Can I apply for Washington ESD unemployment if I got fired from my job?

You can definitely apply for unemployment even if you were fired. Washington ESD looks at the specific reason for termination. If you were fired for misconduct connected to work, you might be disqualified, but performance issues usually don't count as misconduct. I'd recommend filing your claim ASAP since there's a waiting period.

File your claim right away! Even if they try to contest it, you can appeal. I got fired from my retail job for being late too many times and still got approved for benefits after the adjudication process.

I had a similar situation and had trouble getting through to Washington ESD to check on my claim status. If you run into that problem, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me actually reach an agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made a huge difference when I needed to explain my termination situation.

Whatever you do, be completely honest on your application about why you were terminated. Washington ESD will contact your employer anyway, so any discrepancies will hurt your case. I made that mistake and it delayed my benefits for weeks.

The Washington ESD system is so frustrating! I got fired for supposedly not meeting sales targets but my manager never told me what the actual targets were. Still waiting 2 weeks for someone to review my case. This whole process makes me want to scream!!!

I work in HR and see this all the time. Performance-based terminations rarely result in UI disqualification unless there was documented misconduct. Make sure you document everything about your termination and any performance discussions you had.

Update: I filed my claim online this morning and it went through without any immediate issues. Now I'm just waiting to hear back about whether my employer will contest it. Thanks everyone for the encouragement to apply!

Been there! Got terminated for 'attitude problems' which was basically just me asking questions about unclear instructions. Washington ESD approved my benefits after a brief adjudication. Don't let employers intimidate you out of applying.

Quick question - do you have to actively look for work while your claim is being adjudicated? I'm in a similar boat and not sure about the job search requirements.

The whole unemployment system needs an overhaul but at least Washington ESD is better than some other states. I got fired from my manufacturing job for safety violations that weren't even my fault and still got benefits after explaining the situation.

Don't give up if your initial claim gets denied! I was denied at first because my employer lied about why I was fired, but I appealed and won. The appeal hearing was actually pretty straightforward.

Another option if you can't reach Washington ESD directly - I used Claimyr recently and they got me connected to an agent within minutes instead of hours of busy signals. Really helped when I needed to clarify something about my termination.

Just want to add that if you do get approved, don't forget about the job search requirements! You need to log 3 activities per week and be ready to show your log if asked. Some people get benefits suspended for not following those rules.

ugh i got fired too and my claim has been pending forever. this system is so slow and confusing. at least you guys are giving good advice here

Former Washington ESD worker here - performance-related terminations are rarely considered misconduct unless there was willful disregard of job duties. The fact that you weren't formally written up actually helps your case significantly.

Whatever happens, make sure you file your weekly claims on time every week! Even if your initial claim is under review, you need to keep filing to preserve your benefit weeks. I learned that the hard way.

The key thing is timing - file as soon as possible after your termination. There's a one-week waiting period anyway, so the sooner you file, the sooner you can potentially start receiving benefits. Don't second-guess yourself about whether you qualify.

Final thought - even if Washington ESD seems intimidating, they're actually pretty reasonable if you were fired for performance rather than misconduct. I've seen way more people get approved than denied for these types of situations. Stay positive!