Why can you be denied unemployment benefits in Washington - common disqualification reasons?
I'm trying to understand all the ways Washington ESD can deny your unemployment claim before I even apply. My job situation is complicated and I want to know what could disqualify me. I've heard there are different reasons they can reject your application but I can't find a clear list anywhere. What are the main reasons Washington ESD denies unemployment benefits? I don't want to waste time filing if I'm just going to get rejected.
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Sofia Morales
There are several main categories Washington ESD uses for denials. Most common is quitting without good cause, getting fired for misconduct, not being able and available for work, or not meeting the wage requirements during your base period. Each one has specific criteria they look at.
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Dylan Cooper
•What exactly counts as 'misconduct' though? Is being late a few times enough to disqualify you?
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Sofia Morales
•It has to be willful misconduct connected to your work. Being late occasionally usually isn't enough unless it's chronic and you were warned multiple times. Things like theft, violence, or repeatedly violating company policy are more typical misconduct cases.
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StarSailor
The wage requirement trips up a lot of people. You need to have earned at least $7,431 in your base period AND have worked in at least two quarters of that base period. Your base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file.
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Dmitry Ivanov
•This is so confusing! How do you even calculate what quarters count as your base period?
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StarSailor
•If you file in January 2025, your base period would be January-March 2024, April-June 2024, July-September 2024, and October-December 2024. Washington ESD has a calculator on their website that can help figure this out.
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Ava Garcia
I got denied initially for 'able and available' issues but honestly I had no idea what Washington ESD was looking for. Turns out you have to prove you're actively job searching and available to accept suitable work. If you have restrictions that limit your availability too much, they can deny you.
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Miguel Silva
•What kind of restrictions cause problems? I can only work certain hours because of childcare.
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Ava Garcia
•Childcare restrictions usually aren't a problem as long as you're available during normal business hours for suitable work. It's more about things like refusing to work weekends when your normal job required it, or only wanting remote work when you previously worked in-person.
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Zainab Ismail
If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask about your specific situation, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you actually reach an agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting disconnected.
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Dylan Cooper
•Is this legit? I'm desperate to talk to someone at Washington ESD but don't want to get scammed.
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Zainab Ismail
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Connor O'Neill
Here's what I learned from my denial - if you quit your job, you better have 'good cause' and it better be related to work. Personal reasons like wanting a career change or moving for family usually don't qualify. Good cause means things like unsafe working conditions, significant changes to your job duties, or harassment that your employer won't address.
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QuantumQuester
•What if you quit because of medical issues? Does that count as good cause?
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Connor O'Neill
•Medical issues can qualify but you have to show you tried to work with your employer first - requested accommodations, took FMLA if available, etc. Just quitting because you're sick usually isn't enough.
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Sofia Morales
•Also worth noting that even if you quit for good cause, Washington ESD might still require you to look for work that accommodates your medical condition. It's not a free pass from the job search requirement.
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Yara Nassar
Don't forget about the work search requirements! Even if you qualify initially, you can get cut off if you don't do the required job search activities. Right now it's 3 work search activities per week and you have to keep detailed records.
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Keisha Williams
•What counts as a work search activity? Just applying for jobs or other stuff too?
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Yara Nassar
•Lots of things count - applying for jobs, networking, attending job fairs, taking skills assessments, interviewing. Check the WorkSourceWA website for the full list. But you have to document everything in case they audit you.
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Paolo Ricci
Another big one is if you're not a US citizen or don't have work authorization. Washington ESD requires you to be legally authorized to work in the US. Green card holders are fine but visa restrictions can cause issues.
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Amina Toure
•What about students on F-1 visas? I worked part-time on campus.
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Paolo Ricci
•F-1 students usually can't get regular unemployment because of the visa restrictions, even if you worked legally on campus. There might be exceptions but it's complicated - you'd need to check with Washington ESD directly.
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Oliver Zimmermann
I got denied because I was considered an independent contractor instead of an employee. Washington ESD looks at things like whether you set your own schedule, used your own tools, had other clients, etc. If they decide you were self-employed, you don't qualify for regular UI.
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CosmicCommander
•This is happening to so many gig workers! Uber, DoorDash, freelancers - they all get screwed by this.
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Oliver Zimmermann
•Yeah it's frustrating. Sometimes employers misclassify people as contractors to avoid paying into the unemployment system. You can appeal if you think you were misclassified but it's a hassle.
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Natasha Volkova
Criminal background can also be an issue in some cases. If you were fired because you were arrested or convicted of something work-related, that's usually considered misconduct. But just having a criminal record doesn't automatically disqualify you.
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Javier Torres
•What if you're honest about a past conviction during the application process?
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Natasha Volkova
•Being honest is always better. Washington ESD cares more about why you lost your current job than your general background. If the conviction isn't related to why you were fired, it shouldn't affect your claim.
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Emma Davis
School attendance can disqualify you too! If you're attending school more than part-time, Washington ESD considers you not available for work. There are some exceptions for approved training programs but regular college usually doesn't qualify.
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Malik Johnson
•What about online classes? I'm taking a few online courses while looking for work.
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Emma Davis
•Online vs in-person doesn't matter - it's about the time commitment. If your class schedule would prevent you from accepting a full-time job, that's a problem. Part-time evening classes are usually okay.
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Isabella Ferreira
Here's one people don't think about - if you receive certain types of severance pay or pension benefits, it might reduce or delay your unemployment benefits. Washington ESD has specific rules about how this income affects your claim.
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Ravi Sharma
•I got a small severance package when I was laid off. Should I be worried about this affecting my claim?
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Isabella Ferreira
•Depends on how the severance is structured. Lump sum payments are usually okay but if it's paid out over time like regular wages, it might delay your benefits. You have to report all income anyway so Washington ESD will figure it out.
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NebulaNomad
Age discrimination is real but hard to prove for UI purposes. If you were fired and you suspect it was because of your age, you might still qualify for unemployment even if you can't prove the discrimination. Washington ESD focuses on whether the firing was for misconduct, not whether it was illegal discrimination.
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Freya Thomsen
•That's good to know. I was worried that if I couldn't prove discrimination, I wouldn't get benefits.
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NebulaNomad
•Right, those are separate issues. You can file for unemployment and also pursue a discrimination claim if you want. Just make sure to report your situation honestly to Washington ESD.
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Omar Fawaz
Military folks have special rules too. If you're recently discharged, your military pay might affect your base period calculations. And if you left the military under certain conditions, that could impact eligibility.
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Chloe Martin
•Does honorable discharge guarantee you'll qualify for unemployment?
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Omar Fawaz
•Honorable discharge helps but you still need to meet all the other requirements - wage history, able and available, etc. Dishonorable discharge is more likely to cause problems.
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Diego Rojas
I've been through the Washington ESD appeals process and let me tell you - even if you get denied initially, don't give up! A lot of denials get overturned on appeal if you can provide better documentation or explanation of your situation.
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Anastasia Sokolov
•How long does the appeals process take? I'm running out of savings.
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Diego Rojas
•It varies but usually 6-8 weeks for the first level appeal. You can request an expedited hearing if you have financial hardship. And if you win the appeal, you get back pay from when you first applied.
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StarSeeker
For anyone struggling to reach Washington ESD about their denial, I had success using Claimyr after getting the runaround for weeks. It's not free but honestly worth it when you need answers about your specific situation.
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Sean O'Donnell
•How much does something like that cost? I'm already broke from being unemployed.
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Zainab Ismail
•The cost varies but think about how much time you're spending trying to get through on your own. Sometimes paying for help is worth it to get your claim resolved faster.
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Zara Ahmed
Don't forget about partial unemployment! Even if you're working part-time, you might still qualify for reduced benefits. But if you turn down offered hours from your employer, that could disqualify you.
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Luca Esposito
•I didn't know you could get unemployment while working part-time. How does that work?
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Zara Ahmed
•If your hours are reduced through no fault of your own, you can get partial benefits. Washington ESD has a formula to calculate how much. But you have to report all earnings and hours worked.
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Nia Thompson
Seasonal workers face special challenges. If your work is seasonal and you knew it was temporary, Washington ESD might deny your claim during the off-season. You have to show you're actively looking for non-seasonal work.
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Mateo Rodriguez
•What about teachers during summer break? I heard they can't collect unemployment.
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Nia Thompson
•Teachers and other school employees usually can't collect during summer break if they have reasonable assurance of returning to work in the fall. It's one of those specific exclusions in the law.
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GalaxyGuardian
Here's the bottom line - Washington ESD looks at why you lost your job, whether you meet the financial requirements, and whether you're able and available for work. Most denials fall into one of those categories. If you're unsure about your situation, it's usually worth applying anyway because the worst they can do is say no.
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Dylan Cooper
•Thanks everyone, this has been really helpful. I think I understand the main risks now. Sounds like I should probably apply and see what happens.
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StarSailor
•Good luck! Make sure to be completely honest on your application and keep good records of your job search. If you do get denied, remember you can appeal within 30 days.
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