Why do I keep getting disqualified for unemployment from Washington ESD?

First job I was let go because of downsizing, second job my hours got cut to almost nothing so I found something else, third job the manager and I had personality conflicts.

The second situation might be tricky - if you left for another job before being officially laid off, Washington ESD might see that as voluntary. The third one definitely sounds like it could be classified as quitting.

What do you mean by documenting correctly? I thought just applying was enough.

you need to keep detailed records in WorkSourceWA and make sure you're doing the right mix of activities - not just online applications

How much does something like that cost? I'm already struggling financially.

It's worth checking out their site for details, but honestly getting answers about why you're being disqualified could save you months of frustration and back-and-forth denials.

I used claimyr too after my third denial and finally got some real answers about what was wrong with my claim. The phone lines are impossible otherwise.

While the system is definitely frustrating, there are usually specific reasons for disqualifications that can be addressed if you understand them.

SPECIFIC REASONS like making it impossible to reach anyone who can actually help! The whole thing is designed to wear you down.

The manager was constantly yelling and creating a hostile work environment, but I don't have any written documentation of it.

That's tough without documentation. For future reference, always try to document workplace issues in writing - emails to HR, incident reports, anything that creates a paper trail.

You can still appeal and explain the hostile work environment. Sometimes witness statements from coworkers can help even without formal documentation.

I appealed the first one but it took forever and I eventually found work. Should I appeal even if I'm working now?

If you're currently working you might not need active benefits, but having a successful appeal on record could help if you need unemployment again in the future.

What counts as the 'right types'? I've been applying online mostly.

Online applications count, but you also need things like networking events, job fairs, informational interviews, or skills training. It can't be 100% online applications.

yeah exactly, i was doing all online apps and got dinged for it. had to start going to actual networking events and logging them in worksourcewa

I don't think I had any unreported income, but how would I check to make sure?

You can request your wage records from Washington ESD to see what they have on file vs what you reported.

Is that service legit? Seems too good to be true that you can actually get through to Washington ESD.

It's legitimate - they basically handle the calling and waiting for you. I was skeptical too but it worked when nothing else did.

What was the specific thing you were doing wrong with job search logging?

I wasn't putting enough detail in the descriptions and I wasn't categorizing the activities correctly. You need to be very specific about what type of search activity each one was.

While the system is frustrating, there isn't really a 'troublemaker flag.' Each claim is supposed to be evaluated independently based on eligibility criteria.

SUPPOSED TO BE is the key phrase there. In reality they look for patterns and make assumptions.

I didn't know that was an option. Do they actually help with unemployment issues?

Yes, constituent services can sometimes help when you're stuck in bureaucratic loops. It's worth a try if you've exhausted other options.

It was a small company with no real HR department. The owner was the problem manager.

That makes it harder but you can still argue constructive discharge if the work environment was truly intolerable. You'd need to document specific incidents though.

Yeah I'm starting to think I need to actually talk to someone who can see my full file and explain what's going wrong.

That's exactly what I did - couldn't figure out the pattern until I got someone on the phone who could walk through my claim history step by step.

How do I find out what my base period wages were?

It should be in your monetary determination letter that Washington ESD sends when you file. If you didn't get one or can't find it, you can request a copy.

The filing method doesn't usually matter for eligibility determinations. The issue is more likely in how the separation reasons are being reported and interpreted.

oh ok that makes sense. i just thought maybe there was some glitch or something

It really does feel like you need a law degree just to navigate the system properly.

Exactly! And then they act like it's your fault when you don't understand their Byzantine rules.

This is really helpful, thank you. I think I need to be more systematic about understanding what went wrong instead of just getting frustrated and giving up.

Definitely - and getting that Washington ESD agent conversation through something like Claimyr could save you months of guessing what the issues are.

Will do - hopefully I can figure out what's been going wrong and help others avoid the same problems.

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I feel like I have a much better understanding of what to look into now.