Why would I get denied unemployment benefits in Washington?

There are several common reasons Washington ESD denies unemployment claims. The monetary requirement means you need to have earned enough wages during your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed). You need at least $1,000 in your highest quarter and total wages of at least 1.5 times your highest quarter earnings.

Other common denial reasons include quitting voluntarily, being fired for misconduct, not being able and available for work, or failing to register with WorkSource. Did your employer contest your claim or say you were fired rather than laid off?

I had a similar issue last year and spent WEEKS trying to get through to Washington ESD to understand my denial. The phone lines are impossible and the online messaging system is useless. I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real person at ESD who could explain exactly why I was denied and what steps I needed to take. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ

The monetary eligibility is tricky. I got denied my first claim because I had worked part-time for most of my base period. Even though I was working, I wasn't earning enough in total wages. You can request an alternate base period if your regular one doesn't qualify you.

washington esd is such a mess, they deny people for the stupidest reasons and then make it impossible to appeal or get help. i've been trying to call them for 3 weeks about my own issues

You should definitely appeal the denial regardless. You have 30 days from the date on the determination letter to file an appeal. Even if you think the denial might be correct, sometimes there are errors or additional factors that weren't considered.

I got denied twice before I figured out the system. First time was monetary, second time was because I hadn't done my job search activities correctly. Make sure you're logging all your job search activities in WorkSource if you reapply.

Another thing to check - did you report any severance pay or vacation payout when you filed? That can affect your eligibility timing even if it doesn't disqualify you completely.

been there, the washington esd system makes no sense. they ask for all this info when you file but then deny you for stuff they never explained was required

If you're sure you meet the work requirements, sometimes the denial is just an error in their system. I had a friend who got denied because ESD had the wrong employer information on file. She had to provide pay stubs and W-2s to prove her wages.

honestly after dealing with washington esd runaround for months, claimyr was a lifesaver. got through to someone who actually knew what they were talking about and helped me understand exactly what was wrong with my claim

Don't forget that you can also request a redetermination if you have new information or if there was an error. This is different from an appeal and might be faster in some cases.

make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even while you're appealing the denial. if you win the appeal, you can get paid for those weeks, but only if you filed the claims

I work at a nonprofit that helps people with unemployment issues. The most common denial reasons we see are: 1) insufficient wages in base period, 2) not registering with WorkSource, 3) voluntary quit instead of layoff, 4) not meeting availability requirements. Which specific reason code was on your denial letter?

Also check if you had any other jobs during your base period that might not be showing up in ESD's records. Sometimes wages from small employers don't get reported correctly.

washington esd denied me 3 times before i finally got approved. each time it was for a different reason that they never explained clearly. the whole system is designed to discourage people from getting benefits

One thing that helped me was getting my former employer to write a letter confirming that I was laid off due to lack of work. Sometimes ESD's records show something different than what actually happened.

The key is not to give up. I know it seems overwhelming but most denials can be overturned if you provide the right information. Focus on gathering all your wage documentation, employment letters, and anything else that supports your claim. The appeal process exists for a reason.

if you do decide to use claimyr, i'd recommend doing it sooner rather than later. the longer you wait, the more complicated everything gets with appeals and deadlines