What disqualifies you from unemployment in Washington ESD - complete list?
I'm trying to understand all the ways you can get disqualified from unemployment benefits in Washington. My claim got denied and I'm not sure why - the letter wasn't very clear. Can someone break down what actually disqualifies you from getting Washington ESD benefits? I want to make sure I understand everything before I file an appeal.
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Avery Flores
There are several main categories that can disqualify you from Washington ESD unemployment benefits. The most common ones are: 1) Being fired for misconduct (like theft, insubordination, or violating company policy), 2) Quitting without good cause, 3) Not being able and available for work, 4) Refusing suitable work without good cause, 5) Not actively searching for work, and 6) Earning too much money while claiming benefits.
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Caden Nguyen
•This is helpful but I'm still confused about the misconduct part. What exactly counts as misconduct that would disqualify you?
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Avery Flores
•Misconduct has to be work-related and willful. Things like chronic tardiness after warnings, violating safety rules, fighting at work, or theft. Simple poor performance usually doesn't count as misconduct unless you're deliberately not doing your job.
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Zoe Gonzalez
Don't forget about the work search requirements! You have to be actively looking for work and keep a job search log. If you're not meeting the minimum job contacts per week or can't provide proof during an audit, that can disqualify you too.
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Ashley Adams
•How many job contacts do you need per week in Washington? I keep hearing different numbers.
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Zoe Gonzalez
•It's typically 3 job search activities per week, but it can vary based on your situation. Check your individual requirements in your Washington ESD account.
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Alexis Robinson
I had a nightmare trying to get through to Washington ESD when my claim was under review for potential disqualification. Spent hours on hold every day for weeks. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me so much time and frustration.
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Aaron Lee
•Wait, what is Claimyr exactly? Is it legit?
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Alexis Robinson
•Yeah it's legitimate. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD phone lines faster. You don't have to sit on hold for hours - they call you back when an agent is available.
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Chloe Mitchell
You can also get disqualified for things like not reporting all your earnings, working under the table while claiming benefits, or lying on your application. Washington ESD does cross-check with other agencies so they usually catch these things eventually.
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Michael Adams
•What happens if you accidentally don't report some income? Like if you forgot about a small freelance job?
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Chloe Mitchell
•It depends on the amount and whether it looks intentional. Small honest mistakes can usually be corrected, but you might have to pay back some benefits. Always better to report everything just to be safe.
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Natalie Wang
There's also the 'able and available' requirement that trips people up. If you're going to school full-time, traveling for extended periods, or have health issues that prevent you from working, you might not qualify. You have to be ready and willing to accept suitable work immediately.
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Noah Torres
•What about if you're doing online college part-time? Does that affect your eligibility?
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Natalie Wang
•Part-time school is usually okay as long as it doesn't interfere with your ability to work. Full-time is where you run into problems unless you meet specific exceptions.
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Samantha Hall
The system is so confusing though! I got disqualified initially because they said I quit without good cause, but I had a legitimate reason related to workplace harassment. Took forever to get it sorted out even with documentation.
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Ryan Young
•Did you end up winning your appeal? I'm dealing with something similar.
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Samantha Hall
•Yes, but it took months. Make sure you have everything documented - emails, witness statements, whatever you can get. The appeals process is long but worth it if you have a valid case.
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Sophia Clark
Don't forget about the waiting week requirement and the fact that you can't collect benefits for the first week after filing. Also, if you're receiving certain other benefits like workers' comp, that can affect your eligibility too.
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Katherine Harris
•Wait, there's still a waiting week? I thought they got rid of that during COVID.
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Sophia Clark
•The waiting week is back for new claims. It was suspended during the pandemic but they reinstated it.
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Madison Allen
I used Claimyr too when I was trying to get answers about my disqualification. Super easy to use and way better than trying to call Washington ESD directly. Worth checking out if you're having trouble getting through to them.
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Joshua Wood
•How much does something like that cost? I'm already broke from being unemployed.
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Madison Allen
•It's worth it for the time you save. Way cheaper than missing out on benefits because you can't get through to resolve issues.
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Justin Evans
Another thing that can disqualify you is if you're not a US citizen or don't have work authorization. Also, if you're receiving pension benefits, that might reduce or eliminate your unemployment benefits depending on how the pension is funded.
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Emily Parker
•The pension thing is complicated. I think it only affects you if your employer contributed to the pension, but I'm not 100% sure.
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Justin Evans
•Yeah, it's complex. If your employer contributed to the pension from the same job you're claiming benefits for, it can reduce your weekly benefit amount.
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Ezra Collins
The appeals process is actually pretty straightforward if you have a legitimate case. You just need to file within 30 days of the disqualification notice and be prepared to present your evidence. I successfully appealed a misconduct disqualification last year.
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Victoria Scott
•Did you need a lawyer for your appeal or did you handle it yourself?
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Ezra Collins
•I handled it myself. The hearing was over the phone and pretty informal. As long as you have your facts straight and documentation, you should be fine without a lawyer for most cases.
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Benjamin Johnson
One more thing - if you're collecting unemployment and then go back to work but get laid off again within a certain period, you might be able to reopen your existing claim rather than file a new one. This can help you avoid some of the qualification issues.
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Zara Perez
•How long do you have to work before you can reopen a claim? I worked for like 2 months then got laid off again.
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Benjamin Johnson
•I think it depends on your specific situation and how much you earned. You'd need to check with Washington ESD to see if reopening is better than filing a new claim.
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Daniel Rogers
The whole system is a mess. I've been trying to get answers about my disqualification for weeks and can't get through to anyone at Washington ESD. It's ridiculous how hard it is to talk to a human being when you need help.
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Aaliyah Reed
•Have you tried calling first thing in the morning? I've had better luck getting through early.
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Daniel Rogers
•I've tried everything - early morning, late at night, different numbers. Nothing works. The system just hangs up on you after being on hold forever.
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Alexis Robinson
•This is exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. Saved me from going insane trying to get through to Washington ESD.
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