What disqualifies you from unemployment in Washington? Need to understand the rules

The main disqualifications in Washington fall into a few categories. Voluntary quit without good cause is the big one - if you just decided to leave your job without a qualifying reason. Being fired for misconduct is another major one. There's also not being able and available for work, or refusing suitable work offers.

Don't forget about the work search requirements! If you're not actively looking for work and documenting it properly, that can disqualify you too. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week unless you're on standby.

I had issues reaching Washington ESD when I needed clarification on my disqualification. Spent weeks trying to get through on the phone. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and they got me connected to an actual agent within hours. There's even a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Game changer when you need to talk to someone about your specific situation.

Being disqualified doesn't necessarily mean you're out forever either. You can appeal most disqualifications within 30 days of the determination. I successfully appealed a misconduct disqualification last year after providing more documentation about the situation.

ugh the washington esd system is so confusing about all this stuff. i got disqualified once because they said i wasnt available for work but i was?? took forever to sort out

Here's something people don't always know - you can be disqualified for not reporting work or income correctly on your weekly claims. Even small amounts of work need to be reported, and if Washington ESD finds out later through wage records, they'll hit you with an overpayment AND potentially disqualify you for fraud.

Another one that trips people up is the 'suitable work' requirement. Once you've been on unemployment for a certain period, you may be required to accept work that pays less than your previous job. The standards for what's considered suitable work change over time.

Drug test failures can also disqualify you, especially if you were fired for failing a workplace drug test. Washington has specific rules about this that vary depending on the circumstances.

Just want to add that if you get disqualified, don't panic. Most disqualifications can be resolved or appealed if you have the right information. The key is understanding WHY you were disqualified and addressing that specific issue.

Don't forget about the waiting week! While not exactly a disqualification, you won't get paid for your first week of unemployment. Some people think they're disqualified when they just haven't waited long enough.

One thing that's really important - if you're not sure about something, it's better to ask Washington ESD than to guess. Making assumptions about eligibility requirements is how people end up with disqualifications they could have avoided.

I work in HR and see unemployment claims from the employer side. The most common disqualifications I see are voluntary quit without good cause and misconduct. But what employees think is misconduct and what actually qualifies for UI disqualification can be very different.

also if youre a student you might have different rules about eligibility. i got confused about this when i was going to school part time while unemployed

Another disqualification reason that's becoming more common is not participating in required reemployment services. If Washington ESD refers you to WorkSource services and you don't follow through, that can disqualify you.

The income limits can also trip people up. If you work part-time while collecting UI, you need to report all earnings. Earn too much in a week and you might not get any UI benefits for that week.

Something else to watch out for - if you move out of state, you need to notify Washington ESD. Some people think they're automatically disqualified if they move, but you can often continue collecting benefits as long as you're still looking for work.

Been through this whole process twice now. The key thing to remember is that most disqualifications aren't permanent. Even if you get disqualified, there are usually ways to regain eligibility or appeal the decision. Don't give up if you think the disqualification was wrong.

Just to summarize the main disqualification reasons: voluntary quit without good cause, misconduct, not able/available for work, refusing suitable work, not meeting job search requirements, not reporting income correctly, and not participating in required services. Most can be appealed or resolved with proper documentation.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that if you receive severance pay, it can affect your unemployment benefits timing. Washington ESD considers severance as wages for the period it covers, which means your benefits might be delayed until after the severance period ends. I learned this the hard way when I got laid off with a severance package and couldn't figure out why my claim was delayed. It's not exactly a disqualification, but it can definitely impact when you start receiving benefits.