Why does unemployment get denied - Washington ESD claim rejected twice

There are several common reasons Washington ESD denies unemployment claims. The main ones are: not meeting the base period earnings requirement (you need to have earned at least $3,850 in your base period), being fired for misconduct, quitting without good cause, not being able and available for work, or failing to meet job search requirements. For your situation, it sounds like there might be confusion about how you separated from your job.

I had a similar issue last year. Washington ESD sometimes gets the wrong information from employers about why someone left. The employer fills out a form when you file and if they mark 'quit' instead of 'laid off,' that's what ESD goes with initially. You definitely need to appeal this.

Honestly, I've seen so many people struggle with getting through to Washington ESD to sort out these kinds of mix-ups. I was having issues getting anyone on the phone for weeks until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that helps you actually connect with ESD agents - they have this system that navigates the phone tree and waits on hold for you. Check out claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustrating phone calls.

the earnings thing is tricky too. they look at a specific time period called your base period which might not include your most recent work. if you worked 8 months but it was all recent they might not count it

This whole system is ridiculous. They deny people for the stupidest reasons and then make you jump through hoops to prove you deserve benefits you already paid into. I got denied because they said I wasn't 'actively seeking work' even though I applied to 20 jobs that week.

Another common reason is if you're not 'able and available' for work. This can be tricky if you have transportation issues, childcare problems, or health issues. Even temporary things can affect your claim.

I work in HR and see this all the time. A lot of denials happen because of miscommunication between the employer and ESD. Sometimes the employer doesn't respond to the request for information in time, so ESD makes a decision based on incomplete info. Other times there's genuine disagreement about whether someone quit or was fired.

Don't give up! I was denied initially too but won my appeal. The key is being very specific about the facts and having any documents that support your case. Even text messages or emails can help prove your situation.

timing matters too for the earnings requirement. if you haven't worked long enough in your base period or earned enough, you won't qualify. minimum is usually around $3850 total and you need wages in at least two quarters

I've been through this process multiple times unfortunately. One thing that really helped was using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. When I had my separation issue, I needed to talk to an actual person at ESD to explain what happened, but could never get through on the phone. Claimyr got me connected and the agent was able to look at my file and see the employer had marked the wrong reason for separation.

Are you sure you're filing everything correctly? Sometimes people get denied because they make mistakes on their application or weekly claims. Like putting the wrong dates or not reporting all their work.

The voluntary quit thing is tricky because there are actually good reasons to quit that still qualify you for benefits. Things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, significant reduction in pay, or major changes to your job duties. But you have to prove it was the employer's fault basically.

Medical issues can also cause denials if ESD thinks you're not able to work. Even if you're looking for work, if you have restrictions that limit what jobs you can do, they might deny your claim.

I hate how they make you feel like a criminal for needing help. I paid into this system for years and when I finally need it, they act like I'm trying to scam them. Got denied because I supposedly didn't look for work hard enough even though I applied everywhere.

For OP - definitely appeal both denials. The fact that you got different reasons suggests there might be some confusion in your file. When you appeal, request all the documents they used to make their decision. Sometimes employers submit conflicting information.

just went through this myself. turned out my employer reported that I was fired for attendance when I was actually laid off due to lack of work. took forever to get it straightened out but I eventually got all my back pay

Don't let them intimidate you into giving up. The appeals process exists for a reason and a lot of initial denials get overturned when people actually appeal. The worst thing you can do is nothing.

One more thing - make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even while your appeal is pending. If you win the appeal, you won't get paid for weeks you didn't file claims for, even if your denial gets overturned.