Why does it say disqualified on my unemployment Washington ESD claim?

There are several reasons Washington ESD might disqualify a claim. Most common ones are job separation issues (like if they think you quit or were fired for misconduct), not meeting work search requirements, or failing to report income. Did you get any correspondence from them before this happened?

This exact thing happened to me last year! Turned out my former employer contested my claim and said I was fired for being late too much (which wasn't true). I had to appeal the decision and it took forever to get resolved.

If you can't get through to Washington ESD by phone (which is nearly impossible these days), you might want to try Claimyr. It's a service that helps you actually reach ESD agents - I used it when my claim got stuck in adjudication. Check out claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

The disqualification could also be related to your job search activities. Are you sure you've been meeting all the requirements? You need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep detailed records.

ugh this is so frustrating!! The same thing happened to my cousin and it took her 3 months to get it sorted out. Washington ESD is impossible to deal with

Before you panic too much, try requesting a redetermination first. Sometimes disqualifications happen due to clerical errors or miscommunication. You have 30 days from the date of the disqualification notice to appeal.

Check if you reported any work or income during your claim period. Even small amounts like gig work or side jobs need to be reported, and if Washington ESD finds out later through wage records, they'll disqualify you for non-disclosure.

I went through something similar and it turned out Washington ESD had the wrong information about my last day of work. My employer had reported the wrong date and it made it look like I had worked during a week I claimed benefits.

Whatever you do, don't just ignore it hoping it will go away. File an appeal ASAP even if you're not sure why you were disqualified. You can always withdraw the appeal later if you figure out it was justified.

honestly the Washington ESD system is so messed up, half the time they disqualify people for no reason and then you have to fight to prove you deserve benefits you were already entitled to. It's backwards.

I used Claimyr recently when I had issues with my weekly claim certification. Definitely worth it if you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD. The phone system is basically useless otherwise.

Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even while the disqualification is being appealed. If you stop filing and then win your appeal, you might miss out on benefits for those weeks.

Could be an issue with your able and available status too. Did you have any periods where you couldn't work due to illness, vacation, or other reasons?

same thing happened to me but it was because I didn't respond to some form they sent me that I never received. check your mail carefully and also your spam folder for emails

The most important thing is to gather all your documentation - pay stubs, termination letter, job search logs, any communication with Washington ESD. You'll need all of this for your appeal.

Don't let them intimidate you. A lot of these disqualifications are bogus and Washington ESD banks on people not appealing. Stand up for yourself and fight it.

If the Door Dash income is what caused the disqualification, you might be able to resolve it quickly by just amending your weekly claim certifications to include that income. Sometimes Washington ESD will lift the disqualification once you correct the reporting.

Keep us updated on what happens with your appeal. I'm curious to know what the actual reason was for the disqualification.

I had a similar disqualification issue last year and it turned out to be a combination of unreported gig work (like your Door Dash situation) plus a miscommunication about my job separation. Based on what you've shared, the $80 from Door Dash is likely the culprit - Washington ESD is really strict about reporting ALL income, even small amounts. The good news is that if it's just an honest reporting mistake, these types of disqualifications can usually be resolved through the appeal process. I'd recommend using Claimyr to get through to an actual agent quickly - they can tell you exactly why you were disqualified and help you fix any reporting issues. Don't wait too long though, you only have 30 days to appeal from the date of the disqualification notice.