What happens if you are disqualified for unemployment - Washington ESD process explained

A disqualification doesn't necessarily mean you lose everything permanently. There are different types of disqualifications from Washington ESD. Some are temporary (like for voluntary quit or misconduct) and some are more serious. You can definitely appeal the decision within 30 days of receiving the notice. The appeal process lets you present your side of the story.

been there, it sucks but you have options. misconduct disqualifications are usually temporary in Washington - typically 7-10 weeks of benefits that you forfeit, but after that you can collect if you're still unemployed and meet the other requirements

Definitely appeal this decision. Misconduct has a very specific legal definition under Washington unemployment law. Simply defending yourself from an abusive customer likely doesn't meet the threshold for disqualifying misconduct. You need to show that your employer's reason doesn't constitute willful or wanton disregard of their interests. I had success using Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD when I needed to discuss my disqualification details with an adjudicator - their site is claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

OMG the same thing happened to me!! I got disqualified for 'job abandonment' when I had to leave work early for a family emergency and couldn't reach my supervisor. I was freaking out thinking I'd never get benefits. The disqualification notice is so confusing and scary looking.

The Washington ESD system is so broken. They disqualify people left and right for BS reasons and then make it impossible to reach anyone to explain. I've been calling every day for two weeks about my own disqualification and either get busy signals or get hung up on after waiting an hour.

Here's what typically happens with different types of Washington ESD disqualifications: 1. Misconduct - usually 7-10 weeks of benefit forfeiture 2. Voluntary quit without good cause - varies but often 5-10 weeks 3. Refusal of suitable work - can be more severe 4. Fraud - permanent bar from benefits Your situation sounds like misconduct, which means you'd serve the penalty period then become eligible again if still unemployed.

whatever you do dont just ignore it! my cousin got disqualified and didnt appeal thinking it would just go away. it doesnt. you have to take action or accept the penalty

One more thing - when you do appeal, be very specific about the incident. Don't just say 'it was unfair.' Explain exactly what happened, what the customer did, how you responded, and why your response was reasonable. Washington ESD adjudicators need concrete details to overturn a misconduct finding.

I work in HR and see these situations all the time. Employers often claim misconduct when it's really just a disagreement or personality conflict. Washington ESD takes misconduct allegations seriously but they also investigate thoroughly during appeals. Don't give up if you truly believe you were wrongfully terminated.

just went through this whole mess myself. got disqualified in october for 'attendance issues' which was total BS - i was sick and had doctors notes. finally got through to washington esd using that claimyr service someone mentioned and got it sorted out. took forever but worth it

Quick question - if you're disqualified can you still use WorkSource services for job searching? I know there are work search requirements but wasn't sure if disqualification affects that.

The worst part about disqualifications is not knowing what's happening. Washington ESD sends these official-looking letters but doesn't explain the process clearly. I was convinced I'd never get benefits again until I talked to someone who explained it's often temporary.

Still struggling to get through to Washington ESD about my own disqualification. This is ridiculous - how are we supposed to appeal or get information if we can't talk to anyone? The online system doesn't give any details about why I was disqualified.

been reading through this thread and wanted to add - even if you lose your appeal, you can request a review by the Commissioner's Review Office if you think there were errors in the hearing process. it's another level of appeal that people don't always know about

can someone explain what happens to your benefit amount if you get disqualified? like do you lose all 26 weeks or just the penalty weeks?

This thread has been super helpful! I'm in a similar situation where my employer is claiming I was 'insubordinate' for questioning a safety issue. Planning to appeal but was worried about the process.

one thing i learned is that you need to be really careful about how you describe what happened in your appeal. dont admit to anything that could be seen as misconduct even if you think it was justified. stick to the facts

Thanks everyone for all this info. I feel so much better about my situation now. Going to file my appeal tomorrow and keep my fingers crossed. Will try to get through to Washington ESD to ask some follow-up questions too.

PSA for anyone reading this later: always keep copies of everything related to your disqualification appeal. the paperwork, emails, phone call logs, everything. you never know what might be important later

this whole system is designed to discourage people from appealing. the letters are confusing, the phone system doesnt work, and they make it seem hopeless. but reading this thread shows that appeals do work if you stick with it

I went through a similar disqualification last year for what my employer called "poor attitude" - which was really just me asking questions about overtime policies. The whole process is intimidating but you definitely have options. Here's what I learned: 1) Appeal immediately - you have nothing to lose and everything to gain, 2) Keep filing your weekly claims during the appeal (this is crucial for getting back pay if you win), 3) Document everything about the incident while it's fresh in your memory, and 4) Don't let the scary-sounding letter discourage you. Most misconduct disqualifications in Washington are temporary penalties, not permanent bans. The adjudicators during appeals actually listen to your side of the story, unlike the initial determination which is often based only on what your employer reports. Stay strong and fight it!

I just want to echo what everyone else has said - don't panic! I was in almost the exact same situation about 8 months ago. Got disqualified for "misconduct" after what I felt was a completely unfair termination. The disqualification notice is intentionally scary and confusing, but it's not the end of the world. Here's what helped me: First, I appealed within the 30-day window (this is critical - don't miss that deadline). Second, I gathered every piece of documentation I could find - text messages, emails, witness contact info, company policies, everything. Third, I kept filing my weekly claims religiously even though I wasn't getting paid - this saved me when I eventually won my appeal and got 12 weeks of back pay. The hearing itself was actually pretty fair - the judge let me tell my whole story and really listened. Your case about defending yourself from an abusive customer sounds like it has real merit. Customer service workers have rights too, and employers can't just label any response to harassment as "misconduct." Fight this - you've got more support and options than you realize right now.