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

What counts as documentation for hostile work environment? I have some emails but not sure if that's enough.

Emails are good, also any HR complaints you filed, witness statements from coworkers, or medical records if it affected your health. The key is showing you tried to resolve it first.

Don't forget about the earnings disqualification - if you make too much money in a week you won't get benefits for that week.

Good point, that's a weekly disqualification though, not a permanent one like misconduct.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already broke waiting for my claim to process.

It's worth checking out their site for details, but honestly when you're facing disqualification it's a small price to pay to actually talk to someone who can help fix it.

Never heard of this but might be worth it if regular calling isn't working. The Washington ESD phone system is absolutely terrible.

What kind of records do they want? Just a list of where I applied?

Company name, date, contact person, how you applied, what happened. Keep everything - emails, applications, even rejection letters.

What about attendance issues? I had some health problems that caused me to miss work.

If it was due to health issues that's different. Misconduct has to be deliberate and work-related. Medical absences usually don't count as misconduct.

Exactly right. They have to prove you willfully violated a known rule or policy. Health issues, family emergencies, transportation problems - those aren't misconduct.

Did you appeal the decision? Sometimes they get it wrong and the appeal judge will overturn it.

yeah i'm still waiting on the appeal hearing. been 2 months now

Yes, if you can show you tried to resolve it through proper channels first and it was severe enough that a reasonable person would quit. Document everything and be prepared to explain what steps you took.

Just make sure you have really good documentation. I thought I had a good case but they still denied me initially. Had to go through the whole appeal process.

What if you have some restrictions but can still work? Like you can't lift heavy things but can do office work?

That's usually okay as long as there are jobs available in your area that fit your restrictions. The key is being available for suitable work.

It's not really a disqualification, more like a reduction. If you earn more than your weekly benefit amount plus $5, you don't get benefits that week. But you can earn some money and still get partial benefits.

Right, and you have to report ALL earnings, even cash jobs or gig work. If they find out you didn't report income, that's fraud and you'll be disqualified permanently.

Not necessarily. Being fired during probation isn't automatically misconduct. They still have to show you did something wrong, not just that you weren't a good fit for the job.

Exactly. Lack of skill or ability isn't misconduct. It has to be willful violation of rules or policies.

How do they define 'suitable work'? What if I was making $25/hour and the only jobs available are minimum wage?

Initially you don't have to take jobs paying less than 80% of your previous wage. But after 5 weeks, any job paying at least minimum wage could be considered suitable.

Like I mentioned earlier, I had good luck with Claimyr when I couldn't reach anyone the normal way. Sometimes you just need to actually talk to a human instead of getting stuck in the phone system.

I've been trying to call for weeks about my appeal. Maybe I should look into that service too.

That's true, but it only applies if it's a legitimate requirement for the specific job. They can't just randomly drug test you for any position.

COVID-related safety concerns can be good cause for quitting if your employer wasn't following required safety protocols. You'd need to document the unsafe conditions and show you tried to address it with management first.

i did report it to the health department but my boss didn't care. hope that's enough documentation

That's why appeals are so important. The initial determination is often wrong. Don't give up after the first denial.

easier said than done when you're broke and can't even get through to anyone to explain your situation

How long did the whole appeal process take from start to finish?

About 6 weeks total. Filed the appeal within 30 days, got scheduled for a hearing about 4 weeks later, then got the decision a week after that.

Thanks everyone, this has been really helpful. I feel more confident about filing my claim now.

Good luck! Remember to keep detailed records of everything, including your job search activities.

And don't be afraid to use services like Claimyr if you can't get through the regular phone system. Sometimes you need professional help navigating the bureaucracy.