What disqualifies you for unemployment benefits in Washington?

Thank you! I do have some emails saved. Should I file a complaint with HR first or can I use the fact that I tried to resolve it internally as evidence?

Having attempted to resolve it through proper channels actually strengthens your case. Keep records of any internal complaints you made and their responses (or lack thereof).

What counts as 'good cause' for quitting? My current workplace has some safety issues I've been worried about.

Good cause includes things like unsafe working conditions, significant changes to your job that weren't part of your original agreement, harassment or discrimination, or domestic violence situations. You'd need to document everything though.

Thank you! That's reassuring about the good cause thing. Do I need to prove the hostile work environment somehow?

Yes, documentation helps a lot. Emails, witness statements, HR complaints you filed, anything that shows the pattern of behavior. Washington ESD will investigate both sides during adjudication.

What counts as misconduct exactly? Is being late a few times considered misconduct?

Misconduct has to be willful and substantial. A few late arrivals probably wouldn't qualify unless it was after warnings and you kept doing it. They look at whether you deliberately violated workplace rules.

How strict are they about the job search log? Do they actually check it?

Yes they can audit your job search activities anytime. Keep detailed records of every application, networking event, interview, etc. I learned this the hard way.

How many job searches do you have to do per week in Washington?

It's usually 3 per week but can vary based on your situation. Check your requirements in your eServices account to be sure.

Is that legit? Sounds too good to be true with how impossible it is to reach anyone at Washington ESD.

Yeah it's real, I was skeptical too but it actually worked. They basically handle the calling process for you so you don't have to sit on hold forever.

What counts as 'misconduct' vs just being bad at your job? I'm worried they might try to claim I was fired for cause.

Misconduct has to be willful or deliberate - like stealing, fighting, or repeatedly violating policies after warnings. Poor performance or honest mistakes usually don't count as misconduct for UI purposes.

This happened to my friend - she got disqualified after 8 weeks because her job search activities weren't detailed enough. Had to pay back everything.

What kind of detail do they want in the job search log? Just company name and date?

You need company name, contact method, date, position applied for, and result. They also want variety - not just online applications.

Wow, I didn't know there was a percentage threshold. How long do you have before they lower the bar?

I think it's after 5 weeks of benefits they'll consider jobs at 75% of your previous wage as suitable. But honestly, trying to get through to Washington ESD to appeal the disqualification was impossible.

Have you tried using Claimyr? I found out about it when I was having trouble getting through to Washington ESD. They have a service that helps you actually reach an agent instead of getting hung up on. Check out claimyr.com - they even have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

How much can you earn before it affects your benefits? Is there a limit?

You can earn up to your weekly benefit amount minus $5 before they start reducing your benefits. Anything over that gets deducted dollar for dollar.

And you have to report ALL income, even if it's just $20 from a side gig. They cross-reference with tax records.

That's rough. What makes a job 'suitable' in their eyes?

They look at your skills, experience, and how long you've been unemployed. The longer you're out of work, the more they expect you to accept lower-paying jobs.

Have you actually used this service? Does it really work?

Yeah, I used it when I was stuck in adjudication for weeks. Got through to someone the same day and they were able to explain exactly what was holding up my claim.

What if I can only work certain hours because of childcare? Does that count as not being available?

You can have some restrictions on your availability, but they have to be reasonable. Limiting yourself to only weekday mornings might be too restrictive depending on your field.

I had childcare restrictions and still got approved. You just need to show you're genuinely looking for work within your available hours.

Even honest mistakes can look like fraud to them sometimes. Always better to over-report than under-report your earnings.

Exactly. If you're not sure about something, it's better to call and ask than guess wrong.

Good point. I can work full time and have reliable transportation, so that shouldn't be an issue for me.

This is important to clarify - poor performance alone usually won't disqualify you. Washington ESD looks for willful or negligent behavior that violates employer policies.

Good to know, though neither of those apply to me thankfully.

How long did it take for them to make a decision once you were able to explain your situation?

About 2 weeks after I finally got to speak with an adjudicator. The key was having all my documentation ready when I called.

Is that claimyr thing legit? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for three weeks about my adjudication.

Yes, it's legitimate. They basically help you get through the phone queue system. Saved me hours of redialing and getting disconnected.

That's scary. I was always on time and followed all policies. My issue was purely with management behavior, not my performance.

Performance issues and misconduct are different things. Poor performance alone usually won't disqualify you unless it was willful or you refused training/improvement opportunities.

This is really helpful. I didn't know about the labor dispute one. What counts as 'other compensation'?

Other compensation includes things like severance pay, vacation payout, pension payments, workers comp - anything that might reduce your need for unemployment benefits during the same period.

What about if you get a small freelance job while on unemployment? Does that disqualify you completely?

No, you can work part-time while on unemployment, but you have to report all earnings. They'll reduce your weekly benefit amount based on what you earn, but you won't be disqualified as long as you report it honestly.

What if you have a pre-planned vacation before you filed? Do you have to cancel it?

No, but you have to report it when you file your weekly claims. You won't get benefits for those weeks but it won't disqualify you from the whole claim.

Wait, even if you paid into both systems? That seems unfair.

Yeah, it's federal law. They consider retirement benefits as income that reduces your need for unemployment benefits.

So you can work part-time and still collect some unemployment? I didn't know that was allowed.

Yes, but you have to report ALL earnings on your weekly claim. They'll reduce your benefit amount based on what you earned. It's not dollar for dollar though.

Just make sure you report every penny you earn or they'll consider it fraud, which is a whole other level of disqualification.

What if you're taking just one evening class? Would that be a problem?

Part-time classes usually aren't an issue as long as they don't interfere with your ability to work. It's when you're considered a full-time student that problems arise.

Generally yes, unless it's approved training. You have to be available for full-time work, so full-time school usually disqualifies you.

There are some exceptions for approved training programs though. Check with WorkSource about whether your program qualifies.

How does that work exactly? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for days with no luck.

They basically handle the calling for you and get you connected to a real person. Way better than sitting on hold for hours only to get hung up on.

How do they calculate which quarters count as your base period?

It depends on when you file. If you file in January 2025, your base period would be October 2023 through September 2024. They use the most recent completed quarters.

How much can you earn before it affects your benefits?

You can earn up to your weekly benefit amount minus $5 before it starts reducing your benefits. But you MUST report all earnings regardless of the amount.

How long does the appeal process take? I'm worried about being without income for months.

Mine took about 6 weeks total, but I eventually got all the back benefits once I won the appeal. Keep filing your weekly claims even during the appeal process.

Six weeks isn't bad. I've heard of some taking much longer, especially if it goes to a hearing.

What does count as good cause for quitting?

Unsafe working conditions, harassment, significant changes to your job duties or pay, domestic violence situations. But you usually have to prove you tried to resolve the issue with your employer first.

My sister quit because of harassment and still got denied initially. She had to appeal and it took months to get approved.

How did you finally get through to appeal?

I ended up using Claimyr after trying for weeks. It's a service that helps you get connected to actual Washington ESD agents instead of sitting on hold forever. Worth checking out if you're stuck.

How much lower? Like if I was making $25/hour before, what would they consider 'suitable' after 6 months?

Generally starts at 100% of your previous wage, then drops to 75% after a few months, then 70% after longer periods. But it also depends on your skills and local job market.

What if you can work but have restrictions? Like you can't lift heavy things?

That depends on whether you can still do your usual work or similar work. If your restrictions prevent you from working in your field, it could be an issue.

This is why I'm so paranoid about filling out my weekly claims correctly. One wrong answer and you're screwed.