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One final tip - when you file your Washington ESD claim, be prepared for your employer to contest it. They often do this automatically to avoid their unemployment tax rate going up.
Update: Thanks everyone for all the advice. I'm going to file the L&I complaint this week, keep documenting everything, and start job searching. If things don't improve in the next couple weeks, I'll quit with proper notice and file for unemployment. Really appreciate having a plan now.
Outstanding issues are the worst part of the whole unemployment system. At least once you get through to someone they can usually resolve it pretty quickly.
Been following this thread and wanted to add - if you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD about your claim status, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier actually does work. Used it myself when I couldn't get through their phone system. Worth checking out the demo video they linked if you're frustrated with busy signals.
Bottom line - file your claim regardless of being fired. Let Washington ESD make the determination rather than assuming you don't qualify. Worst case scenario is they say no, but many people who were terminated still qualify for benefits. You've got nothing to lose by filing.
The key thing is to file your weekly claims on time every single week. If you miss the deadline you could lose benefits for that week and it's hard to get them to reverse it. Set up a reminder on your phone.
Also worth noting that the 26 weeks can be spread out over your benefit year if you have periods of part-time work. So if you work part-time for a few weeks and don't collect benefits, those weeks don't count against your 26 week maximum.
Ryan Andre
Update us on how it goes! I'm always curious to hear how these situations work out for people.
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Sarah Jones
•Will do! I'm filing tonight and I'll post an update once I hear back from Washington ESD.
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Lauren Zeb
•Yes please update! This thread has been really helpful for understanding the process.
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Daniel Washington
Bottom line: being fired for performance issues is NOT the same as being fired for misconduct. You should be eligible for benefits. File immediately and don't let anyone tell you otherwise without checking with Washington ESD directly.
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Sarah Jones
•Thank you everyone for all the helpful advice and encouragement. I feel much more confident about filing now.
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Sebastian Scott
•You're welcome! Remember, the unemployment system exists to help people in exactly your situation. Don't hesitate to use it.
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