What does disqualification mean for unemployment Washington ESD?
I just got a letter from Washington ESD saying my claim has been disqualified and I'm honestly confused about what this means exactly. The letter mentions something about 'separation issues' but doesn't really explain it in plain English. Does this mean I can't get unemployment at all? Can I fix this somehow? I worked at a retail store for 2 years and got laid off due to store closure, so I thought I'd qualify for sure. Anyone know what my options are from here?
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Jace Caspullo
A disqualification means Washington ESD has determined you don't meet the eligibility requirements for unemployment benefits. This could be due to several reasons - how you lost your job, not meeting work search requirements, or issues with your work history. The good news is you can appeal this decision within 30 days of receiving the notice.
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Adriana Cohn
•Thanks for explaining! The letter mentions 'separation issues' - what does that usually mean? I definitely didn't quit or get fired for misconduct.
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Jace Caspullo
•Separation issues usually involve how your employment ended. Even if you think you were laid off, your employer might have reported it differently to Washington ESD. You'll need to check what your employer told them.
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Melody Miles
been there, had my claim disqualified last year because my boss said I quit when I actually got fired. took forever to get through to someone at Washington ESD to explain what really happened
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Adriana Cohn
•How did you finally get through to them? I've been trying to call for days but can't get past the busy signal.
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Melody Miles
•honestly I used this service called Claimyr that calls for you. found it at claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ - saved me hours of calling
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Nathaniel Mikhaylov
Disqualification isn't the end of the world - you have rights! First, read the determination letter carefully to understand the specific reason. Common reasons include voluntary quit, misconduct, or not being able and available for work. You can appeal by filing Form 4633 within 30 days. Gather any documentation that supports your case.
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Adriana Cohn
•Where do I get Form 4633? Is it on the Washington ESD website?
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Nathaniel Mikhaylov
•Yes, you can download it from the Washington ESD website or request it by calling them. Make sure to include all relevant documentation with your appeal - pay stubs, termination letters, witness statements if applicable.
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Eva St. Cyr
•I tried finding that form online but the Washington ESD website is so confusing. Anyone have a direct link?
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Kristian Bishop
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED! They disqualify people left and right just to save money. I got disqualified because they said I wasn't looking for work hard enough even though I was applying to 3 jobs a week like they require. Took 6 months to get it overturned!
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Kaitlyn Otto
•That's rough but 6 months seems excessive. Did you appeal right away or wait?
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Kristian Bishop
•I appealed immediately but they kept asking for more documentation. Had to prove every single job application I submitted. It's like they want you to give up.
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Axel Far
same thing happened to me after store closure. turns out my manager reported it wrong to Washington ESD - said i abandoned my job when really they just told us not to come in anymore. had to get a letter from HR to fix it
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Adriana Cohn
•How long did it take to get that straightened out? I'm worried about missing rent payments while this gets resolved.
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Axel Far
•took about 6 weeks total but once I got the right documentation it went pretty fast. definitely appeal asap though
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Jace Caspullo
Important to note - even if you're disqualified, you should continue filing your weekly claims if you plan to appeal. This preserves your right to back pay if the appeal is successful. Don't let the disqualification stop you from filing.
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Jasmine Hernandez
•Wait really? I thought if you're disqualified you can't file weekly claims anymore.
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Jace Caspullo
•No, you should definitely keep filing. The system will show $0 payments, but if your appeal is successful, you'll be entitled to back pay for all the weeks you filed.
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Adriana Cohn
•This is really helpful - I was about to stop filing because I thought there was no point.
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Luis Johnson
Disqualification can also be temporary vs permanent. Some disqualifications are just for a certain number of weeks, others are for the entire benefit year. Check your letter to see which type you received.
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Adriana Cohn
•How can I tell the difference? My letter just says 'disqualified' but doesn't specify.
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Luis Johnson
•Look for language about 'duration' or 'benefit year.' If it says something like 'until you earn $X' or 'for X weeks,' it's temporary. If it doesn't specify, it might be for the whole benefit year.
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Ellie Kim
been dealing with this nightmare for months. got disqualified because they said I didn't respond to their request for information but I never got any mail from them! finally got someone on the phone who said their system had the wrong address
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Adriana Cohn
•How did you finally reach someone? The phone lines are always busy when I try.
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Ellie Kim
•I kept trying different times but honestly what worked was using Claimyr - they call for you and get you connected. saved me so much frustration
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Fiona Sand
•Never heard of that service before but might be worth trying. The Washington ESD phone system is impossible to navigate.
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Mohammad Khaled
Make sure you understand the difference between disqualification and denial. Disqualification usually means there's an issue with your eligibility, while denial means they couldn't process your claim for some reason. The appeal process is similar but the reasons are different.
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Adriana Cohn
•I'm pretty sure mine says disqualified, not denied. Does that make a difference for appealing?
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Mohammad Khaled
•Not really for the appeal process itself, but it helps to understand what Washington ESD thinks the issue is. Disqualification usually means they think you don't qualify for benefits based on how you lost your job.
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Alina Rosenthal
whatever you do don't just give up. i almost did when i got disqualified but my friend convinced me to appeal and I ended up getting benefits retroactively. the system is confusing but you have rights
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Adriana Cohn
•That's encouraging to hear! How long did your appeal take to get resolved?
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Alina Rosenthal
•about 8 weeks from when I filed the appeal to when I got the decision. but then it took another 2 weeks to actually get the back pay
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Finnegan Gunn
The appeal hearing process is pretty straightforward if you have your facts straight. You'll get a chance to explain your side of the story to an administrative law judge. Bring any documentation you have and be prepared to answer questions about your work history and why you're no longer employed.
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Adriana Cohn
•Do I need a lawyer for the hearing or can I represent myself?
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Finnegan Gunn
•You can represent yourself. Most people do. The hearing isn't like a court trial - it's more informal. Just be honest and stick to the facts.
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Miguel Harvey
•I had mine over the phone due to COVID and it went fine. The judge was actually pretty fair and listened to my side.
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Ashley Simian
ugh this whole thread is giving me flashbacks to my own disqualification mess. took 3 months to sort out and by then I was already back at work. but definitely appeal if you think they got it wrong
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Adriana Cohn
•Even if you're back at work, is it worth appealing? Or is it too late at that point?
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Ashley Simian
•you can still appeal even if you're working again, especially if you think you were wrongly disqualified. might be worth it for the back pay
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Oliver Cheng
Key things to remember: 1) Appeal within 30 days, 2) Continue filing weekly claims, 3) Gather all documentation about your job separation, 4) Be persistent with contacting Washington ESD if you need clarification. The system is frustrating but don't let that stop you from getting benefits you're entitled to.
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Adriana Cohn
•This is really helpful - I'm going to start gathering my documentation today. Thanks everyone for all the advice!
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Taylor To
•Good luck! The process is annoying but worth it if you get your benefits approved.
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Ella Cofer
Just want to add that if you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone, there are services that can help. I discovered Claimyr after weeks of trying to get through myself - they handle the calling for you and it's way less stressful than sitting on hold for hours.
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Adriana Cohn
•A few people have mentioned Claimyr - is it legit? I'm desperate to talk to someone at Washington ESD.
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Ella Cofer
•Yeah it's legitimate. They have a demo video that shows how it works - https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Saved me a lot of time and frustration.
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Kevin Bell
•I was skeptical at first but honestly anything is better than spending entire days trying to get through to Washington ESD. Might give it a try myself.
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