What would disqualify you from getting Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

How do I document a hostile work environment? I have some text messages from coworkers about it but nothing official.

Text messages can help, but you'll need to provide detailed statements about specific incidents, dates, and any witnesses. Washington ESD looks for a pattern of behavior that would make any reasonable person quit.

Wait, what about the WorkSourceWA thing? I filed my claim but haven't registered there yet.

You need to register with WorkSourceWA within a reasonable time after filing. It's part of the work search requirement. Don't wait too long or it could affect your benefits.

That's scary. I had one verbal warning about being on my phone too much but nothing written down.

Verbal warnings usually aren't enough for misconduct disqualification unless there's a clear pattern. Washington ESD needs substantial evidence of willful or wanton disregard of employer's interests.

Is that one of those services that charges you? I'm already broke, can't afford to pay someone to make phone calls for me.

They do charge but it was worth it for me since I spent weeks trying to get through on my own. The peace of mind knowing I could actually talk to someone was huge.

How much is too much? I might need to do some freelance work to make ends meet.

You can earn up to your weekly benefit amount minus $5. Anything over that gets deducted dollar for dollar from your unemployment check.

And you HAVE to report all earnings when you file your weekly claim or that's fraud and they'll disqualify you permanently.

Yes, huge difference. Poor performance or inability to do the job isn't disqualifying misconduct. Misconduct has to be willful violation of company rules or standards.

That's what I should have argued in my case. I wasn't willfully late, I just had car problems. But I didn't know the difference then.

Good thing I'm nowhere near retirement age yet!

Also workers comp payments can affect eligibility. Washington ESD looks at any income replacement benefits you're receiving.

What counts as a valid job contact? Just applying online or do you need to actually talk to someone?

Online applications count but you need to keep detailed records - company name, position, date, method of contact. They can audit your job search log anytime.

Also attending job fairs, networking events, or interviews count as job search activities. Just make sure you document everything properly.

How long were you disqualified for?

Just two weeks, but I had to get a doctor's note saying I was cleared to return to work before they'd restart my benefits.

What if you're using medical marijuana legally?

That's tricky. Even if it's legal medically, if your employer had a zero tolerance policy and fired you for it, Washington ESD might still consider it misconduct.

Suitable work considers your skills, experience, wage history, and commuting distance. Early in your claim, you can be more selective. After several weeks, the standards lower.

So I don't have to take a minimum wage job right away if I was making $25/hour?

Correct, especially in the first few weeks. But eventually you may need to accept lower wages if that's what's available in your field.

I'm a US citizen so that's not an issue for me, but good to know.

Really? Even if the pension is small?

Yes, Washington ESD deducts the weekly pension amount from your UI benefits. If the pension is larger than your weekly benefit amount, you get nothing.

Did they actually help resolve your issues or just get you connected?

They got me through to an actual adjudicator who explained exactly why I was disqualified and what I needed to do to appeal. Saved me weeks of confusion.

What about online classes or night school?

As long as your class schedule doesn't interfere with your availability for full-time work, it should be fine. But you still need to report it to Washington ESD.

That's terrifying. What if you make an honest mistake?

Honest mistakes can usually be corrected, but you need to report them as soon as you realize the error. The longer you wait, the more suspicious it looks.

Exactly. Washington ESD distinguishes between innocent errors and intentional fraud based on the circumstances and your response when discovered.

What if you're not part of the union but still can't work because of the strike?

That's more complicated. Washington ESD looks at whether you're directly involved in the dispute or just affected by it. Non-union workers might still qualify in some cases.

I'm not military but that's good information for veterans to know.

Thanks everyone for all this information. I think I'll go ahead and file since my situation might qualify as good cause for quitting. At least now I know what to expect.

Good luck! Remember to document everything about your hostile work environment situation. The more evidence you have, the better your chances of avoiding a disqualification.

And if you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about your specific case, definitely consider using Claimyr. It's so much easier than trying to get through the regular phone lines.