What does it mean to be disqualified from unemployment benefits in Washington?

So it's not necessarily permanent? That's somewhat reassuring. The letter wasn't very clear about whether this was temporary or forever.

Right, most disqualifications have specific conditions for when they end. You should definitely appeal if you think it's wrong though.

How long did your appeal take? I'm worried about bills piling up while this gets sorted out.

Mine took about 6 weeks total, but I got backpay for all the weeks I would have been eligible once the appeal was approved.

Six weeks is pretty typical for appeals right now. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even while the appeal is pending.

Never heard of that service before. Did it actually help you get answers about your disqualification?

Yeah, I was able to speak with an agent who explained exactly why I was disqualified and what steps I needed to take. Saved me a lot of stress trying to figure it out on my own.

Interesting, might be worth looking into. The Washington ESD phone system is absolutely brutal to navigate.

My situation was definitely a layoff due to budget cuts, not me quitting or getting fired. So I'm really confused why they're saying misconduct.

That sounds like your employer might have given Washington ESD incorrect information about why you left. Definitely appeal and bring any documentation you have about the layoff.

Same thing happened to my friend - employer told ESD it was misconduct when it was really just downsizing. She won her appeal with her layoff paperwork.

The letter is pretty vague actually. Just says misconduct and that I'm disqualified. Doesn't give specifics about what I need to do next.

That's frustrating but common. You'll need to either appeal or contact Washington ESD directly to get more details about your specific situation.

That's exactly what I'm worried about - getting the runaround when I try to call for clarification.

The inconsistent information from different agents is definitely a problem. Try to get everything in writing when possible.

Ah, so disqualification implies I would normally be eligible but something specific is blocking it. That makes more sense.

Exactly. And that's why appeals are often successful for disqualifications - if the reason for disqualification is wrong, you can get it overturned.

Good point. I do have an email from HR about the company-wide layoffs. Should definitely include that in an appeal.

Yes! Any documentation that shows it was a layoff and not misconduct will strengthen your case significantly.

10 times the weekly benefit amount? That could be thousands of dollars in new wages. That seems excessive for a supposed layoff situation.

Right, which is why you really need to appeal if this was actually a layoff. The penalties for misconduct are pretty harsh.

How much does something like that cost though? I'm already stressed about money if I can't get benefits.

I think it's worth checking out their site to see what works for your situation. For me, getting clear answers was worth it instead of weeks of confusion.

I'm definitely frustrated but trying to stay positive that this can get resolved. The system does seem pretty confusing though.

While the system has issues, most legitimate appeals do succeed if you have documentation to support your case.

Wait, I can still file weekly claims even though I'm disqualified? That seems odd.

Yes, you should continue filing to preserve your right to those weeks. The system will just show $0 payments until the disqualification is resolved.

This is really important advice. I've seen people lose out on weeks of benefits because they stopped filing during their appeal.

At least yours was for job search requirements. Mine is supposedly for misconduct which makes no sense for a layoff.

yeah misconduct for a layoff is definitely wrong. definitely appeal that asap

Generally no, each claim is evaluated separately. A disqualification on one claim doesn't automatically disqualify future claims unless there are ongoing issues.

That's good to know. I was worried this would follow me forever.

Did you have a lawyer or represent yourself?

Represented myself. For straightforward cases like yours sounds like, you probably don't need a lawyer.

Definitely planning to appeal. This thread has been super helpful in understanding what I'm dealing with and what my options are.

Good luck with your appeal! Make sure to organize all your documentation clearly and present a chronological timeline of what happened.

Starting to think that might be my best bet for getting clear information about my specific situation.

It was definitely worth it for me. The peace of mind alone was valuable when I was stressed about the whole situation.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information. I feel much more informed about what I'm dealing with now and what steps I need to take.

Hope everything works out with your appeal. Sounds like you have a solid case if it really was a layoff situation.

Reading through all these responses really highlights how confusing the whole disqualification process can be. It's frustrating that Washington ESD doesn't provide clearer explanations in their initial letters about what disqualification actually means and what your options are. Seems like you have to dig for information or rely on community knowledge like this to understand your situation.

Absolutely agree - the lack of clear communication from Washington ESD makes an already stressful situation so much worse. When you're suddenly cut off from benefits, the last thing you need is a confusing form letter that doesn't explain your actual situation or next steps. It really shouldn't take crowdsourcing information from forums like this to understand basic things like whether a disqualification is temporary or permanent.