What disqualifies you for unemployment benefits in Washington ESD?

What counts as 'good cause' for quitting? Is it pretty strict?

Good cause includes things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, significant changes to your job duties or pay, or compelling family reasons. Washington ESD reviews each case individually.

Wait, you can't go to school and collect unemployment? I was planning to take some classes while looking for work.

You can take some classes but not full-time usually. Check with Washington ESD about your specific situation - there are some training programs that are approved.

What exactly counts as 'good cause' for quitting? My friend quit because her boss was being really hostile but they still denied her claim.

Good cause has to be work-related and leave you no reasonable alternative. Hostile work environment can qualify but you need documentation - complaints to HR, witness statements, etc. It's not enough to just say the boss was mean.

This is super important to understand. I've seen people think any firing = misconduct disqualification, but that's not true. Poor performance due to lack of skills or ability is different from willful misconduct.

So if someone gets fired for not meeting sales quotas, that wouldn't be misconduct?

right, not meeting quotas alone usually isn't misconduct unless you were like refusing to try or ignoring training. has to be deliberate

How much does that cost? I'm already broke, can't afford to pay for help getting my own benefits.

It's definitely worth checking out their site for the details. For me, the time saved and actually getting answers was huge compared to spending hours trying to call.

Wait, is it 3 contacts per week for everyone? I thought it depended on your situation?

The standard is 3 but some people might have different requirements based on their reemployment plan. You'll know what yours is when you complete your initial claim.

What if you were just bad at the job but trying your best? That seems unfair.

Being unable to do the job due to lack of skills usually isn't misconduct. But if you weren't following instructions or company rules, that could be different.

What if you're taking night classes? Would that make you unavailable?

Night classes are usually okay as long as they don't interfere with your ability to accept suitable work. It's more about full-time day programs that would prevent you from working normal business hours.

That's correct. After a certain number of weeks, suitable work includes jobs that pay less than your previous wage. The standards change over time during your unemployment period.

yeah she was pretty upset about it. wish someone had warned her before she turned it down

If you can't work due to illness or injury, you might not meet the 'able and available' requirement for regular unemployment. You might qualify for disability benefits instead through L&I if it's work-related.

Thanks, I'll look into L&I. This is all so confusing.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that calls Washington ESD for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Finally got through and resolved my adjudication issue.

Interesting, I'll check that out. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get through to someone who can explain why they disqualified me.

How does that work exactly? Do they just keep calling until they get through?

Yeah, basically they handle all the calling and waiting for you. When they get an agent on the line, they connect you. Saves you from sitting on hold for hours.

While the requirements can be strict, they're there to ensure benefits go to people actively seeking work. You can appeal if you feel you were wrongly disqualified.

Easy to say when you're not the one struggling to find work and jumping through hoops just to survive.

What's the difference between an overpayment and fraud? Like what if you made an honest mistake reporting income?

Fraud requires intent to deceive. If you honestly made a mistake reporting income, that would likely be just an overpayment you'd have to pay back. Fraud is when they can prove you deliberately provided false information.

What if you only work a few hours? Do you still have to report small amounts?

Yes, any work and earnings must be reported when you file your weekly claim, even if it's just a few dollars.

Moving for a spouse's job can sometimes qualify as good cause, but you have to prove it was necessary. Did you appeal the decision?

I tried but by the time I figured out how to appeal properly, I had already found a job in the new state. Learned my lesson though.

How much do you need to have earned? I only worked part-time for most of last year.

The exact amount changes yearly, but generally you need earnings in at least two quarters of your base period and meet minimum wage requirements. Check the Washington ESD website for current amounts.

Generally criminal charges don't automatically disqualify you from unemployment unless they prevent you from working or relate to your job separation. But if you're in jail and unavailable for work, that would be an issue.

What about things like Uber or DoorDash? Those count as self-employment?

Yes, gig work like Uber and DoorDash is considered self-employment and must be reported. You might still be eligible for partial benefits depending on your earnings.

Good point. Initially suitable work is usually in your field at similar pay. But after several weeks, you're expected to consider work at lower pay levels or in different fields if you have transferable skills.

How much lower pay? Like if I was making $25/hour, what would I have to accept?

Generally after 13 weeks you'd be expected to consider work at 80% of your previous wage, and it continues to decrease over time. But there are exceptions for certain circumstances.

Does that actually work? I've been trying to get through for weeks about my disqualification.

It worked for me and several others I know. Check out their demo video to see how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ

Oh wow, even small amounts matter? I thought there was like a minimum threshold.

Nope, you have to report ALL income while claiming benefits. Any work, even odd jobs or freelance stuff. They cross-reference with tax records so they'll find out eventually.

Missing one weekly claim usually just means you don't get paid for that week. Disqualification is more serious - it means you're ineligible for benefits until you meet certain requirements or serve a penalty period.

Thanks, that makes more sense. I was worried I'd lose everything just for missing one week.

Yes! I keep a spreadsheet with everything. Company name, position applied for, date, how I applied, any follow-up. Better to be over-prepared than sorry.

Good idea, I'll start keeping track of that stuff before I even file my claim.

You can travel, but you have to be available for work. If you're out of state or unavailable to accept a job offer, you need to mark 'no' for available that week and won't receive benefits for that period.

That's what she should have done. Instead she marked yes when she wasn't actually available and they caught it somehow.

probably not misconduct without warnings. misconduct usually requires that you knew the behavior was unacceptable and continued anyway. no warnings = no knowledge of the standard being violated

That's not always true though. Some things are obviously misconduct even without warnings - like stealing or violence. But for attendance issues, yeah, usually need progressive discipline first.

Medical issues can be good cause but you need medical documentation and proof that you tried to work with your employer on accommodations first. Can't just quit because you don't feel well.

Makes sense. So doctor's note plus showing you asked for reasonable accommodations?

Exactly. And the medical condition has to be serious enough that continuing work would be detrimental to your health or impossible.

Yes! I mentioned Claimyr earlier - they actually got me through to an agent who explained my disqualification and helped me understand the appeal process. Worth checking out if you're stuck.

I'll definitely look into that. This is getting ridiculous - been almost 3 months since I filed my appeal.

How do they verify identity? Through ID.me or something else?

yeah id.me mostly but sometimes they want additional documents. they give you a deadline to respond and if you miss it, claim gets disqualified

I agree it's complicated, but most of the rules make sense when you understand the purpose - preventing fraud and ensuring benefits go to people who are genuinely unemployed through no fault of their own.

I get that, but they could explain things more clearly instead of using legal jargon that nobody understands.

What's the limit for part-time work? Can you work at all while collecting?

You can work part-time but your benefits get reduced based on earnings. Work too many hours (I think it's over 32 hours per week) and you're not considered unemployed anymore.

Thanks everyone, this has been really helpful. I feel much more prepared now to avoid the common mistakes.

It is complex, but most people who follow the basic rules - report earnings honestly, conduct job searches, be available for work - don't have major issues. When in doubt, ask Washington ESD directly.

The key is being honest and documenting everything. Keep records of your job searches, save all correspondence from Washington ESD, and report any work or earnings immediately.

How long does a benefit year last?

One year from when you first filed your claim. After that, you need enough new earnings to establish a new claim.

I understand the frustration, but the rules are there for a reason. The unemployment system has to balance helping people who need it with preventing fraud and abuse.

Exactly right. And don't hesitate to ask questions if you're unsure about anything. Better to get clarification than risk a disqualification.

Good to know. Hopefully I won't need to appeal but it's reassuring that there's a process.

And again, if you need help understanding your disqualification or preparing an appeal, services like Claimyr can connect you with Washington ESD agents who can walk you through your specific situation.

This has been really helpful. At least now I know what to watch out for.

That's good to know. I thought once you were disqualified that was it.

Not necessarily. The key is staying in communication with Washington ESD and reporting any changes in your circumstances.