What makes you unqualified for unemployment benefits in Washington?

What counts as 'good cause' for quitting? I've heard it's pretty strict.

Good cause includes things like harassment, unsafe working conditions, significant changes to your job duties or pay, domestic violence situations, or needing to care for a sick family member. But you have to prove it with documentation.

The work search requirement is no joke either. You need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep detailed records.

What about attendance issues? I was fired for missing too much work but I had medical problems.

If you had legitimate medical reasons and can document them, that might not be considered misconduct. The key is whether you willfully violated attendance policies or if there were circumstances beyond your control.

I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to Washington ESD agents when you can't reach them yourself. There's even a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Saved me hours of calling and actually got me connected to someone who could explain my disqualification issue.

That sounds too good to be true. How does that even work?

They basically handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when they get through to an actual person. I was skeptical too but it actually worked and I finally got answers about my claim status.

What's the base period exactly? I'm confused about how they calculate that.

It's usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file in January 2025, they look at your earnings from January 2024 through September 2024.

I'm taking night classes - does that disqualify me?

Not necessarily if it doesn't interfere with your ability to work during normal business hours. But if your class schedule prevents you from accepting a job, that could be an issue.

The childcare thing is complicated. I think there are some exceptions for single parents but you have to prove you're actively looking for childcare too.

How do they even know if you refuse a job offer?

Employers can report it to Washington ESD if they offer you a job and you turn it down. That's why you need to be careful about what jobs you apply for - don't apply for things you wouldn't actually accept.

Do online applications count the same as in-person or phone contacts?

Yes, online applications count but you need to keep screenshots or confirmation emails as proof. I use a spreadsheet to track everything just to be safe.

WorkSource Washington also counts as one of your weekly contacts if you use their services. That can help meet the requirement.

Really? I didn't know moving could affect your claim.

Yeah, you have to remain available for work in the area where you filed your claim or prove that you're moving to an area with better job prospects. It's another one of those 'available for work' requirements.

What happens if you realize you made a mistake after submitting?

You should contact Washington ESD immediately to correct it. It's better to fix it yourself than have them discover it later during an audit.

Good luck getting through to them though! I tried that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it actually worked for getting connected when I needed to report a mistake on my claim.

What about gig workers like Uber drivers?

Independent contractors typically don't qualify for regular unemployment benefits. There was pandemic assistance for gig workers but that ended. You'd need to check if Washington has any specific programs for independent contractors now.

That seems really unfair if the firing wasn't your fault.

It is, but that's how the law works. They look at the most recent separation from work to determine eligibility. You can appeal these decisions though if you think they got it wrong.

How long does the appeal process take?

It varies but usually several weeks to a few months. You might have a phone hearing where you can present your case. The important thing is to appeal quickly and provide as much documentation as possible.

I used that Claimyr service to get help understanding my disqualification before appealing. The Washington ESD agent was able to explain exactly what documentation I needed for my appeal hearing.

This has been incredibly helpful. I feel much more prepared now to file my claim without making mistakes.

Definitely keep all your documentation organized from day one. It's much easier to stay organized than to try to reconstruct everything later if there's an issue.