What disqualifies you from unemployment in Washington ESD - need to understand my options

That's reassuring about the performance thing. How do they determine what counts as misconduct vs just not being good at the job?

Misconduct has to be willful or deliberate violation of company policy. Poor performance, inability to do the job, or honest mistakes usually don't count as misconduct under Washington ESD rules.

This is so true. My employer tried to claim misconduct when they fired me but Washington ESD ruled in my favor because it was really just a personality conflict with my supervisor.

How long did the adjudication process take for you? I'm nervous about the whole investigation part.

What's the base period wage requirement? I only worked part-time for most of last year.

You need at least $1,850 in your base period and wages in at least two quarters. Part-time work can still qualify you if you meet those minimums.

Never heard of that service. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?

It's legit - I was skeptical too but actually got through to talk to someone at Washington ESD when I couldn't get through on my own for weeks. Worth trying if you need to speak with someone directly.

Chronic tardiness can be considered misconduct if you were warned about it repeatedly. But car problems might be considered circumstances beyond your control. You should still apply and explain the situation fully.

yeah I had warnings but like... my car literally broke down multiple times. how was I supposed to get to work??

Document everything about your car issues - repair receipts, towing bills, etc. That evidence could help show it wasn't willful misconduct.

That makes me feel better. My employer mentioned attendance and performance but I was never written up formally. Think that helps my case?

Absolutely. Lack of formal progressive discipline usually works in your favor. It suggests they didn't follow proper procedures for addressing performance issues.

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

It's 3 job search activities per week and you have to keep a log. WorkSourceWA has specific requirements about what counts as a valid job search activity.

Good to know for later. Right now I just want to make sure I can even get benefits in the first place.

That's not helpful. Plenty of people successfully get benefits when they're eligible. Don't discourage someone from applying when they might qualify.

I'm just being REAL about what to expect. They denied me for 'misconduct' when all I did was disagree with my boss about safety procedures.

Did you file an appeal? Disagreeing about safety procedures doesn't sound like misconduct if you were acting in good faith.

How long did it take from filing to getting your first payment? I'm stressed about how long this might take.

About 5 weeks total with the adjudication. It's stressful but try to be patient and respond quickly to any requests for information from Washington ESD.

I don't have much written documentation since most of our feedback was verbal. Is that going to hurt my case?

Not necessarily. Write down everything you remember with dates and details. Your testimony matters too, not just written documents.

Yes, you can still qualify during probationary period. 'Not a good fit' usually isn't misconduct unless there were specific policy violations involved.

Thanks! That's what I hoped. Going to file my claim tomorrow.

What happens if you forget to report some small cash job you did? Like if someone paid you $50 to help them move?

You should report ALL work and earnings, no matter how small. If you forgot, report it as soon as you remember. It's better to be proactive than get caught later.

What did they tell you about performance-related terminations? I'm still nervous about my situation.

The agent explained that poor performance alone isn't disqualifying misconduct. They look for willful violation of known company rules or policies. Performance issues are usually just employer-employee mismatch.

Does that include 401k withdrawals? I had to take some money out of my 401k after I lost my job.

401k withdrawals typically don't affect unemployment benefits since that's your own money, not a pension. But definitely mention it when you file just to be safe.

You're right. I'm going to file tomorrow morning. Thanks everyone for all the helpful information about disqualifications!

Good luck! Remember to be completely honest about what happened and provide all requested documentation promptly.

How much do you have to earn to requalify after a disqualification?

It varies depending on the type of disqualification, but typically you need to earn at least 8 times your weekly benefit amount in new employment to requalify.