Why am I disqualified from unemployment - Washington ESD won't explain

I've been trying to call for a week but keep getting disconnected after waiting on hold for hours. Is there another way to get this information?

Unfortunately the phone system is overloaded. You can try logging into your SecureAccess Washington account to see if there are any alerts or messages that might give you more details.

How did you find out that's what happened? Did you eventually get through to someone at Washington ESD?

Yeah but it took forever on the phone. Actually found a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ

I kept detailed records of all my job applications. Each week I applied to at least 4-5 positions and logged them in WorkSourceWA.

Sometimes it's not just about quantity but quality of job search activities. Did you make sure each contact was for suitable work within your field and pay range?

Most were retail positions similar to my last job. A few were slightly different but still in customer service. I thought that would be okay?

Is there a way to see these codes somewhere? The letter I got doesn't have any specific codes on it.

The codes should be in your online account or the agent can tell you when you call. That's why getting through to someone is so important - they can pull up your file and see the exact reason.

Three months?? I can't wait that long to find out what's wrong. I need to pay rent.

Don't panic yet. If you appeal quickly and provide good documentation, it can move faster than 3 months. The key is understanding exactly what they're claiming you did wrong.

I have my final paycheck stub and a note from my manager saying it was due to budget cuts. Would that be enough?

That's a good start. Also keep any emails or texts about the layoff. If other employees were laid off at the same time, that helps prove it wasn't performance-related.

Yeah, they laid off 4 of us the same day. I can probably get contact info for the others if needed.

Try that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. It's specifically for getting through to unemployment offices when you can't reach them normally.

Is it legit? Seems too good to be true that there's a service that can actually get you through to Washington ESD agents.

I was skeptical too but it worked for me. They basically handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent is available. Worth trying when you're stuck like this.

Good point. The letter is dated last week so I still have time. Should I appeal now or wait until I understand the reason better?

Appeal now to protect your deadline. You can write something like 'I disagree with this disqualification and request more information about the specific reasons' then add details once you know more.

This is correct. I made the mistake of waiting to understand everything first and missed my appeal window. Don't do what I did.

Yes, same employer the whole time. Started in March and was laid off in October. Worked about 25-30 hours per week consistently.

That should be enough qualifying wages. Definitely sounds like it's either a separation issue or job search problem then.

How did you prove they were lying? What kind of evidence did you need?

I had text messages from my supervisor about the layoffs and witness statements from coworkers who were also laid off. The hearing officer saw through the employer's story pretty quickly.

That gives me hope. I should start gathering evidence just in case.

I get the frustration but complaining doesn't help solve the immediate problem. OP needs practical advice for dealing with the appeal process.

fair enough. just saying the system is designed to deny first and ask questions later

I didn't do any work after being laid off. Been focusing full time on job searching.

OK good, that rules out unreported income issues. Really sounds like it's either separation or job search related then.

I'll log in and check again. When I looked last week there weren't any alerts but maybe something new came up.

Good idea. Also check your spam folder for emails from Washington ESD. Their emails sometimes get filtered out.

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm going to file the appeal tomorrow and keep trying to reach someone who can explain the specific reason.

That's the right approach. Document everything and keep copies of all communications. You'll need a paper trail for the appeal hearing.

I keep hearing about this service. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get answers. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Same here - used it last month when my claim got stuck. The agent was able to clear up a misunderstanding about my job search activities in about 10 minutes once I finally got through.