Can ESD deny my claim if I was fired after using doctor-approved medical leave for anxiety?

omg this happened to me last year!! they cant fire u for a medical condition, thats like super illegal. u should talk to a lawyer asap and definitely file for unemployment right away. they'll probably try to say u quit or somethin to avoid paying

You need to file for unemployment immediately. What they've done may potentially violate FMLA protections if you've worked there over a year and they have 50+ employees. When you file, be very clear that you were terminated after returning from doctor-approved medical leave. Do NOT say you quit or that you're unable to work - this is critical for your claim. ESD will contact your employer who will likely contest the claim. You'll need documentation: 1) The doctor's note (with private medical details redacted if you prefer), 2) Any communication about your leave, 3) The termination notice/conversation details. Your case may enter adjudication, but doctor-approved medical leave is protected in many circumstances. If your anxiety is now controlled enough that you're able to work, you should qualify for benefits while you search for new employment.

This stinks of retaliation!! I bet they were just waiting for an excuse. Even if it's not technically FMLA (if they're under 50 employees), Washington has stronger protections for workers than many states. Don't let them get away with this!

When you file your unemployment claim, be prepared for it to go to adjudication. That's when an ESD agent investigates conflicting information between what you report and what your employer reports. They'll likely contact your doctor to verify the medical situation. I went through this when I was terminated after taking medical leave for a back injury. My claim was in adjudication for over 6 weeks while they investigated. Make sure to continue filing your weekly claims during this time, even if you're not receiving benefits yet. If you need to speak with an ESD agent about your specific situation (which I recommend), try using Claimyr (claimyr.com). It helped me actually reach a live person instead of waiting endlessly on hold. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Much less stressful than trying to get through on your own, especially when dealing with anxiety already.

My cousin had something similar happen and she got denied at first but then she appealed and won. The key thing is dont say your anxiety prevents you from working now - just that you needed that specific time off and followed proper procedures. If ur ready to work now thats what matters to ESD.

ESD is gonna look closely at WHY you were fired. Did they give you a termination letter? What exactly did it say? Did they claim job abandonment or say it was performance? These details matter a lot for your claim.

I process unemployment claims, so I can explain how ESD typically handles these situations. If your employer claims they terminated you for misconduct or performance issues, they need to provide evidence of warnings or a pattern of behavior. A sudden termination after medical leave without prior documentation often works in the claimant's favor. However, if they can demonstrate a legitimate business restructuring affected multiple positions, that could complicate things. When you file, be factual rather than emotional. State: "I returned from doctor-approved medical leave and was informed my position was eliminated due to restructuring." The "fit with company culture" comment could actually help your case as it's subjective and potentially masks the real reason for termination. Washington recognizes constructive discharge in cases where working conditions became so intolerable that resignation was the only reasonable option. If your anxiety was specifically workplace-induced and documented by a medical professional, this could strengthen your case even further.

so what happnd when u went back to work exactly?? did they call u into a meeting or just hand u papers? details matter for ur claim

Based on these new details, I strongly recommend you document the timeline thoroughly: 1. When your anxiety symptoms began 2. When you notified the employer about needing leave 3. Their initial response to your request 4. Dates of your leave 5. The return experience (disabled keycard, immediate meeting, etc.) This timeline strengthens your case that the termination was connected to your medical leave rather than performance. Make sure to file your weekly claims consistently and answer the ability and availability questions correctly - indicate you are able and available to work now that you've received treatment. If your claim goes to adjudication and you get a chance to speak with an adjudicator, stay focused on the facts and avoid speculating about the employer's motives, even if they seem obvious to you.

THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED! They always side with employers. I had perfect documentation and still got denied because my boss made up stories about me. Be prepared to appeal and get a lawyer if you can afford one.

One more important point - when you file weekly claims while in adjudication, you must report any job search activities. Currently, Washington requires documenting at least three job search activities each week. Without these, your claim could be denied regardless of the circumstances of your separation from employment. Also, if your anxiety condition continues to be severe, there's a different approach through ESD for temporary disability, but that's a separate process from regular unemployment. Based on what you've described, regular unemployment seems appropriate since you're able and available for work now.

this happened to my brother-in-law and he had to wait FOREVER to get benefits. like 12 weeks before they made a decision!! he kept calling and calling but couldnt get thru to anyone. almost lost his apartment waiting.