Why would Washington ESD deny my unemployment claim - need to understand reasons
I just got a denial letter from Washington ESD and I'm completely confused about why they would deny my claim. I was laid off from my job at a retail store after 2 years of employment due to company downsizing. I thought this would be a straightforward approval since I didn't quit or get fired for cause. The letter mentions something about 'insufficient wage credits' but I don't understand what that means. Has anyone else dealt with this? What are the most common reasons Washington ESD denies claims? I really need these benefits to pay my rent.
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Freya Andersen
There are several common reasons Washington ESD denies unemployment claims. The most frequent ones are: 1) Insufficient wage credits (you didn't earn enough in your base period), 2) Voluntary quit without good cause, 3) Discharged for misconduct, 4) Not able and available for work, or 5) Not actively seeking work. Since you mentioned 'insufficient wage credits' that's probably your issue - you need to have earned at least $3,719 in your base period to qualify.
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Ravi Patel
•What exactly is the base period? I worked part-time for the first 6 months at this job before going full-time. Could that be why my wage credits are too low?
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Freya Andersen
•The base period is typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed. So if you filed in January 2025, your base period would be January 2024 through December 2024. Part-time work early on could definitely affect your total wages.
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Omar Zaki
I had the same issue with insufficient wage credits when I first applied. Turns out I could use the alternate base period which uses more recent quarters. You might want to ask Washington ESD about that option. Also, if you're having trouble reaching them by phone, I recently discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to actual ESD agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.
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Ravi Patel
•Thank you! I'll definitely look into the alternate base period. How do I request that from Washington ESD?
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Omar Zaki
•You'll need to call them or submit a written request. The alternate base period uses the last 4 completed quarters instead of the first 4 of the last 5. It might include higher wages from your full-time period.
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CosmicCrusader
•Wait, what's this Claimyr thing? Is it legit? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks.
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Chloe Robinson
washington esd denied my claim too last month but it was because they said i quit voluntarily even though i was laid off!! the paperwork was all messed up from my employer. did you check what your employer reported to esd? sometimes they report wrong information
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Ravi Patel
•How do I find out what my employer reported? I definitely didn't quit - I have the layoff paperwork from HR.
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Freya Andersen
•You can request your separation information from Washington ESD. If there's a discrepancy between what you know happened and what your employer reported, you'll need to appeal and provide documentation.
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Chloe Robinson
•yeah thats what i had to do. took forever but eventually got it sorted out. make sure you appeal within 30 days of the denial notice!
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Diego Flores
The wage credit thing is so confusing. I've been working for 3 years but apparently didn't make enough in the 'right' quarters. The whole base period system seems designed to screw people over. Why can't they just look at your total earnings over the past year?
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Freya Andersen
•I understand the frustration, but the base period system is designed to ensure you have a recent, substantial work history. It prevents people from working briefly and then collecting benefits. The alternate base period option helps address some of these timing issues.
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Diego Flores
•Still seems unnecessarily complicated to me. Half the people I know don't even understand how it works.
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Anastasia Kozlov
OP, definitely appeal if you think the denial is wrong. I appealed my denial and won. The process took about 6 weeks but it was worth it. You have 30 days from the date on your denial letter to file an appeal. Don't wait!
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Ravi Patel
•What kind of evidence did you need for your appeal? I have my layoff paperwork but I'm not sure what else to include.
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Anastasia Kozlov
•I included my termination letter, pay stubs showing my work history, and a written statement explaining what happened. The hearing was done over the phone and only took about 20 minutes.
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Sean Flanagan
Another thing to check - were you working in Washington state for the entire base period? If you moved from another state, that could affect your wage credits. You might need to file an interstate claim.
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Ravi Patel
•I've been in Washington the whole time, so that shouldn't be an issue. But good point for others reading this.
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Zara Mirza
•Yeah I had this problem when I moved from Oregon. Had to coordinate between both states' unemployment offices. What a nightmare.
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NebulaNinja
The insufficient wage credits denial is actually pretty common, especially for people who had periods of part-time work or gaps in employment. Like others said, definitely look into the alternate base period. Also make sure all your employers are correctly listed on your claim - sometimes wages don't get reported properly.
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Ravi Patel
•How do I verify that all my employers are listed correctly? I only had the one job during the base period.
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NebulaNinja
•You should have received a monetary determination that lists all employers and wages in your base period. If something's missing or incorrect, you can protest that determination.
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Luca Russo
I used Claimyr when I was dealing with my wage credit issue and it was a game changer. Instead of spending hours on hold, I got connected to someone at Washington ESD within minutes. They were able to explain exactly why my claim was denied and helped me understand my options. Definitely worth checking out if you're struggling to get through to ESD.
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Nia Wilson
•How much does something like that cost? I'm already struggling financially.
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Luca Russo
•It's really affordable and honestly saved me so much time and frustration. Way better than calling 50 times a day and never getting through.
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CosmicCrusader
•I'm going to try this Claimyr thing. Been trying to reach ESD for 3 weeks about my own wage credit issue.
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Mateo Sanchez
Make sure you understand the difference between a denial and a disqualification too. A denial means you don't qualify for benefits at all, while a disqualification might just be temporary. Sounds like yours is a denial based on insufficient wages.
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Ravi Patel
•The letter definitely says 'denial' not disqualification. So that means I need to either appeal or try the alternate base period?
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Mateo Sanchez
•Exactly. If you think you might qualify under the alternate base period, you can request that. If not, your only option is to appeal if you believe the decision was wrong.
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Aisha Mahmood
this whole system is ridiculous. i got denied for the same reason even though i worked full time for 8 months. apparently because i started the job in the middle of a quarter it messed up my wage credits. how is that fair?
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Freya Andersen
•That's exactly the kind of situation the alternate base period is designed to address. It uses more recent quarters which might capture your full-time wages better.
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Aisha Mahmood
•nobody told me about that when i got denied. had to find out from forums like this. esd should explain these options better
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Ethan Clark
Don't give up! I know it's frustrating but there are options. Even if you don't qualify for regular unemployment, you might qualify for other programs depending on your situation. The key is getting accurate information about your specific case.
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Ravi Patel
•What other programs are there? I really need some kind of assistance while I look for a new job.
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Ethan Clark
•There might be state assistance programs, job training programs, or other benefits you could qualify for. A Washington ESD agent would be the best person to tell you about all your options.
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AstroAce
The wage credit calculation is based on your highest earning quarter in the base period too. You need to have earned at least $3,719 total AND have wages in at least two quarters. It's not just about total earnings.
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Ravi Patel
•I definitely worked in multiple quarters, so that shouldn't be the issue. It must be the total amount since I was part-time initially.
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Yuki Kobayashi
•Yeah the part-time wages early on probably killed your total. The alternate base period will likely solve this for you.
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Carmen Vega
Just want to echo what others said about Claimyr - it really works. I was skeptical at first but after wasting so much time trying to call ESD directly, I gave it a shot. Got through immediately and the agent was super helpful in explaining my options. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to understand what's going on with your claim.
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Ravi Patel
•I think I'm going to try this. I need to understand exactly what my wage situation is and what my options are.
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Andre Rousseau
One more thing - make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even while you're appealing or requesting the alternate base period. If you end up qualifying, you don't want to lose any potential benefits because you stopped filing.
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Ravi Patel
•Wait, I can still file weekly claims even though I was denied? I thought I was done.
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Andre Rousseau
•Yes! Keep filing if you're appealing or if there's any chance your denial might be overturned. You can always go back and claim those weeks if you end up qualifying.
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Freya Andersen
•This is correct. Continue filing weekly claims throughout the appeal process to preserve your potential benefits.
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