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

You can definitely still apply for unemployment benefits even if you were fired. Washington ESD will look at whether you were fired for 'misconduct' or not. Attendance issues might qualify depending on the specific circumstances. You should file your claim right away and let them investigate.

You can definitely still apply for unemployment even if you were fired. Washington ESD will investigate whether the termination was for 'misconduct' or not. Performance issues usually don't count as misconduct unless they were willful. Safety complaints are actually protected activity, so that could work in your favor during the adjudication process.

File your claim ASAP - don't wait around wondering if you qualify. Let Washington ESD make that determination. Even if your employer contests it, you'll get a chance to present your side during the adjudication process. The worst that happens is they say no, but you lose nothing by trying.

Had a similar situation last year when I got fired from my retail job. Took forever to get through to Washington ESD to check on my claim status. Finally used Claimyr to actually reach a real person - they have this system that calls you back when an agent is available. Way better than sitting on hold for hours. Check out claimyr.com, they even have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

WASHINGTON ESD IS A JOKE!!! They'll probably deny you just because they can. I got fired for being 5 minutes late ONCE and they still denied my claim saying it was misconduct. Had to appeal and everything. The whole system is rigged against workers.

Yes, you can absolutely file for unemployment even if you were fired! The key distinction Washington ESD makes is between being fired for 'misconduct' versus being fired for other reasons like performance or personality conflicts. Since you weren't fired for stealing, violence, or willful violation of company policy, you should qualify. File your claim immediately - even if they initially deny it, you can appeal.

Update: Just filed my claim online. The application asked about the reason for separation and I selected 'discharged by employer' then explained about the safety issues in the comments section. Now it says my claim is pending adjudication. How long before I hear something?

same thing happened to me got fired for being late too many times but still got approved for UI benefits. took like 3 weeks tho

The key is whether Washington ESD considers it 'misconduct connected with work.' Simple attendance issues often don't rise to the level of misconduct unless there were warnings and you willfully ignored them. File your claim immediately and be completely honest about what happened.

my friend got fired and still got unemployment so you should be fine. just tell them your side of the story

I was in the exact same situation 6 months ago. Got fired for 'attitude problems' but really it was because I refused to work unpaid overtime. Filed with Washington ESD and got approved within 2 weeks. The key is how you explain it in your application.

I had such a hard time getting through to Washington ESD when I needed to check on my claim status after being fired. Spent hours on hold every day. Finally found this service called Claimyr that helped me get connected to an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works.

Been through this twice unfortunately. First time I got denied because I was fired for violating company policy (missed too many days without calling in). Second time I got approved because they fired me for 'poor performance' but couldn't prove it was intentional or willful. The key is whether Washington ESD thinks you did something deliberately wrong or if it was just not working out.

Actually, getting through to Washington ESD to check on your claim status or get clarification can be really tough with their phone system. I spent weeks trying to call them about my adjudication. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Made all the difference in getting my claim resolved quickly.

WASHINGTON ESD IS THE WORST!! They take forever to process claims and their phone system is garbage. I was fired too and it took 6 weeks to get approved. The whole system is broken.

Make sure you're documenting everything about your termination while it's fresh in your memory. Write down dates, who was present, what was said, any prior warnings you received. This will help during the adjudication process if your former employer contests your claim.

I got fired from my last job for similar reasons but my unemployment got approved pretty quickly. The key is being honest on your application and not trying to hide anything. Washington ESD will find out anyway when they contact your employer.

You should also start looking for work immediately and keep a job search log. Washington ESD requires you to be actively seeking employment even while your claim is being processed. Don't wait until it's approved to start job hunting.

One thing to remember - even if you get initially denied, you can appeal the decision. I've seen plenty of cases where the appeal was successful even when the initial determination wasn't. Don't give up if the first answer isn't what you want to hear.

Same thing happened to my brother except he worked at a restaurant. Boss fired him for 'attitude problems' but really it was because he wouldn't work off the clock. He got his unemployment approved after about a month of back and forth. Document everything and keep copies of all communications with Washington ESD.

DONT LISTEN TO THESE PPL!!! if u were fired ur screwed. thats just how it works. they only give money to ppl who get laid off not fired. save urself the trouble

When I got fired my claim went into adjudication and I couldn't get anyone on the phone at Washington ESD for weeks. Finally used Claimyr to get through and found out my former employer had given incorrect information. The agent I spoke with was able to clarify everything and my claim got approved the next week.

Don't let them intimidate you into not applying. Even if you think you might not qualify, it's worth trying. The worst they can do is deny your claim and you're no worse off than you are now.

I was in retail too and got fired for attendance. What they don't tell you is that if you had any protected absences under FMLA or for medical reasons, those shouldn't count against you. Make sure to mention that if it applies to your situation.

Washington ESD will look at whether your actions were a 'willful disregard' of the employer's interests. Reporting safety violations is actually protecting the employer's interests in the long run, so that should help your case. Performance issues alone usually aren't enough for a misconduct determination unless they can prove you were deliberately doing poor work.

The Washington ESD adjudication process will look at the specific reasons for termination. If your employer claims misconduct, they have to provide evidence. 'Performance issues' without documentation usually isn't enough to deny benefits. Make sure you file within the first week after being terminated to avoid any delays in your benefit year start date.

OMG this is giving me flashbacks to when I got fired last year!!! I was SO scared I wouldn't get unemployment but it turned out fine. The waiting was the worst part - took like 3 weeks to hear back but I did get approved. Just file ASAP and don't panic if it takes a while to process.

File online as soon as possible. Don't wait. The sooner you file, the sooner the clock starts ticking on your claim. Even if there's an investigation, your benefits could be backdated to when you first filed.

One important thing - when you file your initial claim, Washington ESD will send a form to your former employer asking for their side of the story. This is normal and doesn't mean there's a problem. They do this for all claims where someone was terminated rather than laid off.

Whatever you do, don't lie on your application or during the interview process. Washington ESD will find out and that can get you in serious trouble. Be honest about getting fired but explain your side of the story clearly.

Remember that Washington ESD looks at the employer's burden of proof too. They need to show that your termination was for misconduct, not just poor performance. If you were struggling with attendance due to legitimate issues, that's different from just skipping work.

Whatever you do, don't quit your next job without having another one lined up or you'll definitely be disqualified from unemployment. Being fired is way better than quitting when it comes to UI benefits.

I hate how stressful this whole system is. Like you're already dealing with losing your job and then you have to worry about whether you'll be able to pay rent. The whole adjudication process just adds more anxiety when you're already at your lowest point.

Quick tip - start job searching right away even before your claim is approved. Washington ESD requires you to make job search contacts every week once you start collecting, so you might as well get a head start. Plus it'll help with the stress of feeling productive.

Quick update on that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier - just wanted to add that it really helped when I needed to talk to someone about my adjudication status. Instead of calling 50 times and getting busy signals, they handled all that and called me back when they got through to an actual Washington ESD rep. Made the whole process way less stressful.

Actually got fired 3 times in my career (long story lol) and collected unemployment each time. The first time I was terrified but learned that unless you do something really egregious, you'll probably qualify. Being fired for 'performance' or workplace conflicts usually doesn't count as misconduct under Washington ESD rules.

Just remembered another thing about Claimyr - they were super helpful when I had questions about my adjudication status. The Washington ESD phone system is honestly terrible for getting through to an actual person who can help, but Claimyr got me connected with an agent who could actually look at my case and explain what was happening.

WHATEVER YOU DO dont tell them you questioned your manager!! that will make them think you were insubordinate and thats misconduct!!! just say performance issues and leave it at that

The most important thing is to file immediately. You can't backdate unemployment claims, so every day you wait is money you're losing. Even if you're not sure you'll qualify, file anyway. The worst they can do is say no, and then you can appeal if needed.

same thing happened to my cousin except she got fired for arguing with customers. that was definitely misconduct so she didnt get benefits. but your situation sounds totally different - performance issues arent the same as misconduct

Pro tip: when you file your claim, be prepared for it to go into adjudication if there's any question about the reason for termination. This is totally normal and doesn't mean you're getting denied. It just means they need to investigate further before making a decision.

Washington ESD has gotten much better at processing claims since the pandemic mess. Back then it was taking months but now most straightforward cases get resolved pretty quickly. Your situation sounds like it should be approved without too much hassle.

I would also suggest starting to think about what you'll say in job interviews about why you left your last position. You'll want a consistent story that doesn't throw your former employer under the bus but also explains the situation professionally.

One more thing about Claimyr - they also helped me understand the appeal process when I thought my claim might get denied. Having someone who actually knows the Washington ESD system walk you through the options was incredibly helpful. Way better than trying to figure it out from their website.

Bottom line - you got fired for performance/personality conflicts, not misconduct. File your claim, be honest about what happened, and don't stress too much about the process. Most people in your situation get approved. Focus your energy on job searching and taking care of yourself during this stressful time.

File your weekly claims even while your initial claim is being adjudicated! I made the mistake of not doing that and lost out on benefits for those weeks. If you get approved, you want to make sure you can get paid for all eligible weeks.

been fired twice and got unemployment both times. first job fired me for 'insubordination' because i refused to do something unsafe. second job fired me for 'performance' but really they just wanted to hire their friends nephew. washington esd approved both claims after investigating. just be truthful and provide any evidence you have

The adjudication process can be nerve-wracking but try not to stress too much. Washington ESD hears these cases all the time and they're pretty good at seeing through employers who fire people for bogus reasons. Your safety complaint documentation will be key evidence in your favor.

One more tip - if Washington ESD schedules a phone interview with you, answer that call! They usually only try once or twice and if you miss it, it can delay your case even more. Set reminders and make sure your phone is charged.

Had a coworker who got fired for 'performance issues' that were really just personality conflicts with the manager. She documented everything and got her unemployment approved. The key was showing that she was trying to do her job properly and the employer's expectations were unreasonable.

Just remember that even if your employer contests your claim, that doesn't mean you'll automatically be denied. Washington ESD will look at all the evidence and make their own determination. Employers contest claims all the time to try to keep their unemployment insurance rates low, but that doesn't mean they have a valid case.

Update us when you hear back from Washington ESD! These stories help other people in similar situations know what to expect. Good luck with your claim!

If you do end up having to appeal, there's usually a hearing where you can present your case in person (or over the phone). I've seen people win appeals even when the initial determination went against them. Having your safety complaint documentation organized and ready to present will be huge if it comes to that.

I used Claimyr twice last year when I couldn't get through to Washington ESD about different issues with my claim. Both times they got me connected within a few hours instead of me spending days trying to call. Definitely recommend checking it out if you run into problems reaching an agent.