What would make you not eligible for unemployment benefits in Washington?
I'm thinking about filing for unemployment but want to make sure I qualify first. What are the main reasons Washington ESD would deny a claim? I left my last job because my supervisor was making the workplace really hostile but I'm worried they might say I quit voluntarily. Also had a couple jobs in the past year where I got fired for being late too many times. Would any of this disqualify me from getting UI benefits?
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Zainab Omar
There are several reasons Washington ESD might deny your claim. The big ones are: quitting without good cause, getting fired for misconduct, not earning enough wages in your base period, or not being able and available to work. For your situation, quitting due to hostile work environment could qualify as 'good cause' but you'd need documentation. Getting fired for attendance issues might be considered misconduct depending on your employer's policies.
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Miguel Ortiz
•What kind of documentation would I need for the hostile work environment? I didn't file any formal complaints with HR.
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Zainab Omar
•Emails, text messages, witness statements, or any written communication about the hostile behavior would help. Even if you didn't file with HR, document what happened with dates and details.
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Connor Murphy
Here's the complete list of disqualifying factors for Washington ESD: voluntary quit without good cause, discharged for misconduct, refusing suitable work, not actively seeking work, not available for work, fraud/false statements, labor dispute involvement, and insufficient wage credits. The tricky part is proving 'good cause' for quitting - it has to be work-related and something a reasonable person would quit over.
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Yara Sayegh
•What exactly counts as 'sufficient wage credits'? I worked part-time for most of last year.
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Connor Murphy
•You need to have earned wages in at least two quarters of your base period and meet minimum earnings requirements. Part-time work can qualify if you made enough overall.
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NebulaNova
honestly the washington esd system is so backed up right now that even if you qualify it takes forever to get approved. i've been waiting 6 weeks for adjudication on my claim and cant get through to anyone on the phone. the 833 number just hangs up on you after an hour wait
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Keisha Williams
•I had the same problem until I found Claimyr.com - they actually get you connected to a real Washington ESD agent. Used it last month and got through in like 20 minutes instead of waiting hours. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.
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NebulaNova
•is that legit? seems too good to be true with how impossible it is to reach anyone at washington esd
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Keisha Williams
•Yeah it's real, they basically handle the calling and waiting for you then connect you when an agent picks up. Saved me so much frustration.
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Paolo Conti
The misconduct thing is really subjective. I got fired for 'performance issues' but still qualified because it wasn't willful misconduct. Being late repeatedly might be different though - that's more clearly violating workplace rules. You should still apply and let Washington ESD decide.
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Miguel Ortiz
•How do they determine if it's willful misconduct vs just poor performance?
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Paolo Conti
•Misconduct usually means you deliberately violated company policy or were negligent. Poor performance is more about not meeting expectations despite trying.
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Amina Diallo
Don't forget about the work search requirements! Even if you qualify initially, you have to prove you're actively looking for work. That means 3 job search activities per week and keeping detailed records. A lot of people get disqualified later for not meeting these requirements.
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Oliver Schulz
•What counts as a 'job search activity'? Just applying for jobs?
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Amina Diallo
•Job applications, networking events, career fairs, informational interviews, skills assessments, even some online training courses can count. Check the WorkSourceWA website for the full list.
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Natasha Kuznetsova
The base period wage requirement trips up a lot of people. You need to have earned at least $1,800 in your highest quarter AND your total base period wages need to be at least 1.5 times your highest quarter. If you worked mostly part-time or had gaps in employment, you might not meet this threshold.
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AstroAdventurer
•What if you worked in another state during your base period? Does that count toward Washington requirements?
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Natasha Kuznetsova
•Yes, you can combine wages from other states, but you have to request those wage records when you file your claim. Washington ESD will coordinate with other states to get your complete wage history.
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Javier Mendoza
Medical issues can also disqualify you if they prevent you from working. You have to be 'able and available' for work, which means physically and mentally capable of working and actually available to accept job offers. If you're dealing with health problems that limit your ability to work, you might not qualify.
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Emma Wilson
•What about partial disability? I can work but only certain types of jobs due to back problems.
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Javier Mendoza
•Partial disabilities can still qualify if you can perform some type of work. You'd need to show you're available for work within your restrictions and actively seeking suitable employment.
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Malik Davis
ALSO - if you're going to school full-time, that usually disqualifies you because you're not considered 'available' for work. There are some exceptions for approved training programs, but regular college enrollment typically makes you ineligible.
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Isabella Santos
•What about online classes or evening classes? I'm taking a few courses but could still work during the day.
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Malik Davis
•Part-time education might be okay if it doesn't interfere with your availability for work. You'd need to show you can accept job offers and maintain your class schedule.
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Ravi Gupta
Immigration status matters too. You need to be authorized to work in the US to qualify for unemployment benefits. If you're on certain types of visas or have work authorization issues, you might be disqualified.
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GalacticGuru
•Do you need to be a citizen or just have work authorization?
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Ravi Gupta
•Just work authorization is sufficient. Green card holders, work visa holders, and other authorized workers can qualify as long as they meet the other requirements.
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Freya Pedersen
The most frustrating part is when you get disqualified but Washington ESD doesn't clearly explain why. I got a generic letter saying 'not eligible' with no details. Took me weeks to find out it was because they considered my resignation 'voluntary' even though I had good cause.
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Omar Fawaz
•That's when you really need to talk to someone at Washington ESD to understand the specific reason. I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and finally got clarification on my disqualification.
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Freya Pedersen
•Yeah I should have done that sooner. The letters they send are so vague and confusing.
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Chloe Anderson
Criminal background can also be an issue for certain types of work. If you're required to look for work in fields that do background checks and you have disqualifying convictions, it might affect your eligibility or suitable work determinations.
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Diego Vargas
•Does this apply to old convictions or just recent ones?
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Chloe Anderson
•It depends on the type of conviction and how it relates to available work in your area. Generally, it's more about whether it prevents you from finding suitable employment.
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Anastasia Fedorov
Don't forget about severance pay or other separation benefits. If you received a large severance package, it might affect when your benefits start or your total eligibility period.
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StarStrider
•How does severance affect the timing? Do you have to wait until it runs out?
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Anastasia Fedorov
•Severance pay is typically allocated over the period it's supposed to cover. So if you got 8 weeks of severance, your UI benefits might be delayed by 8 weeks.
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Sean Doyle
The key thing is to apply even if you're not 100% sure you qualify. Let Washington ESD make the determination rather than self-disqualifying. The worst they can do is say no, but you might be surprised and actually qualify despite your concerns.
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Miguel Ortiz
•Thanks everyone for all the detailed info. I think I'm going to go ahead and apply and see what happens. The hostile work environment was pretty well documented in emails so hopefully that helps.
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Zara Rashid
•Good luck! Just make sure to keep copies of everything and be completely honest on your application. Washington ESD will verify everything with your employers anyway.
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Luca Romano
One more thing - if you do get disqualified, you can appeal the decision. You have 30 days from the date of the determination letter to file an appeal. Sometimes it's worth fighting if you believe the decision was wrong.
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Nia Jackson
•The appeals process is actually pretty straightforward. You can do it online through your eServices account or by phone. Just make sure you have all your documentation ready.
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Mateo Hernandez
•I won my appeal after initially being denied for 'voluntary quit.' Had to provide more evidence about the working conditions but it was worth it.
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