What reasons can Washington ESD unemployment be denied - need to understand my options

The main categories for Washington ESD denials are: 1) Voluntary quit without good cause 2) Discharge for misconduct 3) Not able and available for work 4) Refusing suitable work 5) Not actively seeking work 6) Fraud/misrepresentation. Each has specific criteria they look at during adjudication.

The main categories for Washington ESD denials are: 1) Voluntary quit without good cause 2) Misconduct (including attendance issues, policy violations, insubordination) 3) Not available or able to work 4) Not actively seeking work 5) Earnings exceeding benefit amount 6) Not meeting monetary eligibility. Since you mentioned attendance problems, that could potentially be classified as misconduct depending on your employer's documentation.

they denied mine because I wasn't available due to lack of childcare. apparently that's a thing even though I was ready to work if I found care

If you're worried about the employer fighting your claim, you should know they have 10 days to respond to Washington ESD about your separation. Most of the time if it's not clear-cut misconduct they won't bother, but some companies are vindictive about it.

got denied twice before finally getting approved, the system is brutal honestly

I got denied initially because they said I didn't meet the wage requirements. Make sure you earned enough in your base period - it's the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. You need wages in at least 2 quarters and meet minimum thresholds.

I've been helping people with Washington ESD issues for years and the most common denials I see are: misconduct (attendance, performance, policy violations), voluntary quit disputes, and work search failures. If you're worried about the attendance thing, make sure you have documentation showing you were laid off, not fired for cause. Pay stubs, layoff notice, anything proving it was workforce reduction not disciplinary action.

Pro tip: if you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to check on a denial or adjudication status, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you actually reach an agent. They have a system that calls for you - check out claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Saved me hours of calling.

Don't forget about the job search requirements. You have to make 3 job contacts per week and keep a log. If you don't do this properly they can deny your weekly claims even if your initial claim was approved.

If you do run into issues with Washington ESD reviewing your claim or if they deny you and you need to speak with someone, I had good luck using claimyr.com to actually get through to an agent. They have a service that calls for you and gets you connected when an agent picks up. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Way better than sitting on hold for hours trying to reach someone yourself.

Another big reason for denial is not meeting the monetary requirements. You need to have earned enough wages in your base period. For 2025, you need at least $1,685 in your highest quarter and total base period wages of at least 1.5 times your high quarter amount.

They can also deny you if you're not able and available for work. This includes things like being out of the country, in jail, going to school full-time, or having health issues that prevent you from working. You have to be physically and mentally able to work and available for work during normal business hours.

They can also deny you for working while claiming benefits without reporting it properly. Even small amounts of work need to be reported on your weekly claim or they'll hit you with an overpayment and fraud charges.

Don't forget about the work search requirements! You have to be actively looking for work and keep a log of your job search activities. If you don't meet the minimum number of work search activities per week, they can deny your benefits.

Another common one is if you're attending school full-time. Generally makes you unavailable for work unless it's approved training through WorkSource or you can prove you're still available for suitable work.

If you get denied don't give up! You have 30 days to appeal and a lot of initial denials get overturned at the hearing level. I won my appeal even though I was initially denied for misconduct.

THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO DENY PEOPLE!!! I got denied for 'misconduct' because I had a disagreement with my supervisor about unsafe working conditions. Apparently standing up for worker safety is misconduct now. Had to appeal and it took MONTHS to get resolved.

WASHINGTON ESD WILL FIND ANY EXCUSE TO DENY YOU! They denied my friend because she moved to a different county and they said that affected her job search area. The system is rigged against workers.

One more important denial reason is fraud or misrepresentation. If you provide false information on your application or weekly claims, that's grounds for denial and potential overpayment issues. Always be completely honest about your work history, reason for separation, and any earnings while on benefits.

same thing happened to my brother, got denied for attendance even though he was literally sick with pneumonia

If you're worried about getting denied, make sure you have all your documentation ready. Pay stubs, separation notice, any correspondence with your employer, medical records if health was involved, etc. The more documentation you have, the better your chances if there's a dispute.

Just wanted to mention again about that Claimyr service since people are talking about appeals and denials. If you do get denied and need to talk to Washington ESD about your case, it's really helpful for getting through to someone who can actually explain what happened and what your options are. Much better than the automated system or trying to call yourself.

Another thing to watch out for is if you have any issues with your identity verification. Washington ESD has gotten really strict about ID verification after all the fraud issues. If there are any problems verifying your identity, that can hold up or deny your claim.

Partial unemployment can also get tricky. If you're working reduced hours but still earning too much compared to your benefit amount, you might not qualify for any payment that week. It's not exactly a denial but you won't get benefits.

Don't forget about union issues too. If you're in a union and there's a strike or work stoppage, that can affect your eligibility. Labor disputes have special rules that are different from regular layoffs.

I've seen people get denied for not registering with WorkSource within the required timeframe. Make sure you complete your WorkSource registration as soon as you file your claim.

honestly just file and see what happens, youre overthinking it. if they deny you then you can deal with it but dont assume the worst

The key thing is being honest and having documentation. Even if you do get denied initially, you have appeal rights. Many denials get overturned on appeal if you have good documentation and can present your case properly.

Based on what you've described with the layoff notice saying workforce reduction, you should be fine. The attendance issues might come up but if your employer documented it as a layoff rather than termination for cause, that's in your favor. Just be honest about everything and you'll likely get approved.

Make sure your employer separation reason matches what you put on your application. If there's a discrepancy they'll investigate and might deny the claim during adjudication.

They also deny claims for people who are self-employed or independent contractors. You have to have traditional W-2 employment to qualify for regular UI benefits.

Don't forget about the waiting week requirement. You won't get paid for your first eligible week, but if you get denied later they might make you repay benefits from week 2 onward if there was an issue from the beginning.

Medical issues can also cause denials if they prevent you from working. You have to be physically and mentally able to perform suitable work. If you have restrictions, you need medical documentation.

Here's something people don't realize - if you refuse work that's considered 'suitable' based on your skills and experience, they can deny future benefits even if your original claim was valid.

One more thing - if you're getting other benefits like workers comp or disability, it can affect your unemployment eligibility. They don't want you 'double dipping' even if the situations are different.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that they can also deny you if you're receiving severance pay or other separation payments. Washington ESD considers this as wages for the period it covers, which can delay when your benefits start or affect your weekly benefit amount. If you got a severance package, make sure to report it accurately when you file - they'll find out anyway when they verify your wages with your employer. Better to be upfront about it than have them discover it later and potentially hit you with an overpayment.