What would disqualify you from unemployment benefits in Washington ESD?

Walking out during your shift will likely be considered job abandonment, which Washington ESD treats as quitting without good cause. The main disqualifiers are: voluntary quit without good cause, fired for misconduct, not able and available for work, not actively seeking work, and refusing suitable work offers. You might want to appeal if they deny you since there could be more to your situation.

I had a similar situation last year - got into it with management and left without notice. Washington ESD initially disqualified me but I appealed and won. The key is showing you had a compelling reason to leave. Document everything you can remember about the scheduling conflict and any attempts you made to resolve it with your employer.

Don't get your hopes up. Washington ESD is really strict about job abandonment cases. I've seen tons of people get denied for walking off the job, even when they had good reasons. They expect you to try to work things out with your employer first or give proper notice when quitting.

I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD when I needed to explain my situation during adjudication. Spent weeks calling and never got through. Finally found this service called Claimyr that helped me connect with an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made all the difference in getting my side of the story heard.

Here's the complete list of disqualifications from Washington ESD: quitting without good cause, being fired for misconduct, not being able and available for work, failing to register with WorkSource, not conducting adequate job search, refusing suitable work, and being unemployed due to a labor dispute. There are also temporary disqualifications for things like receiving vacation pay or severance.

The system is so messed up. I got disqualified for 'misconduct' because I was late to work a few times due to bus issues. How is that misconduct? They act like we're all trying to scam the system when most of us just need help getting back on our feet.

OP, make sure you're completely honest on your application about how your job ended. Washington ESD will contact your employer anyway, and if there's a discrepancy between your story and theirs, it looks really bad. Better to be upfront about the argument and explain your side than to try to sugarcoat it.

I got denied initially but used Claimyr to finally talk to someone at Washington ESD who could review my case properly. Turns out there was missing information in my file that was causing the holdup. Sometimes you just need to get the right person on the phone who can actually look at your situation.

Don't forget that even if you get disqualified, it might not be permanent. Some disqualifications are just for a certain number of weeks, and others last until you earn a certain amount at a new job. The key is understanding what type of disqualification you're facing.

I'm dealing with something similar - got fired for what they called 'policy violations' but I think it was really retaliation for complaining about safety issues. Washington ESD is still reviewing my case after 3 weeks. The waiting is killing me financially.

Another thing to watch out for is the 'able and available' requirement. If you have any health issues, transportation problems, or childcare issues that limit when you can work, Washington ESD might disqualify you. You have to be ready to accept full-time work immediately.

The job search requirement trips people up too. You can't just apply to jobs you know you won't get or that are way outside your qualifications. Washington ESD expects you to make genuine efforts to find suitable work. Keep detailed records of where you apply and when.

Been there with the phone system nightmare. Claimyr was the only way I could get through to someone who could actually help with my adjudication issue. The regular phone lines are basically useless - you'll spend hours trying to get through just to be told to call back later.

Don't overlook the WorkSource registration requirement either. You have to register within 7 days of filing your claim and keep your profile updated. I almost got disqualified because I forgot to update my resume on their system.

OP, given your situation with walking out, I'd strongly recommend filing anyway and being completely honest about what happened. Worst case you get denied and can appeal. Best case they find your reasons were justified. You won't know until you try, and you're losing potential benefits every week you wait.

One more thing - if you do get disqualified and appeal, consider getting help preparing for your hearing. The appeals process can be tricky and having your facts organized makes a big difference. I've seen people lose appeals just because they didn't present their case clearly.