What disqualifies you from unemployment in Washington - got denied and confused

They said I was terminated for 'attendance issues' but I had legitimate reasons for most of my absences. Does that automatically count as misconduct?

Not necessarily. Washington ESD looks at whether the attendance issues were within your control and if you followed company policy for reporting absences. If you had medical reasons or family emergencies, that might not be misconduct.

That's helpful to know. How did you handle your situation? Did you appeal the disqualification?

Yes, I appealed and won. I had to provide documentation showing my absences were due to a medical condition and that I followed proper procedures for calling in sick.

Wait, you have to register with WorkSourceWA? I don't think I did that when I filed my claim.

Yes, it's usually required within a certain timeframe after filing. Check your Washington ESD account or call them to make sure you're meeting all the requirements.

Ugh, trying to call Washington ESD is impossible. I've been trying for weeks and either get busy signals or get disconnected after waiting hours.

Is that legit? I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point.

Yeah it's real. They basically handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent is available. Saved me hours of frustration.

That actually sounds really helpful. I've been trying to reach someone about my disqualification details but keep getting nowhere.

What counts as 'good cause' if you quit voluntarily? I'm thinking about leaving my current job due to harassment but worried about UI eligibility.

Good cause includes things like harassment, unsafe working conditions, significant changes to job duties or pay, domestic violence situations, or medical reasons. Document everything if you're planning to quit for these reasons.

How are you supposed to log job search activities? I've been winging it on my weekly claims.

You need to keep detailed records - company names, positions applied for, dates, method of contact. Washington ESD can audit your job search at any time and if you can't prove you're meeting the requirements, they'll disqualify you.

This is all so complicated. I wish they made the rules clearer upfront instead of surprising people with disqualifications.

How did the phone hearings go? That sounds intimidating.

They're not too bad if you're prepared. Have all your documentation ready and be honest about what happened. The judge will ask questions to both you and your former employer if they participate.

What if you were fired for poor performance but not misconduct? Does that disqualify you?

Generally no - being fired for inability to do the job (as opposed to unwillingness) shouldn't disqualify you from UI benefits in Washington.

That's called an overpayment issue. You can appeal both the overpayment and the disqualification separately. Make sure you have records of what you reported on your weekly claims.

I tried calling to explain but couldn't get through. Maybe I should try that Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier.

What about if you're taking care of kids? Does that affect your availability for work status?

You have to be able and available for full-time work. If childcare issues prevent you from accepting work, that could be a problem unless you can arrange care or only seek jobs that accommodate your schedule.

How much do you need to earn to qualify? I only worked part-time for most of last year.

It varies but generally you need earnings in at least 2 quarters of your base period and total earnings of at least 1.5 times your highest quarter. The exact amounts change each year.

26 weeks?! That's like half a year without any benefits. This is really stressing me out.

That's why it's so important to appeal if you think the disqualification is wrong. Don't just accept it if you believe you were wrongfully terminated or there are extenuating circumstances.

I'm definitely going to look into that service. This whole process is overwhelming and I feel like I'm missing important details about my case.

Make sure you understand exactly what you're being accused of before your appeal hearing. Sometimes the employer's version of events is different from what actually happened.

So true! And meanwhile you can't get benefits while waiting for the appeal decision. It's like being guilty until proven innocent.

That's exactly what I'm worried about. I can't afford to wait months without any income while fighting this.

Good point. Also keep applying for other social services if you qualify - food stamps, rental assistance, etc. Don't put all your eggs in the unemployment basket.

Thanks for the practical advice. I guess I need to prepare for this to take a while and have backup plans.

Exactly! And good luck getting someone on the phone to explain it. The whole system seems designed to discourage people from pursuing their rightful benefits.

That's where services like Claimyr really help - they cut through the phone system nonsense and actually get you connected to someone who can give you real answers about your specific case.