What to do if unemployment is denied - Washington ESD appeal process help
Got my determination letter yesterday and Washington ESD denied my claim. They're saying I was terminated for misconduct but that's not what happened at all. I was let go because of budget cuts at my company, not because I did anything wrong. The letter mentions I have appeal rights but I'm completely lost on what to do next. Has anyone successfully appealed a denial before? I really need these benefits to pay rent and I'm panicking.
56 comments


Ethan Wilson
Yes, you can definitely appeal this! You have 30 days from the date on your determination letter to file an appeal. Don't wait - the sooner you file, the better. You'll need to submit your appeal in writing to Washington ESD explaining why you disagree with their decision.
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Aisha Abdullah
•Thank you! Do I need to provide any specific documentation with my appeal?
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Ethan Wilson
•Yes, gather any documentation that supports your case - termination letter, emails, witness statements, anything that shows you weren't fired for misconduct.
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Yuki Tanaka
I went through this exact situation last year. The key is to be very detailed in your appeal letter about what actually happened. Don't just say 'I disagree' - explain the circumstances of your termination and why Washington ESD's determination is wrong.
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Aisha Abdullah
•How long did your appeal take to get resolved?
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Yuki Tanaka
•Mine took about 6 weeks from filing to getting the hearing decision. It was stressful but worth it because they overturned the denial.
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Carmen Diaz
Have you tried calling Washington ESD to discuss this? Sometimes there's a misunderstanding that can be cleared up without going through the full appeal process. I've heard claimyr.com can help you actually get through to someone at Washington ESD since their phone lines are always so busy.
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Aisha Abdullah
•I've tried calling but keep getting the busy signal or getting disconnected after waiting on hold forever.
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Carmen Diaz
•That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how they help people get through to Washington ESD agents. Might be worth checking out before you go through the whole appeal process.
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Andre Laurent
DONT GIVE UP! The same thing happened to me and I was so mad. These people at Washington ESD don't know what they're doing half the time. File that appeal and fight it!
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Aisha Abdullah
•Did you win your appeal?
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Andre Laurent
•YES! Took forever but they finally admitted they made a mistake. The hearing officer actually apologized for the initial determination.
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AstroAce
While you're waiting for your appeal, you should still file weekly claims if you're able and available for work. Even if you're not getting paid, it protects your claim dates in case you win the appeal.
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Aisha Abdullah
•Really? I thought there was no point in filing weekly claims if I'm denied.
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AstroAce
•Nope, you should definitely keep filing. If you win your appeal, you'll get backpay for all those weeks - but only if you filed the weekly claims.
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Zoe Kyriakidou
•This is correct - I made the mistake of not filing weekly claims during my appeal and lost out on 3 weeks of benefits even after I won.
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Jamal Brown
What exactly did they say was the misconduct? Sometimes Washington ESD misinterprets information from employers. If you can prove the employer gave false information, that's a strong case for your appeal.
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Aisha Abdullah
•They said I was terminated for violating company policy but I was actually laid off due to budget cuts. My whole department was eliminated.
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Jamal Brown
•That sounds like your employer provided incorrect information to Washington ESD. Do you have any documentation showing it was a layoff rather than a termination for cause?
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Mei Zhang
just went thru this myself, the appeal process is actually pretty straightforward once you get started. you fill out the form explaining your side and then they schedule a hearing
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Aisha Abdullah
•What was the hearing like? I'm nervous about having to present my case.
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Mei Zhang
•not bad at all, its over the phone usually. the hearing officer asks questions and you just tell your story. having documentation helps a lot
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Ethan Wilson
One more thing - if you have any former coworkers who were also laid off, they could be witnesses for your appeal. Their testimony could help prove it was a layoff situation and not misconduct.
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Aisha Abdullah
•Good idea! Two other people from my department were let go the same day. I'll reach out to them.
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Liam McConnell
I hate how Washington ESD just believes whatever employers tell them without questioning it. So many people get denied unfairly because of this.
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Yuki Tanaka
•It's frustrating but that's exactly why the appeal process exists. The hearing officers are usually more thorough than the initial determination.
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Amara Oluwaseyi
Make sure you keep copies of everything you submit for your appeal. I sent my appeal documents but they claimed they never received them. Luckily I had copies to prove I filed on time.
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Aisha Abdullah
•Should I send it certified mail or is regular mail okay?
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Amara Oluwaseyi
•I'd recommend certified mail or submit it online if that's an option. You want proof it was received.
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Carmen Diaz
Actually, before going through all the appeal paperwork, you might want to try getting through to Washington ESD to see if they can explain their decision better. Sometimes it's just a misunderstanding that can be cleared up quickly. I used Claimyr last month when I couldn't get through on my own and they got me connected to an agent within minutes.
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CosmicCaptain
•How does that work exactly?
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Carmen Diaz
•They basically call Washington ESD for you and get you connected to an actual person. Way better than sitting on hold for hours or getting disconnected.
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Giovanni Rossi
Whatever you do, don't miss that 30-day deadline! I've seen people lose their right to appeal because they waited too long. Even if you're not ready with all your documentation, file the appeal first and then gather your evidence.
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Aisha Abdullah
•Good point, I'll file the appeal tomorrow morning just to be safe.
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Fatima Al-Maktoum
Been there, done that. The whole process is stressful but hang in there. Most people who appeal for legitimate reasons like yours end up winning.
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Aisha Abdullah
•That's reassuring to hear. I was starting to feel hopeless about this whole situation.
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AstroAce
Also remember that if you lose at the initial appeal hearing, you can appeal again to the Board of Review. It's a second chance if things don't go your way the first time.
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Aisha Abdullah
•How many levels of appeal are there?
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AstroAce
•There are three levels - initial determination, appeal hearing, and Board of Review. After that you'd have to go to court but that's pretty rare.
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Dylan Mitchell
I'm going through the same thing right now. Filed my appeal two weeks ago and still waiting to hear about the hearing date. It's nerve-wracking but at least we're fighting for what we deserve.
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Aisha Abdullah
•Good luck with your case! What reason did they give for your denial?
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Dylan Mitchell
•Similar to yours - they said I quit when I was actually laid off. Employers lie to avoid paying into the UI system.
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Sofia Gutierrez
Make sure you understand exactly what Washington ESD is claiming happened. Sometimes they get confused between quit, fired for misconduct, and layoff. Your appeal needs to address their specific concerns.
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Aisha Abdullah
•The letter says 'discharged for misconduct' but I was definitely laid off. I have the layoff notice from HR.
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Sofia Gutierrez
•That layoff notice is golden - that's exactly the kind of documentation that will win your appeal.
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Dmitry Petrov
dont let them intimidate you. i won my appeal even though i was representing myself. you dont need a lawyer for this
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Aisha Abdullah
•That's good to know. I was wondering if I needed legal help.
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StarSurfer
The waiting is the worst part. I was denied benefits for 2 months while my appeal was pending. But when I finally won, I got all the backpay at once which was a huge relief.
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Aisha Abdullah
•How much backpay did you get?
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StarSurfer
•About $3,200 for the 8 weeks I was waiting. Made the whole ordeal worth it in the end.
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Ava Martinez
I had to appeal twice - lost the first hearing but won at the Board of Review level. Don't give up even if the first appeal doesn't go your way.
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Aisha Abdullah
•What was different about the Board of Review hearing?
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Ava Martinez
•They actually looked at all the evidence more carefully. The first hearing officer seemed to just believe the employer without question.
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Miguel Castro
Try calling Washington ESD one more time to see if you can get this sorted out without an appeal. I know the phone lines are terrible but sometimes you get lucky. If you can't get through, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier might be worth trying - anything to avoid the stress of an appeal if it's not necessary.
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Aisha Abdullah
•You're right, I should exhaust all options before going the appeal route. I'll try Claimyr tomorrow if I can't get through on my own.
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Miguel Castro
•Good plan. Even if you do end up having to appeal, at least you'll know you tried everything. Good luck!
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