Unemployment Benefits
RCW 50.20.050 — the listed good causes for quitting, and thirty days to appeal
In Washington, a claimant has to be able to work and available for work, ready, able and willing to accept suitable work immediately, and actively seeking work.
- Leaving to accept a bona fide offer of other work.
- Illness or disability, or the need to protect oneself or family from domestic violence or stalking.
- Pay or usual hours cut by twenty-five percent or more.
- A worksite move that materially lengthens the commute beyond what is customary, or safety hazards or illegal activity reported and not fixed.
- Relocating for a spouse's or domestic partner's job outside the labor market, after staying as long as reasonable.
| When the claimant | Disqualified for |
|---|---|
| When the claimantQuit without one of the good causes the statute lists | Disqualified forSeven calendar weeks, and until earning seven times the weekly benefit amount in covered work |
| When the claimantWas discharged or suspended for misconduct connected with the work | Disqualified forTen calendar weeks, and until earning ten times the weekly benefit amount |
Thirty days to appeal a determination. An appeal from a determination is filed with the appeal tribunal within thirty days after the date of notification or mailing, whichever is earlier. A determination not appealed in time is conclusively deemed correct.
Sources for this section (4)
- RCW 50.20.010 — Benefit eligibility conditions
- RCW 50.20.050 — Disqualification for leaving work voluntarily without good cause
- RCW 50.20.066 — Disqualification for misconduct
- RCW 50.32.020 — Filing of benefit appeals
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Washington attorney.