What disqualifies you for unemployment in Washington ESD - need to know before I file

Quitting your job without good cause is usually a disqualification. Washington ESD considers it 'voluntary leaving' and you'd need to prove you had good cause like unsafe working conditions or harassment. Other common disqualifications include getting fired for misconduct, not being able and available for work, refusing suitable job offers, or not meeting work search requirements.

There's also being unavailable for work, like if you're going to school full time or can't work certain hours. And if you're not a US citizen or don't have work authorization that's an issue too.

I spent months trying to get through to Washington ESD to discuss my potential disqualification issues. The phone lines are absolutely brutal - I'd call hundreds of times and either get busy signals or get hung up on after waiting for hours. Finally found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually got me through to a real person at Washington ESD. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Game changer for getting actual answers about disqualification questions.

The big ones are misconduct (like stealing, fighting, being drunk at work), voluntary quit without good cause, not meeting the work requirements (you need to have worked enough hours and earned enough money), and fraud. Also if you refuse a suitable job offer or don't do your weekly job searches that'll get you disqualified.

dont forget about the wage requirements! you need to have earned at least $7,000 in your base year and meet the other monetary requirements or you wont qualify at all

For your situation specifically, you'd need to show the quit was for good cause. Document everything - emails, texts, witness statements. Washington ESD will investigate and make a determination. If they disqualify you, you can appeal within 30 days.

I got disqualified for 'inability to work' because I had surgery scheduled. Even though I was able to work before and after, they said I wasn't available during the recovery period. It's pretty strict.

Drug test failures can also disqualify you, especially if it's considered misconduct. And if you're receiving other benefits like workers comp or disability, that might affect your eligibility too.

Another thing people don't realize is that if you're self-employed or an independent contractor, you might not qualify for regular UI benefits. You'd need to check if you qualify for different programs.

Don't forget about the weekly requirements once you're approved. You have to be able and available for work each week, actively searching for jobs, and report any work or income. Failing to do these can get you disqualified even after you start receiving benefits.

I tried calling Washington ESD for weeks to get clarification on my potential disqualification. Finally used Claimyr and got through in minutes. The agent was able to review my case and explain exactly what I needed to do. Totally worth it when you need real answers.

One more thing - if you have a non-compete agreement or other contractual restrictions that limit your ability to find work, that could be an issue. Washington ESD expects you to be available for suitable work in your field.

also if you move out of state you need to notify washington esd and follow their rules for out of state claims. some people get disqualified for not reporting address changes

The pension thing trips people up too. If you're getting a pension from a previous employer, it might reduce your weekly benefit amount or disqualify you entirely depending on the circumstances.

Just went through this whole process last month. Got initially disqualified for voluntary quit but appealed with documentation of hostile work environment. Won the appeal after 6 weeks. The key is having proof - emails, witness statements, anything that shows you had good cause to quit.

For anyone dealing with potential disqualification issues, I really recommend using Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD. The representatives can review your specific situation and give you accurate information about whether you'll be disqualified. Way better than guessing based on general information online.

Military folks need to be aware that if you're receiving military retirement pay, that can affect your unemployment benefits. It's not an automatic disqualification but it might reduce your weekly amount.

Bottom line - Washington ESD looks at why you became unemployed, whether you're able and available for work, if you meet the monetary requirements, and whether you're actively searching for work. Any of these areas can lead to disqualification if you don't meet the requirements.

One last thing - don't try to hide anything from Washington ESD. They cross-reference with other databases and will find out about unreported work, income, or other issues. Being honest upfront is always better than getting caught in fraud later.

I used Claimyr a few months ago when I was confused about whether my separation would be considered misconduct. The Washington ESD agent was able to explain the difference between misconduct and poor performance, and helped me understand what documentation I needed. Saved me a lot of stress and uncertainty.