Unemployment denied - appeal advice

[u/Phatmuphin]

Hi All,

I received a denial on my unemployment benefits about three months after filing as my employer contested and stated I quit. I plan to file an appeal but would appreciate any help or guidance!

I work in a tech role and went on FMLA/WPFML in the fall of last year for mental health following an abrupt change in my boss’s attitude towards me and my performance over a three week period that ended with an unachievable PIP. I reached out to my therapist and physician a couple weeks before the PIP and started the FMLA process, and I only ended up working a couple days after the PIP.

During my FMLA leave, my therapist and physician both advised I not return to my employer to preserve my health. I also spoke with a couple lawyers who advised I pursue medical disability separation (https://des.wa.gov/services/small-agency-support/human-resources/supervisor-toolkit/separating-employment-disability-separation). At the end of my leave, my medical providers reaffirmed that I should not return to work at that employer, but that I could be cleared to work elsewhere.

I initiated the medical separation request with my employer, stating that I was not voluntarily resigning. My employer stated the link I sent only applied to government employees; however, they said they could either process my separation request or let me apply for extended leave and see if I could return after. Given my providers said no accommodations would improve my ability to continue working there, I asked that they process my separation request.

I have the email chain with HR along with my medical providers’ signed documents advising not to return to preserve my health. I am not sure what else I may need to help my case, but I’m frankly worried that what I have may not be enough.

Is there any advice or recommended actions for a case like this?

Thank you all!

[u/Regular_Monk9923]

stating that I was not voluntarily resigning

I'm confused. What separation reason did you select when you applied if you don't consider what happened you voluntarily resigning?

[u/Phatmuphin → u/Regular_Monk9923]

I had to look back at my application, but the answer in “Why did you separate from this employer?” is “leave of absence.”

[u/Phatmuphin → u/Phatmuphin]

Apologies, I looked at a future response asking for details on the separation which I submitted on 3/26/26. I selected “I quit” here because I was not fired; however, there was a follow-up question asking if the employer gave me the option to resign rather than being fired. I responded “yes” (because I have that in my emails with HR), and the questionnaire stated “based on the answers you have provided, this is considered a ‘fired’ separation.” I then continued to select an option stating I was fired due to failure to meet performance expectations and provided some written details around the last few weeks at my job.

Thanks for the follow-up question.

[u/Regular_Monk9923 → u/Phatmuphin]

Ok so what are you trying to argue in your appeal? You went on leave, then told them you were not cleared for work yet, then your refused to take more leave and quit instead. What is your argument?

[u/Phatmuphin → u/Regular_Monk9923]

My argument would be that I went on leave and would not receive approval to return to that specific job from my doctor and therapist regardless of extended leave. Extending my leave wouldn’t solve the issues since they were related to that job and environment, and my providers said I shouldn’t return at risk of going right back into the same state as before.

If that doesn’t feel like a good case, that’s fair, but i didn’t want to risk going back and have another few weeks of insomnia, weight loss, etc. just to wait to get fired. I was literally shaking throughout entire workdays, crying on work calls, etc. The PIP had requirements and deadlines that went beyond reasonable expectations for my position, and I feared that going back would mean I either completely stressed myself out to try to complete it and still fail or not attempt it and get fired for negligence.

Thanks again for your help. Hopefully I’m not coming across as combative. I genuinely just want to know if there’s a reasonable route for appeal or if I just kind of sealed my fate by not going back to that environment.