Why would I be denied unemployment benefits in Washington?

There are several reasons Washington ESD might deny a claim even if you were laid off. The most common ones are: insufficient work history or wages in your base period, being fired for misconduct, quitting without good cause, or issues with your availability to work. Did the denial letter include a specific reason code?

The most common reasons for denial are: 1) You quit without good cause, 2) You were fired for misconduct, 3) You haven't earned enough wages in your base period, 4) You're not actively seeking work, or 5) You're not able and available to work. Since you were laid off, that's usually not a problem unless there were performance issues involved.

same thing happened to my brother last year. turned out his employer told Washington ESD he was fired for attendance issues when he thought he was just laid off. definitely appeal it!

they denied mine initially because I couldn't prove I was looking for work properly. Make sure you keep detailed records of every job application and contact with employers. The job search requirements are pretty strict now.

One thing people don't realize is that Washington ESD can deny you if you refuse suitable work. They define 'suitable' pretty broadly after you've been unemployed for a while. Also, if you have any pension or retirement income, that can affect your benefits too.

Before you panic, make sure you understand exactly why you were denied. Washington ESD has to provide specific reasons. Common denial reasons include: 1) Not earning enough wages during your base period, 2) Being terminated for misconduct, 3) Voluntarily quitting without good cause, 4) Not being able and available for work, 5) Refusing suitable work. If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD to get clarification, I recently discovered a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps people get through to ESD agents by phone. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

Washington ESD is notorious for denying claims initially even when people should qualify. It's like they want you to give up. ALWAYS appeal if you think the denial is wrong. The appeal process actually works better than the initial claim process in my experience.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD to ask questions about your eligibility, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to an agent. They have this demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling when I needed to check on my claim status. You can check it out at claimyr.com.

if you were really laid off you should win an appeal easily. gather any emails or documents from your employer about the layoff. do you have anything in writing?

Let me explain the most common denial reasons in detail: 1. **Insufficient wages**: You need to have earned at least $7,344 in your base period (first 4 of last 5 completed quarters before filing) 2. **Misconduct**: Being fired for violating company policy, excessive absences, insubordination, etc. 3. **Voluntary quit**: Leaving your job without good cause as defined by Washington law 4. **Able and available**: Not being physically able to work or not actively seeking employment 5. **Refusing work**: Turning down suitable job offers Since you mentioned being laid off due to budget cuts, this sounds like it should qualify unless there's missing information.

MAKE SURE YOU REPORT ALL INCOME INCLUDING PART TIME WORK OR SEVERANCE PAY!!! They will find out and it's considered fraud if you don't report it. I've seen people get hit with overpayment notices for thousands of dollars because they didn't report everything.

I went through this exact situation two years ago. My employer told me I was being laid off but reported to Washington ESD that I was terminated for performance issues. I appealed with documentation showing it was actually a layoff and won. The key is proving what really happened vs. what your employer reported.

Another reason for denial is if you're not a US citizen or don't have work authorization. They also deny people who are in school full-time unless it's approved training. And if you move out of state, that can complicate things too.

honestly the whole system is designed to trip you up. they ask you all these confusing questions on the application and if you answer one thing wrong they'll deny you. then you have to appeal and wait even longer for your money.

Don't forget about the waiting week! A lot of people think they got denied when really they just have to serve a waiting week before benefits start. That's not a denial, it's just how the system works now.

this is why the system is so messed up. employers can basically lie about why they fired you and Washington ESD just believes them without investigating

One thing to keep in mind - even if you appeal and win, there might be a delay in receiving benefits while the appeal is processed. The good news is that if you win, you'll get retroactive payments back to when you first filed. Make sure to keep filing your weekly claims even while the appeal is pending.

Military folks should know that military pay can affect your base period calculation. And if you're getting VA disability, that doesn't count as disqualifying income but other military benefits might.

I used to work in HR and I've seen this happen. Sometimes there's miscommunication between managers and HR about how to report terminations to the state. What your direct supervisor calls a 'layoff' might get coded differently by HR when they fill out the separation paperwork.

They can also deny you if you're involved in a labor dispute or strike. And if you're self-employed, you generally can't get regular unemployment benefits unless you've been paying into the system as both employee and employer.

just wanted to add that if you do get denied, don't panic! you can appeal and a lot of initial denials get overturned. I got denied first time because of some paperwork issue but won my appeal.

Update: I tried calling Washington ESD to understand the denial better but I've been on hold for over 2 hours and keep getting disconnected. This is incredibly frustrating when I need answers about something this important.

don't wait around for them to call you back. file your appeal now with whatever documentation you have. you can always add more evidence later but you can't file an appeal after the 30 day deadline

Just want to add that Washington ESD has been really strict lately about initial denials. I know at least 5 people who got denied initially this year and 4 of them won their appeals. Don't let the initial denial discourage you if you know you should qualify.

Here's what I recommend for your appeal: 1) Write a clear timeline of what happened leading to your separation, 2) Include any written documentation from your employer, 3) Get witness statements if possible, 4) Be specific about why you believe the denial was incorrect. The appeal hearing is usually conducted by phone and you'll have a chance to explain your side directly to a judge.

also make sure you understand the difference between a 'layoff' and being 'fired for cause' - Washington ESD treats these very differently for benefit eligibility

I had a similar issue where my employer reported incorrect information to Washington ESD. During my appeal hearing, I was able to correct the record and explain what actually happened. The key is being prepared with facts and documentation. Don't let their initial mistake cost you benefits you're entitled to.

Final thought - while you're preparing your appeal, if you do need to speak with Washington ESD about specific details of your case, that Claimyr service has been really effective for people in similar situations. They specialize in getting through the busy phone lines so you can actually talk to an agent about your denial specifics.

The whole system is designed to discourage people from getting benefits they deserve. Stay persistent and don't give up. Your layoff situation sounds legitimate and you should win an appeal if you document it properly.

Good luck with your appeal! Remember to keep filing weekly claims during the process and gather all the documentation you can. Washington ESD denials can often be overturned when you present the full picture of what happened. Don't let their initial decision be the final word if you know you were legitimately laid off.

One thing that surprised me was that they can deny you if you don't respond to requests for information quickly enough. Washington ESD sends out these fact-finding questionnaires and you usually only have 10 days to respond.

Speaking of getting information from Washington ESD, I mentioned Claimyr earlier but wanted to add that it's really helpful when you need to talk to someone about potential issues with your claim. Their phone lines are always busy but Claimyr can get you through to an actual person who can explain what might cause a denial in your specific situation.

age discrimination is real but it's not a reason for denial. However, if you're close to retirement age, they might ask questions about whether you're really looking for work or just trying to bridge to retirement.

If you worked in multiple states, that can complicate things too. You might need to file in a different state or combine wages from different states. The base period calculation gets weird when you have out-of-state wages.

don't forget about the drug testing thing! if you're fired for failing a drug test or refuse to take one when required, that's grounds for denial. Also if you're in certain jobs like transportation you might have special requirements.

Health issues can affect your claim too. If you can't work due to illness or injury, you might not meet the 'able and available' requirement. But there are sometimes exceptions if it's temporary.

I got denied once because I didn't realize I needed to register with WorkSource within a certain timeframe. Make sure you do that right away after filing your claim or it can delay or deny your benefits.

The good news is that if you were legitimately laid off through no fault of your own and you meet the wage requirements, you'll probably be fine. Most denials are for people who quit, got fired for misconduct, or don't meet the work search requirements.

One last thing - if you have any doubt about your eligibility or get a denial, consider using that Claimyr service that was mentioned earlier. Sometimes talking to an actual Washington ESD representative can clear up confusion that leads to denials. Better to get clarification upfront than deal with an appeal later.