Unemployment if you quit or were fired in Washington

Quit, fired or refused work

If you quit

If you quit, you can get benefits only if your reason is one of the good-cause reasons in Washington law. In most cases you must also show you tried to keep your job, unless that would have been useless. ESD reviews your case and may contact you and your employer.

Examples the state names:

• Leaving to accept a bona fide offer of other work
• Your own illness or disability, or the death, illness or disability of a family member
• Leaving because care for a child or vulnerable adult in your care is not available
• Moving for your spouse's or domestic partner's job outside your labor market area
• Protecting yourself or your immediate family from domestic violence or stalking
• Your usual pay or hours were cut by 25% or more
• Your worksite moved and made your commute much longer than is usual
• Your employer did not fix a safety problem or stop illegal activity you reported within a reasonable time
• Your usual work was changed to work that goes against your religious or sincere moral beliefs
• Entering an approved apprenticeship program

If you were fired

Being fired does not by itself stop benefits; for example, being let go because you did not have the skills for the job may not. You are disqualified if ESD finds you were fired for misconduct connected with your work, such as insubordination, dishonesty, repeated unexcused lateness or absences, or deliberately breaking a reasonable company rule. For gross misconduct (such as a work-connected crime), ESD also removes the hours and wages from that job.

If benefits are denied for the separation

Quitting without good cause: no benefits for the week you quit plus 7 more weeks, and until you work again in covered employment and earn at least 7 times your weekly benefit. Misconduct: no benefits for the week you were fired plus 10 more weeks, and until you earn at least 10 times your weekly benefit in covered work.

Refusing work

Refusing suitable work, or failing to apply for suitable work when told to, without good cause stops benefits for the week of the refusal plus 7 more weeks, and until you earn at least 7 times your weekly benefit in covered work.

Law: RCW 50.20.050(2), 50.20.066, 50.20.080

Official source: Source page

You usually must be unemployed through no fault of your own. In most states this means you lost your job because there was not enough work.

Able, available and looking for work

Job contacts per week: 3

Each week you claim, you must complete 3 approved job search activities (such as applying for jobs or approved WorkSource activities) unless ESD tells you your job search is waived. You cannot count the exact same activity twice. If you did not work more than 17 hours in any week of your base year, you may be allowed to look only for part-time work.

Records to keep

Keep a written job search log for at least 30 days after your benefit year ends or 30 days after you stop getting benefits, whichever is later. ESD may ask for it at any time.

Source: ESD has a log form

Law: RCW 50.20.010(1)(c); RCW 50.20.240

Official source: Source page

To be paid for a week, you must be able to work, available to work and actively seeking work.

Law: 42 U.S.C. 503(a)(12)

Noncitizens

What the state says

If you are not a U.S. citizen or national, you must give your immigration documents (such as a Permanent Resident Card I-551, Employment Authorization Card I-766, or I-94) so ESD can confirm you are authorized to work. ESD checks status through the federal SAVE system. ESD says unemployment benefits are not counted under the public charge rules.

Free help

Call 1-800-318-6022. Legal aid and other free help in Washington → Official sources →