What reasons can you be denied Washington ESD unemployment benefits?
I'm thinking about filing for unemployment but want to understand all the ways Washington ESD can deny your claim before I even start the process. I've heard there are lots of reasons they can reject you and I don't want to waste time if I'm not eligible. What are the main reasons people get denied for UI benefits in Washington? I was let go from my retail job last month but my manager said it was for 'performance issues' which makes me nervous about applying.
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Lydia Bailey
The main reasons Washington ESD denies unemployment claims are: 1) Quit without good cause 2) Fired for misconduct 3) Not actively seeking work 4) Not available for work 5) Insufficient work history/earnings 6) Not legally authorized to work. Performance issues alone usually don't qualify as misconduct unless it was willful negligence or policy violations.
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Marcus Patterson
•Thanks! What exactly counts as 'misconduct' vs just being bad at your job? My supervisor wrote me up twice for being late but I had car trouble both times.
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Lydia Bailey
•Misconduct has to be willful or show deliberate disregard for the employer's interests. Car trouble causing tardiness usually isn't misconduct unless you made no effort to resolve the transportation issue or notify your employer.
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Mateo Warren
You should definitely apply! The worst they can do is say no, and if you get denied you can always appeal. I got denied initially because my employer lied about why I was fired, but I won my appeal hearing with Washington ESD.
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Marcus Patterson
•How long did the appeal process take? I'm worried about going weeks without any income if this drags out.
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Mateo Warren
•Mine took about 6 weeks total from filing the appeal to getting the hearing decision. But you should file immediately because there's a time limit on appeals - I think it's 30 days from the denial notice.
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Sofia Price
I had a really hard time getting through to Washington ESD when my claim got stuck in adjudication. Kept calling the main number but it would just hang up on me after being on hold forever. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to an actual agent. They have this video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Saved me so much time and frustration!
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Alice Coleman
•How much does something like that cost? I'm already broke which is why I need unemployment in the first place.
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Sofia Price
•It's worth checking out their site for details, but honestly after spending weeks calling Washington ESD myself, any cost was worth it to actually talk to someone who could help resolve my claim issues.
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Owen Jenkins
Don't let your employer scare you out of applying. A lot of companies will say you were fired 'for cause' when really it was just downsizing or they didn't like you. Washington ESD will investigate and make their own determination based on the facts, not just what your employer claims.
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Marcus Patterson
•That's good to know. My manager always seemed to have it out for me so I wouldn't be surprised if they exaggerate things to Washington ESD.
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Owen Jenkins
•Exactly. Keep any documentation you have - write-ups, emails, witness statements, anything that shows your side of the story. Washington ESD will consider all the evidence.
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Lilah Brooks
Another big reason for denial is not meeting the work search requirements. You have to apply for jobs and keep a log of your job search activities. I think it's 3 job applications per week minimum in Washington.
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Jackson Carter
•Actually I think they changed it recently. You have to register with WorkSource and complete 3 job search activities per week, but they don't all have to be applications. Can include networking, training, job fairs, etc.
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Marcus Patterson
•Good to know about WorkSource. Do you have to register before you file your claim or can you do it after?
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Jackson Carter
•You can register after filing but you need to do it pretty quickly. They'll tell you the deadline when you file your initial claim.
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Kolton Murphy
I got denied because I didn't earn enough in my base period. Make sure you understand how Washington ESD calculates your base period - it's not the most recent 12 months like you'd think. It's usually 5 quarters ago through 2 quarters ago.
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Marcus Patterson
•That's confusing. So if I file now in January 2025, what would my base period be?
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Lydia Bailey
•If you file in January 2025, your base period would typically be October 2023 through September 2024. There's also an alternate base period that uses more recent quarters if you don't qualify under the standard base period.
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Evelyn Rivera
Medical reasons can also affect your claim. If you're not able and available for work due to health issues, Washington ESD will deny your regular UI claim. But there might be other programs available depending on your situation.
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Julia Hall
•Like what other programs? I have a back injury that limits what jobs I can do but I'm still looking for work.
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Evelyn Rivera
•You might qualify for vocational rehabilitation services through WorkSource, or possibly disability benefits if your condition is severe enough. The key is being honest with Washington ESD about your limitations while showing you're still actively seeking suitable work.
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Arjun Patel
Immigration status is another big one. You have to be legally authorized to work in the US. Washington ESD will verify this during the claims process.
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Marcus Patterson
•Good point. I'm a US citizen so that shouldn't be an issue for me, but thanks for mentioning it.
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Jade Lopez
Honestly the system is so messed up they'll find any excuse to deny you. I had to fight for months just to get benefits I was clearly entitled to. The adjudication process is a joke - they take forever and then make decisions based on incomplete information.
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Mateo Warren
•I get the frustration but most people do get approved if they're eligible. The system has problems but it's not deliberately trying to screw people over.
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Jade Lopez
•Maybe you had a better experience but I know plenty of people who got denied for bogus reasons. The burden of proof is way too high and they take the employer's word over the worker's.
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Tony Brooks
School attendance can also affect your claim. If you're enrolled in school full-time, Washington ESD might deny your benefits unless you meet certain exceptions for approved training programs.
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Marcus Patterson
•What if you're just taking a class or two part-time? Would that disqualify you?
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Tony Brooks
•Part-time classes are usually okay as long as they don't interfere with your availability for work. You need to be available for full-time work during normal business hours.
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Ella rollingthunder87
Self-employment income can mess up your claim too. If you're doing any freelance work or have a side business, you need to report that income. Even small amounts can affect your weekly benefit amount.
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Marcus Patterson
•I do some occasional dog walking through an app. Do I need to report that even if it's just like $50 a week?
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Ella rollingthunder87
•Yes, you need to report ALL income when you file your weekly claims. Washington ESD will deduct earnings over a certain threshold from your benefits. Better to report it than get caught in an overpayment situation later.
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Yara Campbell
Age discrimination is real but hard to prove. If you're over 50 like me, employers will find ways to get rid of you and then claim it was performance-related. Don't let them intimidate you - file your claim and let Washington ESD sort it out.
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Marcus Patterson
•I'm only 28 so hopefully that's not an issue for me, but it's good to know Washington ESD will investigate the real reasons behind job separations.
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Isaac Wright
Labor disputes can also affect eligibility. If you're involved in a strike or lockout, Washington ESD typically won't pay benefits. There are some exceptions but it's complicated.
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Marcus Patterson
•My workplace wasn't unionized so that shouldn't apply to my situation.
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Maya Diaz
Fraud is probably the most serious reason for denial. If Washington ESD thinks you provided false information or are trying to game the system, they'll not only deny your claim but could pursue criminal charges. Always be completely honest.
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Marcus Patterson
•Definitely planning to be 100% truthful. Not worth the risk of getting in legal trouble over unemployment benefits.
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Tami Morgan
Seasonal work can be tricky too. If your job was inherently temporary or seasonal, Washington ESD might deny benefits during the off-season if there's a reasonable expectation you'll return to the same employer.
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Marcus Patterson
•I worked retail year-round, not seasonal, so this probably doesn't apply to me.
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Rami Samuels
Family responsibilities can sometimes affect availability requirements. If you can only work certain hours due to childcare or elder care responsibilities, make sure you can still demonstrate you're available for suitable work within those constraints.
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Marcus Patterson
•I don't have kids or other dependents so my availability is pretty flexible.
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Haley Bennett
Just want to echo what others said about using Claimyr if you run into problems reaching Washington ESD. I was stuck for weeks trying to get someone on the phone about my adjudication status. Their service worked great - got me connected to an agent who resolved my issue in one call.
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Marcus Patterson
•Good to know there are options if I can't get through the normal way. Hopefully it won't come to that but it's reassuring to know services like that exist.
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Douglas Foster
Bottom line - don't let fear of denial stop you from filing. Washington ESD processes thousands of claims and most eligible people do get approved. If you get denied, you have appeal rights. The worst case is you spend some time on paperwork and don't get benefits you weren't entitled to anyway.
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Marcus Patterson
•Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I feel much more confident about filing my claim now. Going to gather my documentation and file this week.
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Lydia Bailey
•Good luck! Make sure to file as soon as possible since there's usually a waiting period before benefits start, and you can't get benefits for weeks before you actually file your claim.
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