What can you file unemployment for in Washington ESD - complete list of qualifying reasons?

What counts as 'good cause' for quitting? My supervisor has been making unreasonable demands but I'm not sure if that qualifies.

Good cause includes unsafe working conditions, significant reduction in hours/pay, harassment or discrimination, or major changes to your job that weren't part of your original agreement. Document everything if you're considering this route.

How long can you be on standby status? My company said they'll call us back 'when things pick up' but didn't give a specific date.

Standby typically requires a specific recall date within 4 weeks. If it's indefinite, you'd probably file a regular UI claim instead.

Is that service legit? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for days with no luck.

Yeah it's legitimate, they just help you get through the phone queue. I was able to speak with an ESD agent within a few hours instead of spending days redialing.

Wait really? I didn't know you could collect benefits while still working part time. How does that calculation work?

Washington ESD deducts your weekly earnings from your benefit amount. If you earn less than your weekly benefit, you get the difference. You still need to file weekly claims and report all earnings.

Getting fired for attendance can be tricky. If it's due to circumstances beyond your control (medical issues, transportation problems, etc.) you might still qualify. But if it's just showing up late repeatedly without good reason, that could be considered misconduct.

damn ok thanks. my 'friend' had some medical stuff going on so maybe theres hope

I didn't know about that provision. That's really important information for people in those situations.

Yes, Washington ESD has specific procedures for these cases and you may not have to meet all the typical job search requirements either.

Yes, you absolutely need to keep filing your weekly claims even while your initial claim is pending. If you don't file weekly, you won't get paid for those weeks even if your claim is eventually approved.

Ugh this is so stressful. I wish they made this process clearer.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. I was getting different answers from different agents and it was driving me crazy. At least with their service I could get through to someone consistently.

I might have to try that. This is ridiculous that we need a third party service just to talk to our own state agency.

Yes, that would qualify for partial unemployment benefits. As long as the hour reduction wasn't your fault and you're earning less than your potential weekly benefit amount, you should be able to file.

Thanks! Do I need to look for other work while collecting partial benefits?

Yes, you still need to meet the job search requirements and be available for full-time work if offered.

Good point. I didn't think about union considerations.

Yes, seasonal workers can file for unemployment during their off-season as long as they meet the earnings requirements. You'll need to have worked enough hours and earned enough wages during your base period.

Cool, that's what I thought but wanted to make sure. Thanks!

Same here! I'm learning a lot from everyone's responses.

That's good advice. I was hesitant to file because I wasn't sure about my situation but now I think I should just go for it.

Exactly! Let Washington ESD make the determination rather than self-disqualifying.

That can be considered good cause in some circumstances, especially if it's due to a sudden change in your family member's condition. You'd need to document the situation and show that you had no other reasonable options.

Thanks, I'll look into documenting everything properly.

You can generally refuse work that pays significantly less than your previous job or your weekly benefit amount, especially if it's a 40% reduction. That would likely be considered 'unsuitable work' under Washington ESD guidelines.

That's a relief. I was worried I'd have to take a huge pay cut or lose my benefits.

How much does it cost? I'm already strapped for cash being unemployed.

It's worth checking their website for current pricing. For me it was worth it to avoid the stress of constant busy signals and dropped calls.

You should file as soon as possible after becoming unemployed. There's no specific deadline, but benefits can only be backdated for a limited time, so you could lose weeks of benefits if you wait too long.

Good to know, thanks for all the helpful info everyone!

You're welcome! I'm glad this helped other people too. Definitely got way more information than I expected.

Yes, unsafe working conditions are definitely considered good cause for quitting. You'd want to document the hazards, any complaints you made to your employer, and their failure to address the issues. Report it to OSHA too if it's a serious safety violation.

Thanks, that's exactly what I needed to know. Time to start documenting everything.

Agreed! Would have saved me a lot of research time if I'd found this earlier.