usually you upload documents through their website - driver's license, Social Security card, utility bills. But sometimes they want additional verification through ID.me or similar services.

Can they really just take money from new benefits to pay old debts?

Yes, they can offset up to 50% of your weekly benefits to recover overpayments. It's brutal when you're already struggling financially.

What's the difference between standby and regular unemployment?

Standby means your employer expects to call you back within a specific timeframe, usually 4-6 weeks. You don't have to look for other work during that period, but if the callback doesn't happen you transition to regular UI and have to start job searching.

That seems unfair - people getting out of prison need income support the most.

I agree it's a catch-22 situation. The logic is that unemployment insurance is for people who are able and available for work, but there are other assistance programs that might be more appropriate in those situations.

Do you need to be a citizen or just have a work permit?

You need valid work authorization - could be citizenship, permanent residency, or a valid work visa. The key is that you have to be legally authorized to work.

What about online classes or part-time school?

Part-time is usually okay if it doesn't interfere with your ability to work. Online classes might be more flexible but you still need to be available for work during normal business hours.

This is so true. The website is confusing and when you try to call for help you can't get through to anyone.

That's exactly why I started using Claimyr. Instead of spending hours trying to reach Washington ESD, it connects you directly with agents who can actually explain what you need to do. Saved me from making mistakes that could have cost me weeks of benefits.

Wait so Washington doesn't drug test for unemployment benefits?

Correct, Washington state doesn't require drug testing to receive unemployment benefits. But if you fail a drug test for a job you were referred to, that might be considered refusing suitable work.

Are you saying union members can't get unemployment during strikes?

Generally no, you can't collect unemployment if you're participating in a strike. But if you're locked out by your employer or the strike ends and you're still unemployed, then you might qualify.

This thread has been super helpful. I had no idea there were so many ways to get disqualified. I'm definitely going to be more careful with my weekly claims.

Same here. I'm going to go back and double-check my job search log to make sure I'm doing everything right.

How hard is it to win an appeal?

It depends on your situation and how well you can document your case. Having representation or at least good advice about what evidence to present definitely helps your chances.

This is another area where getting through to Washington ESD is crucial. If you can't explain your situation to someone who understands the system, it's hard to know if you have a good case for appeal. That Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier might be worth it just to get proper guidance on whether an appeal makes sense.

Agreed. Wish Washington ESD would just put all this information in one clear place instead of making us hunt for answers.

Maybe they should hire some of the people in this thread to rewrite their website. Y'all explained more in a few hours than I learned from months of trying to navigate their system.