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

That's reassuring to hear. How do they determine if it was misconduct or not?

Washington ESD will investigate by contacting both you and your former employer. They'll look at the specific reasons for termination and whether your actions were willful or deliberate violations of company policy.

How long did it take for them to make a decision on your claim?

took about 3 weeks, they called my old boss and everything but eventually approved it

Should I mention the car trouble and sick kid situations when I file?

Yes, definitely include those details. Washington ESD considers whether the employee had control over the circumstances that led to termination. Legitimate personal emergencies can work in your favor.

What if the employer lies about the reasons though? My old manager was totally unfair.

That sounds helpful! I'm worried I'll have questions during the adjudication process that I won't be able to get answered.

Never heard of that service before. Does it actually work for getting through to Washington ESD?

Yeah it worked for me. I was skeptical at first but after trying to call Washington ESD for days without success, I gave it a shot. Got connected within an hour and was able to explain my termination circumstances directly to an agent.

That doesn't sound right. One instance of being 5 minutes late typically wouldn't qualify as misconduct under Washington state law. Did you appeal the decision?

Had to appeal and it took MONTHS but eventually won. The whole process is designed to wear you down.

That's normal when there's a separation issue. The adjudication process typically takes 2-4 weeks. Washington ESD will send a fact-finding questionnaire to both you and your employer.

make sure you respond to any requests for information quickly, they have deadlines

Don't stress too much. If you were genuinely trying to do your job and the attendance issues were due to circumstances beyond your control, you'll likely be approved.

I did call in each time I was going to be late or absent. Does that help my case?

Absolutely. Proper notification shows good faith effort to maintain your employment. Make sure to mention this in any correspondence with Washington ESD.

What about if you don't have documentation for the car trouble? My mechanic doesn't give receipts for small stuff.

That gives me hope! How did you explain the situation to Washington ESD?

just told them exactly what happened, that I couldn't leave my kid alone and had no backup childcare. they understood.

No, unemployment benefit records are confidential. Future employers cannot access information about whether you received UI benefits or the circumstances of your claim.

That's a relief. I was worried about that too.

If Washington ESD determines there was misconduct, they can impose a disqualification period, but it's typically not that long unless there were aggravating circumstances. Your friend should have received a determination letter explaining the specific reasons.

I'll tell him to check his mail more carefully. He might have missed something important.

This is really helpful information. I definitely wasn't deliberately trying to hurt the company or violate rules.

Exactly! I got terminated for not meeting sales quotas but still qualified for benefits because it wasn't willful misconduct, just poor performance.

Definitely planning to be completely honest. I have nothing to hide about the situation.

Good approach. Honesty is always the best policy with government agencies.

That's encouraging! I might need to try that if I run into complications during my adjudication.

How much does that service cost? I'm already strapped for cash.

It was worth it for me to get clarity on my case rather than waiting weeks in uncertainty. The peace of mind was valuable.

Good to know I have options if things don't go well initially.

The appeal process can take several months though, so hopefully it doesn't come to that.

Oh wow, I didn't know that! I'll make sure to keep filing weekly even though nothing is approved yet.

Yes this is super important! I made this mistake and lost out on 3 weeks of benefits.

Great advice. I'll write down everything I can remember about the incidents that led to my termination.

Screenshots of any relevant text messages or emails too, if you have them.

Good luck! Hope everything works out for you.

Keep us updated - your experience could help others in similar situations.

Same here. Never know when this kind of situation might come up.

The Washington ESD system is complicated but at least there are resources and people willing to help explain it.

Thank you! Hopefully it won't come to that but good to know there are additional resources available.

Exactly! There's no penalty for applying and being denied, so might as well try.

Plus the application process itself helps you understand your rights and the system better.