What disqualifies you from unemployment in Washington ESD?

The main disqualifications in Washington are: quitting without good cause, being fired for misconduct, refusing suitable work, not actively seeking work, not being able and available, fraud, and not meeting the work search requirements. There are also some less common ones like being involved in a labor dispute or not registering with WorkSource.

Don't forget about the work search requirements! You have to do at least 3 job search activities per week and keep a log. If Washington ESD audits you and you can't prove you did the searches, they'll disqualify you.

I've been dealing with Washington ESD for months trying to get through their phone system to clarify some of these rules. It's nearly impossible to reach an actual person! Found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to ESD agents - check out claimyr.com and their demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Finally got my questions answered about what would disqualify me.

Another big one people don't realize - if you start working part-time or doing gig work, you HAVE to report it on your weekly claim even if you make very little. Not reporting work income is considered fraud and they'll disqualify you and make you pay back everything.

The main disqualification reasons in Washington are: 1) Quitting without good cause 2) Getting fired for misconduct 3) Not being able and available for work 4) Refusing suitable work 5) Not actively seeking work 6) Not meeting wage requirements 7) Fraudulent claims. Each one has specific criteria that Washington ESD uses to determine eligibility.

There are several main categories for disqualification in Washington. The biggest ones are: 1) Misconduct (fired for breaking rules, not showing up, etc.) 2) Voluntary quit without good cause 3) Not able and available for work 4) Refusing suitable work 5) Not actively searching for jobs. Your brother can appeal if he thinks the misconduct determination was wrong.

Also be careful about the 'able and available' requirement. If you go on vacation, get sick, or have any reason you can't work that week, you need to answer 'no' to being available on your weekly claim. A lot of people think they can just file anyway.

misconduct is tricky because it has to be willful or negligent. just being bad at your job usually isnt misconduct unless you were ignoring direct orders or policies

Thanks! What exactly counts as 'misconduct' though? Is being late a few times enough to disqualify you?

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to discuss your brother's case, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually reach a human agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. I used it when I needed to talk to someone about my adjudication issues.

Misconduct has to be willful or deliberate. Occasional tardiness usually isn't enough unless it's a pattern after warnings. Things like theft, violence, or repeatedly violating company policy are clear misconduct.

don't forget about the work search requirements! you have to apply for jobs and keep a log or they'll cut you off. learned that the hard way

The misconduct thing is tricky too. It's not just getting fired - it has to be willful misconduct connected to your work. Like if you're chronically late, steal from your employer, or violate company policies after being warned. Just being bad at your job usually isn't misconduct.

How many jobs do you have to apply for each week? I've been hearing different numbers from different people.

The job search requirements can also disqualify you if you're not careful. In Washington you need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep detailed records. I almost got disqualified because my job search log wasn't detailed enough.

it's 3 job search activities per week in washington. can be applications, networking, job fairs, etc. just keep good records

Don't forget about the earnings requirement too. You have to have worked enough and earned enough in your base period to qualify in the first place. Some people get denied right away because they don't meet the monetary requirements.

I got disqualified once for 'refusing suitable work' when I turned down a job that would have required me to move across the state. Appealed it and won because the job wasn't actually suitable given my circumstances.

WASHINGTON ESD IS SO STRICT ABOUT EVERYTHING! I got disqualified because I turned down a job that paid 30% less than my previous job. They said it was 'suitable work' even though it was a huge pay cut.

Another thing - if you're going to school full-time, that can disqualify you because you're not available for full-time work. There are some exceptions but it's complicated.

Don't forget about the able and available requirement. If you're sick, injured, or have other issues that prevent you from working, you can be disqualified. You have to be physically and mentally able to work full-time.

Income while collecting can also cause issues. If you work part-time while on unemployment, you have to report ALL earnings. Even small amounts can affect your benefits or cause overpayment issues.

Going back to misconduct - theft, harassment, violence, or substance abuse at work are automatic disqualifications. But things like tardiness or poor performance might not be misconduct depending on the circumstances.

i got disqualified once for quitting without good cause. thought i had good cause but washington esd disagreed. the appeal process actually worked though - judge overturned it

Another thing - if you're collecting unemployment and move out of state, you need to notify Washington ESD immediately. Failure to report address changes can cause problems with your claim.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks to ask about my disqualification but their phone lines are always busy. Does anyone know a better way to reach them? I keep getting hung up on after waiting for hours.

For anyone dealing with disqualification issues, I had success using Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD when I needed to discuss my case. The phone system is impossible otherwise.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much time and frustration.

School attendance can also affect eligibility. If you're attending school or training without Washington ESD approval, you might not meet the 'available for work' requirement.

The fraud penalties are serious too. If they determine you knowingly provided false information or didn't report something you should have, they can disqualify you for up to a year and make you pay back benefits plus a 50% penalty.

One more - if you quit your job, you generally can't get benefits unless you can prove it was for 'good cause.' Things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, or significant changes to your job duties might qualify, but you need documentation.

Also watch out for the WorkSource registration requirement. You're supposed to register with WorkSource within a certain timeframe after filing your claim. If you don't, they can deny your benefits.

The system is so confusing. I wish they made all these rules clearer upfront instead of having people find out by getting disqualified.

If anyone needs to clarify any of these disqualification rules with Washington ESD directly, I really recommend using Claimyr to get through their phone system. Saved me so much time and frustration compared to trying to call on my own.

Bottom line - be honest on all your forms, report everything you're supposed to report, do your work searches, and document everything. Most disqualifications happen because people either don't understand the rules or try to cut corners.

One last thing - if you do get disqualified, you usually have the right to appeal. Don't just accept it if you think they made a mistake. The appeal process exists for a reason.

My cousin got disqualified for not responding to requests for information fast enough. Washington ESD sent him a letter asking for documentation and he missed the deadline by one day.

Criminal background can sometimes affect unemployment eligibility too, especially if you're fired due to charges or convictions related to your work.

The key thing is documentation. Whether you're dealing with misconduct, quit issues, or anything else - keep records of everything. Text messages, emails, witness statements, whatever you have.

dont forget about the waiting week either. even if youre not disqualified you might have to serve a waiting week for certain types of separations

Union issues can also complicate things. If you're in a labor dispute or strike, you might not be eligible for benefits during that time.

I used Claimyr when I was dealing with my disqualification issue and it was a game changer. Being able to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD made all the difference in getting my case resolved.

Bottom line - most disqualifications can be appealed if you have good documentation and a valid argument. Don't give up if you think the decision was wrong.

Really? How does it work exactly? I'm desperate at this point, been trying to call for 3 weeks straight.

They basically handle the calling process for you and get you connected to an actual person at Washington ESD. Way better than sitting on hold for hours just to get disconnected.

Another big one is if you're not a US citizen or don't have work authorization. Washington ESD will disqualify you if you can't legally work in the US.

Good point! I forgot about that requirement. Do they check that stuff when you first apply?

Yes, they verify work authorization as part of the initial application process. You need to provide documentation proving you can legally work.

What about if you get fired for poor performance? Is that considered misconduct or can you still get benefits?

Poor performance alone usually doesn't disqualify you unless it's willful. If you're trying your best but just not meeting standards, that's different from deliberately doing bad work or not following instructions.

THIS is exactly why the system is broken! They make these distinctions so complicated that regular people can't figure out if they qualify or not. Meanwhile we're all struggling to pay bills while they play word games.

So if I quit my job because my boss was harassing me, would that count as 'good cause' or would I be disqualified?

Harassment can be good cause, but you need to document it and usually try to resolve it through proper channels first. Washington ESD looks at whether you had reasonable alternatives before quitting.

Document everything! Keep emails, texts, witness statements. I quit due to harassment and got approved because I had proof and showed I tried to fix it through HR first.

That's really helpful, thank you! I wish I had known to document things better when it was happening.

Don't forget about the earnings disqualification too. If you make too much money in a week, they'll reduce or eliminate your benefits for that week.

How much can you earn before it affects your benefits? I might pick up some part-time work.

In Washington, you can earn up to your weekly benefit amount before they start reducing benefits. Anything over that gets deducted dollar for dollar.

i got disqualified for not reporting some side gig income. even though it was only like $200 they said it was fraud and cut me off completely. be super careful about reporting ALL income

Wow, that's scary. How did they find out about the side income?

they cross-reference with other databases. don't think you can hide anything from them. learned that lesson the hard way

Medical issues can also disqualify you if they prevent you from working. Washington ESD requires you to be physically able to work and available for work.

What if you have a temporary injury? Can you still get benefits while you recover?

It depends on the injury and how long it lasts. Short-term injuries might be okay, but longer disabilities could disqualify you from regular unemployment. You might need to look into other programs instead.

The wage requirement thing got me confused when I first applied. You need to have earned enough in your base period or you can't get benefits at all.

What's the minimum you need to have earned? I only worked part-time for most of last year.

You need at least $1,300 in your highest quarter and total wages of at least 1.5 times your highest quarter earnings. Part-time work can still qualify if you meet those thresholds.

I've been going through the appeals process for my disqualification for 2 months now. The whole system is so slow and confusing. At least I finally got connected to someone at Washington ESD who could explain what documents I needed.

How did you finally get through to them? I'm still stuck trying to reach someone about my case.

I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Worth every penny to actually talk to a real person instead of getting hung up on constantly.

School attendance can also disqualify you. If you're enrolled in school full-time, Washington ESD might determine you're not available for work.

What about online classes or part-time school? I was thinking about taking some courses while unemployed.

Part-time or online classes are usually okay as long as they don't interfere with your ability to work. Just make sure to report your school status when you apply.

Another thing - if you're receiving certain other benefits like workers' compensation or Social Security, it might affect your unemployment eligibility or benefit amount.

I didn't know other benefits could affect unemployment. Do you have to choose between them?

It depends on the specific benefits. Some are offset against unemployment, others might disqualify you entirely. You need to report all other benefits when you apply.

Being in prison or jail will definitely disqualify you lol. Seems obvious but I guess some people try to claim benefits while incarcerated.

Yeah that's pretty obvious. What about house arrest or probation though?

house arrest might be okay if you can still work and look for jobs. probation usually doesn't disqualify you unless it prevents you from working

I'm really worried about the job search requirements. I've been applying but I'm not sure if I'm keeping good enough records. What exactly do you need to document?

For each job search activity, document: employer name, position applied for, date, method of contact, and any follow-up. Keep this in a log or use the WorkSourceWA system to track everything.

Thanks! I've been keeping a spreadsheet but wasn't sure if that was enough. I'll make sure to include all those details.

One more thing - if you move out of state, you might lose eligibility depending on the circumstances. Washington ESD has specific rules about interstate claims.

What if you move for a job opportunity that doesn't pan out? Would that affect your claim?

Moving for work is usually okay, but you need to report the move and might have to transfer your claim to the new state. The rules get complicated with interstate moves.

The most important thing is to be completely honest on your application and weekly claims. Any false information, even if it seems minor, can result in disqualification and potential fraud charges.

This has been super helpful everyone! I feel much better prepared now. Thanks for all the detailed answers.

glad we could help! the unemployment system is confusing enough without going in blind. good luck with your claim!