Why did I get disqualified for unemployment - Washington ESD gave no clear reason

You should have received a determination letter that explains the specific reason for disqualification. Check your SecureAccess Washington account online - sometimes the detailed determination shows up there before the physical letter arrives. Common reasons include issues with your separation from employment, not meeting work search requirements, or availability issues.

This happened to me too! I was so confused because I thought I was doing everything right. Turns out there was an issue with how my employer reported my separation - they said I quit when I was actually laid off.

Getting through to Washington ESD by phone is nearly impossible these days. I've been trying for weeks about my own claim issues. You might want to try Claimyr - it's a service that helps you actually connect with ESD agents. I found it at claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of busy signals and dropped calls.

Did you report any work during your claim period? Even small gig work or temporary jobs can cause issues if not reported correctly. Washington ESD is really strict about that stuff.

The Washington ESD system is so messed up right now. I know three people who got disqualified for no clear reason and had to appeal to get it fixed. The appeals process takes forever too.

Check if there's an adjudication issue on your claim. Sometimes what looks like a disqualification is actually just a pending adjudication that hasn't been resolved yet. Log into your SAW account and look at your claim status details.

Another thing to check - did your employer contest your claim? Sometimes employers will fight unemployment claims even for legitimate layoffs to keep their UI tax rates down.

I was disqualified because I didn't respond to a request for information that I never received. Check your mail and email for any notices from Washington ESD that you might have missed. They're really bad about sending stuff to outdated addresses.

The job search requirements changed recently too. You need to make 3 job contacts per week now and keep detailed records. If your job search log doesn't meet the new requirements, that could be the issue.

This is exactly why I hate dealing with government agencies. They disqualify you but won't tell you why, then make YOU jump through hoops to figure it out. It's backwards.

Seriously, try Claimyr if you can't get through on the phone. I was skeptical at first but it actually worked. Got connected to an agent in about 20 minutes instead of spending all day trying to call.

Document everything from now on. Save screenshots of your SAW account, keep copies of all correspondence, and write down the dates and times of any phone calls you make. You'll need this if you end up in an appeal hearing.

One more thing to check - are you sure you met the monetary eligibility requirements? You need to have earned enough in your base period to qualify. The disqualification could be related to insufficient wages.

File your appeal immediately even if you don't know the exact reason yet. You can always provide more details later, but if you miss the 30-day deadline you're screwed.

I had luck calling right when they open at 8am. Still took a while but better than calling in the middle of the day. Although honestly, Claimyr was much easier when I tried that route.

Keep filing your weekly claims even while disqualified! If you win your appeal, you'll get back pay for those weeks, but only if you kept filing.

Washington ESD is such a nightmare to deal with. I've been fighting with them for months over different issues. The whole system needs an overhaul.

Make sure when you do talk to an agent that you ask for a supervisor if the first person can't give you detailed information. Sometimes the front-line staff don't have access to all the details about why claims get disqualified.

Good luck! Don't give up. I know several people who got their disqualifications overturned on appeal once they figured out what the real issue was.

Just remember, you have rights as a claimant. Washington ESD has to provide you with a clear explanation of why you were disqualified. Don't let them brush you off with vague responses.

I went through something similar last year and it turned out to be a timing issue with when I reported some part-time work. Even though I reported it, I had reported it in the wrong week (when I got paid vs when I actually worked), which triggered an automatic disqualification. The system flagged it as unreported income even though I had been honest about everything. Once I explained the timing mix-up during my appeal, they reversed the disqualification and I got all my back pay. Definitely push for specific details about what triggered yours - there's always a reason in their system, even if the letter doesn't explain it clearly.