Why would you get denied unemployment by Washington ESD?

The most common reasons Washington ESD denies claims are: 1) Quitting without good cause, 2) Being fired for misconduct, 3) Not meeting the earnings requirements, 4) Not being able and available for work, and 5) Refusing suitable work offers. Since you were laid off due to store closure, that shouldn't be an issue for you - that's typically considered a no-fault separation.

I got denied initially because Washington ESD said I quit voluntarily, even though I was actually laid off. Took forever to get through to them on the phone to explain the situation. If you run into issues getting through to Washington ESD, there's this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helps you actually reach an agent - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

Washington ESD also denies claims if you're not actively looking for work or if you fail to report your job search activities correctly. You need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep detailed records. Some people get denied because they think just applying online counts as 3 contacts, but each application only counts as one contact.

MISCONDUCT is a big one!! If you got fired for attendance issues, theft, insubordination, or violating company policy, Washington ESD will deny your claim. They investigate this stuff pretty thoroughly too.

Another reason is if you're not physically able to work or available for work. Like if you're on medical leave or can't work certain hours/days. Washington ESD requires you to be able and available for full-time work.

Immigration status can also be an issue. You have to be legally authorized to work in the US. Washington ESD checks this stuff.

Don't forget about the drug testing thing. If you were fired for failing a drug test, that's automatic disqualification in most cases.

Sometimes people get denied because they don't report other income correctly. If you're getting pension payments, severance, or working any side gigs, you have to report all of that to Washington ESD.

Another thing - if you refuse a job offer that Washington ESD considers 'suitable work,' they'll cut off your benefits. Suitable work is generally anything that pays at least 70% of your previous wage after the first 5 weeks.

I've seen people get denied because they attended school full-time while claiming benefits. Washington ESD generally requires you to be available for work, which means school can't interfere with your job search.

Honestly, based on what you've described, you should be fine. Store closure is one of the most straightforward reasons for unemployment. Just make sure you file your claim correctly and keep up with your job search requirements.

One more thing - make sure you file your claim as soon as possible after your last day of work. There can be penalties for delayed filing.

The Washington ESD website has a good checklist of eligibility requirements if you want to double-check everything before filing. Better to be over-prepared than under-prepared.

If you do get denied for any reason, don't panic. You can appeal the decision. Just make sure you do it within the time limit they give you.

I had a friend who got denied because Washington ESD couldn't verify his identity. Make sure all your documents are in order and your Social Security number matches exactly.

Sometimes people get denied because they worked in multiple states and need to file in a different state. Since you worked in Washington, you should file with Washington ESD.

If you need to talk to Washington ESD about anything, I'd recommend trying that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. I used it last month when I had questions about my claim status and it actually worked - got through to an agent in like 20 minutes instead of the usual 3+ hour wait.

The key is just being honest and accurate on your application. Washington ESD will find out if you lie about anything, and that's an automatic denial plus potential fraud charges.

You sound like you're in a good position. Store closure, good work history, available for work - you should be approved without any issues. Just follow the rules and you'll be fine.

One last tip - when you file your weekly claims, be consistent with your answers. If Washington ESD sees discrepancies from week to week, it can trigger an investigation.