What disqualifies you for unemployment in Washington - need clarification

The main disqualifications in Washington include: quitting without good cause, being fired for misconduct, refusing suitable work, not meeting job search requirements (you need to make at least 3 job contacts per week), and not being able and available for work. There's also earning too much money while on benefits - you can work part-time but if you earn more than your weekly benefit amount plus $5, you'll lose benefits for that week.

Don't forget about the work search requirements! You have to log at least 3 job search activities each week and keep records. I know someone who got disqualified because they didn't keep proper documentation of their job searches.

I had issues reaching Washington ESD when I got a confusing disqualification notice last year. Kept getting busy signals and getting hung up on. Finally used Claimyr to get through to an actual agent who explained everything. They have this service at claimyr.com that calls for you and gets you connected to ESD staff. There's even a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Made all the difference in getting my situation sorted out.

Income limits are tricky too. If you work while collecting benefits, Washington has this formula where you can earn up to your weekly benefit amount plus $5 before they start reducing your benefits. Earn more than that and you might lose the whole week of benefits.

Misconduct disqualifications are the worst because they can affect future claims too. Washington ESD considers things like attendance issues, policy violations, criminal behavior at work, or insubordination as misconduct. The key is whether it was willful and connected to work.

Don't forget about the base period earnings requirement. You need to have earned at least $7,203 in your base period to qualify for benefits at all. If you haven't worked enough or earned enough, you won't even get approved initially.

The 'able and available' requirement trips up a lot of people. You have to be physically and mentally able to work and available for work during normal business hours. If you're taking care of a sick family member or don't have childcare, that could disqualify you.

Refusing suitable work is another big one. If ESD or WorkSource refers you to a job and you turn it down without good cause, you can get disqualified. 'Suitable' depends on your skills, experience, and how long you've been unemployed.

I got disqualified once for not reporting earnings correctly. Even small amounts from odd jobs need to be reported on your weekly claim. Washington ESD will find out eventually through wage records and hit you with an overpayment.

The job search documentation is crucial. You need to keep detailed records of every contact - company name, date, method of contact, position applied for. I use a spreadsheet to track everything because ESD can audit your job search activities at any time.

Criminal convictions related to your work can also disqualify you. If you were fired because you were arrested for something that happened at work, that's usually misconduct. But arrests for things unrelated to work shouldn't affect your claim.

Training program requirements can be confusing too. If you're in an approved training program, you might not have to do job searches, but if it's not approved by Washington ESD, you could get disqualified for not being available for work.

Moving out of state can affect your claim too. You need to notify Washington ESD if you move, and you still have to meet all the same requirements including job search activities in your new location.

I've seen people get disqualified for not showing up to required appointments at WorkSource or ESD offices. If they schedule something and you don't show up or reschedule properly, that can stop your benefits.

Self-employment while collecting benefits is really tricky. Even if you're not making money yet, if ESD thinks you're working full-time on your own business, they might say you're not available for work and disqualify you.

Immigration status can affect eligibility too. You need to be authorized to work in the US. If your work authorization expires while you're collecting benefits, that could disqualify you.

Fraud is the big one that can really hurt you long-term. If Washington ESD determines you intentionally provided false information or concealed facts to get benefits, you'll not only have to pay back the money but also pay penalties and possibly face criminal charges.

Labor disputes can also affect your claim. If you're out of work because of a strike at your workplace, you might not be eligible for benefits, especially if you're participating in the strike.

Seasonal work patterns can be complicated too. If you work in an industry with predictable off-seasons and you have reasonable assurance of returning to work, you might not qualify during the off-season.

The bottom line is that Washington ESD has pretty strict rules, but they're usually willing to work with you if you're honest and proactive about communication. The worst thing you can do is ignore problems or try to hide information.