What reasons can you be denied unemployment benefits in Washington?

There are several main categories where Washington ESD will deny benefits. Most common ones: 1) Quitting without good cause 2) Being fired for misconduct 3) Not being able and available for work 4) Refusing suitable work 5) Not meeting the earnings requirements during your base period. The earnings thing trips up a lot of people - you need to have earned at least $3,500 in your base period.

Don't forget about the job search requirements! Even if you qualify initially, they can cut off your benefits if you don't do enough job searches or refuse a suitable job offer. You have to be actively looking and document it.

The main disqualification reasons in Washington are: 1) Voluntary quit without good cause 2) Misconduct discharge 3) Not able/available to work 4) Refusing suitable work 5) Not actively seeking work. The job search requirement is pretty strict now - you need 3 job contacts per week minimum.

I got denied initially because I couldn't get through to Washington ESD to verify my identity. Spent weeks calling and never got through to a human. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to an agent. They have this video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Turned out my SSN didn't match their records perfectly and that's why I was stuck in adjudication.

They also deny people for not reporting work or earnings correctly on their weekly claims. Even small amounts of work can affect your benefits, and if you don't report it properly they consider it fraud.

Don't forget about the earnings requirement! You need to have earned at least $1,050 in your base year and meet the wage requirements. I got denied initially because my earnings were too low in one quarter.

I've been dealing with Washington ESD denials for weeks trying to get through to someone who can explain my disqualification. The phone system is absolutely impossible - I've called hundreds of times and either get busy signals or hung up on after waiting 2+ hours. Recently discovered claimyr.com which actually got me connected to a real person at Washington ESD in under 10 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing exactly how it works. Finally got my adjudication issue resolved!

ugh the whole system is designed to deny people. I got denied because I was going to school part-time and they said I wasn't available for work. Had to appeal and it took months to get it sorted out.

Also watch out for the citizenship/work authorization requirement. You need to be legally authorized to work in the US. And if you're receiving certain other benefits like worker's comp, that can affect your UI eligibility too.

Another big one is the 'suitable work' issue. Once you've been unemployed for a certain period, they expect you to take jobs that might pay less or be slightly different from your previous work. If you turn down what they consider suitable work, you can lose benefits.

The base period earnings thing got me. I had been working but not enough hours to meet their minimum. They look at the first 4 of the last 5 quarters before you file, so timing matters a lot.

ugh the system is SO broken!! I got denied because they said I quit voluntarily but I was basically forced out due to harassment. Now I have to appeal and prove it was constructive dismissal. The whole process is designed to deny as many people as possible!!

Another reason is if you're fired for a felony conviction related to your work. Or if you're incarcerated obviously. Also temporary disability can disqualify you if you can't work due to illness or injury.

The job search thing is brutal now. You have to log 3 contacts per week minimum and they're really strict about what counts. I got a warning letter because some of my job contacts didn't meet their criteria.

Medical issues can also cause denials if they affect your ability to work. You have to be 'able and available' which means physically and mentally capable of working. But there are some exceptions for temporary disabilities.

Don't forget about the drug testing requirement! If you're fired for failing a drug test or refusing to take one, you'll be disqualified. Same if you're fired for being under the influence at work.

Immigration status can be an issue too. You have to be authorized to work in the US. Even legal immigrants sometimes have issues if their work authorization expires.

The frustrating thing is when you get denied and don't know why because you can't reach anyone at Washington ESD to explain it. That's when services like Claimyr become really valuable - they can actually get you through to talk to someone who can look at your specific case.

Labor disputes are another one. If you're on strike or participating in a work stoppage, you can't collect unemployment during that time.

What about if you were a contractor or self-employed? I heard that's harder to qualify for regular unemployment.

Don't forget about the work search requirements varying by occupation too. Some professionals have different standards for what counts as suitable work compared to general laborers.

seasonal workers sometimes have issues too, especially if there's a pattern of the same employer laying off and rehiring the same people every year

The key thing is being honest on your application and weekly claims. Most denials I've seen happen because people try to hide something or don't understand the reporting requirements.

anyone know about military spouse exceptions? my situation is complicated because we move a lot

The timing of when you file matters too. If you wait too long after losing your job, it can affect your claim. Generally you want to file as soon as possible after your last day of work.

Just want to add that even if you think you might not qualify, it's usually worth applying anyway. The worst they can do is say no, and you might be wrong about your eligibility.

And remember if you do run into issues where you can't get through to Washington ESD for help, there are options like Claimyr to actually reach an agent. Sometimes that personal contact makes all the difference in getting your claim approved.

good luck! the process isn't as scary as it seems once you get started

Just make sure to keep good records of everything - your job search activities, any work you do, any correspondence with Washington ESD. Documentation is your friend if anything gets questioned later.

I should mention - when I used claimyr to finally get through to Washington ESD, the agent explained that a lot of denials happen because people don't understand the initial claim requirements. Like they think any reason for leaving qualifies, but 'good cause' has a very specific legal definition.

The voluntary quit thing is so subjective though. I've seen people get approved for the same situation that got me denied. It really depends on which adjudicator reviews your case.

Immigration status issues can also cause denials. Even if you're authorized to work, there are specific requirements about how long you've been authorized and your visa status.

Also watch out if you receive severance pay or vacation payout. Depending on how it's structured, it might delay when your benefits start even if you're otherwise eligible.

just wanted to say thanks for all this info! I was worried about filing because I wasn't sure about my situation but this helps a lot

One more thing - if you move out of state after filing, you need to notify Washington ESD immediately. Some states have different requirements for continuing your claim, and failure to report can result in overpayment issues.

The able and available requirement trips up a lot of people too. You have to be physically and mentally able to work, and available for full-time work during normal business hours unless you're specifically looking for part-time.

Just to follow up on the claimyr thing - I ended up recommending it to two other people who were stuck in adjudication hell, and both got through to resolve their issues. One had been waiting 8 weeks for a callback. It's honestly been a lifesaver for navigating Washington ESD's impossible phone system.

Update on my appeal - finally heard back and they reversed the denial! Turns out my situation did qualify as constructive dismissal. Don't give up if you get denied and you think it's wrong.

This thread has been super helpful. I was worried about applying but now I understand the requirements better. Going to file tomorrow and see what happens.

Another denial reason people forget - if you don't register with WorkSourceWA within a reasonable time after filing. It's not optional, it's a requirement for maintaining eligibility.

Also be careful about how you describe your reason for leaving on the initial application. The way you word it can really impact whether they approve or deny you. I've seen people get denied because they said they "quit due to stress" instead of explaining the specific unsafe or hostile conditions that made it impossible to continue working. The initial application sets the tone for your entire claim, so be detailed and specific about circumstances rather than just giving a general reason.