What disqualifies you from unemployment - Washington ESD denied my claim

There are several main categories that can disqualify you from unemployment benefits in Washington. The most common ones are: 1) Being fired for misconduct (like violating company policy, theft, or repeated tardiness), 2) Quitting without good cause (you generally need to have a work-related reason to quit), 3) Not being able and available to work (like if you're on vacation or can't accept full-time work), 4) Not actively searching for work or not meeting the job search requirements, and 5) Refusing suitable work without good cause. What specific reason did they give you in the letter?

There are several things that can disqualify you from unemployment benefits in Washington. The main ones are: voluntary quit without good cause, being fired for misconduct, not being able and available for work, refusing suitable work, or not meeting the work/wage requirements. If you were truly laid off, this sounds like an error on Washington ESD's part.

There are several reasons Washington ESD can disqualify you from UI benefits. The most common ones are: being fired for misconduct, quitting without good cause, not being able and available for work, refusing suitable work, or not meeting the work search requirements. What exactly did the denial letter say? The reason code should give you more specific information about why they denied your claim.

I've been through this nightmare before with Washington ESD. They're super strict about the 'good cause' requirements. Even if you have legitimate reasons for quitting, they want to see that you exhausted all other options first. It's frustrating because sometimes staying in a toxic job situation isn't realistic, but that's how they see it.

this happened to my cousin last year, washington esd mixed up his file with someone else who quit. took months to sort out

Had a similar issue last year and spent weeks trying to get through to Washington ESD to explain my situation. The phone lines are always busy and when you do get through, you get rushed off the call. Finally found this service called Claimyr that helped me actually reach a real person at ESD who could review my case properly. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made all the difference in getting my disqualification overturned.

Don't give up! Disqualifications can often be appealed if you have the right documentation. For hostile work environment claims, Washington ESD wants to see things like: written complaints to supervisors or HR, doctor's notes if the stress affected your health, witness statements from coworkers, emails or texts showing the problematic behavior, and evidence that you tried to resolve it internally first. The key is showing you had no reasonable alternative but to quit.

You should definitely appeal this decision! I had a similar situation where Washington ESD initially denied me and it turned out to be a mistake. The appeal process isn't too complicated but you only have 30 days from the date on your denial letter to file it. Don't wait around - that deadline is firm.

You need to appeal this decision ASAP. Washington ESD has strict deadlines for appeals - usually 30 days from the date of the determination letter. The main disqualifications include: quitting without good cause, discharge for misconduct, not actively seeking work, refusing suitable employment, or fraud. Since you were laid off, none of these should apply.

I've been fighting Washington ESD for weeks trying to get through to someone about my claim status. The phone system is absolutely terrible - I've tried calling dozens of times and either get disconnected or stuck on hold for hours. Recently discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually gets you connected to Washington ESD agents. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Might be worth checking out if you need to speak to someone about your disqualification.

wait what about if you get fired for attendance issues? my friend got let go because she was late a few times due to childcare problems and they denied her unemployment too

Another thing to watch out for is the work search requirements. Even if you qualify initially, you can lose benefits if you don't do enough job searches each week or if you turn down a suitable job offer. Washington ESD is pretty strict about tracking this stuff now.

THE WASHINGTON ESD SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!! They disqualify people left and right for no reason. I got disqualified because they said I wasn't actively job searching but I was applying to 3 jobs per week like required. These people have no clue what they're doing.

The 'able and available' requirement trips up a lot of people too. If you're going to school, traveling, have transportation issues, or can only work certain hours, Washington ESD might decide you're not truly available for work. It's stricter than most people realize.

I got disqualified once because they said I didn't report income correctly from a side gig. Even small amounts of income need to be reported when you file your weekly claims. They don't mess around with that stuff - they consider it fraud if you don't report it properly.

Before you appeal, I'd suggest trying to get through to someone at Washington ESD to clarify what the issue actually is. Sometimes these denials happen because of missing information or miscommunication with your former employer. I used Claimyr.com recently to get connected with an agent - they have this system that calls you back when an agent is available instead of waiting on hold forever. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Drug testing failures will also disqualify you, and so will being fired for theft or other criminal behavior at work. Washington ESD takes misconduct pretty seriously - they want to make sure benefits only go to people who lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

The tardiness thing you mentioned could definitely be why they denied you. Washington ESD considers repeated tardiness as misconduct even if you weren't formally written up for it. Your employer probably reported that when they responded to your claim. Did you keep track of when you were late and the reasons why?

What exactly did your termination paperwork say? Sometimes employers classify layoffs incorrectly or there's miscommunication between the employer and Washington ESD about the reason for separation.

ugh the washington esd system is so frustrating!! they deny people for the stupidest reasons and then make you jump through hoops to appeal. i got denied initially too even though i was clearly laid off due to covid. took me 2 months to get it sorted out

The appeal process is really important if you think you were wrongly disqualified. You only have 30 days from the date of the disqualification letter to file an appeal, so don't wait. I've seen people win appeals even when their initial claim was denied.

Been through this exact situation. Other common disqualifications include: not earning enough wages in your base period, being a student without meeting specific criteria, being self-employed, or having a work authorization issue. But layoffs should definitely qualify you for benefits.

For anyone reading this thread, here's a complete list of what can disqualify you from Washington ESD unemployment benefits: 1) Fired for misconduct 2) Quit without good cause 3) Not able and available for work 4) Refusing suitable work offers 5) Not actively searching for work 6) Not reporting work or earnings 7) Fraud or misrepresentation 8) Not meeting base period wage requirements. Each situation is evaluated individually so even if one of these applies, you might still have grounds for appeal.

I'm dealing with something similar right now. Got denied because they said I 'abandoned my job' but I was actually in the hospital for a week and couldn't call in properly. Now I'm trying to gather medical records to prove I had good cause. This whole process is exhausting.

wait can you get disqualified for being a student? im taking night classes while working

Document everything for your appeal! I had a similar issue where Washington ESD incorrectly classified my separation. I had to provide: termination letter from employer, witness statements from coworkers, email correspondence about the layoff, and my work history. Won the appeal but it took 3 months.

Been fighting Washington ESD for months over my disqualification. The system is set up to deny first and ask questions later. But like others mentioned, if you can actually get through to talk to someone who knows what they're doing, you might have better luck getting it resolved.

One thing people don't realize is that your former employer has to respond to Washington ESD's request for information about why you left. Sometimes employers exaggerate or misrepresent what happened to avoid their unemployment taxes going up. That's why it's so important to appeal if you think the decision is wrong - you get a chance to tell your side of the story at the hearing.

Another thing that disqualifies people is not registering with WorkSourceWA or not meeting the work search requirements. You have to prove you're actively looking for work and document your job search activities.

If you can't get through to Washington ESD by phone, that Claimyr service mentioned earlier is actually legit. My brother used it when he was having issues with his weekly claims getting stuck. Sometimes you just need to talk to a human to sort these things out quickly.

If you do decide to appeal, make sure you request copies of all the documents Washington ESD used to make their decision. You have the right to see what your employer told them and any other evidence they considered. This information can help you prepare your case for the hearing.

Don't forget about the earnings requirements too. Even if you qualify in other ways, you need to have earned enough in your base period to qualify for benefits. And if you haven't worked enough recently, that could be why you're disqualified.

Just want to add that even if your initial claim is denied, you should continue to file your weekly claims if you appeal. If you win your appeal, you can get back pay for all the weeks you were denied. But if you don't file the weekly claims, you forfeit those weeks even if you win.

OP, based on what you've described, I think you have a good chance with an appeal. Being late a few times due to car trouble and childcare issues probably doesn't rise to the level of misconduct, especially if it wasn't a pattern throughout your employment. The fact that your employer said they were cutting staff due to slow business supports your case that this was a layoff, not a firing for cause.

I used to work for Washington ESD and I can tell you that a lot of initial denials get overturned on appeal. The initial determination is often made with limited information and the hearing gives you a chance to present the full picture. Don't give up if you think the decision was wrong.

Another option if you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD is to contact your state representative's office. They sometimes have direct lines to the unemployment office and can help escalate issues. I know someone who got their claim resolved that way after months of trying.

I'm going through the appeal process right now after being denied for 'job abandonment' when I was actually laid off. The hearing is scheduled for next month. Has anyone been through one of these hearings? What should I expect?

Just a heads up - if you're planning to get help reaching Washington ESD, I've had good luck with Claimyr recently when I needed to check on my pending adjudication. Way better than sitting on hold for hours or having the call drop. The callback system they use actually works and saved me tons of time trying to get answers about my claim status.

Immigration status can also affect eligibility. If you're not authorized to work in the US, you won't qualify for unemployment benefits. Washington ESD verifies work authorization as part of the application process.

Sometimes the disqualification is just temporary too. Like if you're not available for work because you're caring for a sick family member, you might be disqualified for those weeks but can resume benefits once you're available again.

One more thing - make sure you're not missing any deadlines. Washington ESD has strict timelines for everything, and missing a deadline can automatically disqualify you even if you otherwise qualify. Always respond to their requests for information quickly.

If anyone's still struggling to get help from Washington ESD directly, I had success with Claimyr too. They actually got me through to someone who could explain exactly why I was disqualified and what I needed to do to fix it. Worth checking out if you're stuck in phone tree hell like I was.

Does anyone know if there's a difference between being laid off and being terminated for business reasons? I'm worried Washington ESD might see them as different things.

Make sure you understand the difference between disqualification and denial. Disqualification means you can't receive benefits at all, while denial might just mean they need more information or documentation.

this is why i hate the unemployment system. they make it so hard to get benefits even when you deserve them. good luck with your appeal op

One more disqualification reason people don't always think about - if you're receiving other types of compensation like severance pay, vacation payout, or pension benefits, it might affect your eligibility or benefit amount.

Been dealing with Washington ESD for years and the key is persistence. If you know you were laid off and not fired for cause, keep fighting it. They make mistakes all the time but rarely admit it without being forced to through appeals.

Quick question - if you win your appeal, do you get benefits from the original claim date or from when the appeal is approved?

Just wanted to add - if you need help reaching Washington ESD for your appeal or questions, that Claimyr service people mentioned really does work. Used it myself when I was dealing with an overpayment issue. Sometimes you just need to talk to an actual person instead of trying to navigate their website or automated system.

Update us on how your appeal goes! These kinds of posts help other people who run into similar issues with Washington ESD.