Can I collect Washington ESD unemployment if I'm fired - what are my options?

You can definitely still apply for unemployment benefits even if you were fired. Washington ESD will investigate the circumstances around your termination during the adjudication process. If you were fired for reasons beyond your control (like performance issues, company downsizing, etc.) rather than misconduct, you'll likely qualify. The key is that it wasn't willful misconduct on your part.

That's a relief to hear! How long does the adjudication process usually take? I need to know if I should start looking for temp work immediately or if benefits might come through soon.

Adjudication can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks depending on how complex your case is. I'd recommend applying immediately and also looking for work - you have to do job searches anyway for your weekly claims.

Performance issues are usually not considered misconduct unless you were deliberately doing things wrong. Make sure when you file your claim that you explain your side of the story clearly. Washington ESD will contact both you and your employer to get all the facts.

Should I be worried about what my employer might tell them? I feel like they're going to make it sound worse than it was.

You'll get a chance to respond to whatever your employer says. Just stick to the facts and be honest about what happened. Document everything you can remember about the termination.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks about my claim and it's impossible. Their phone lines are always busy and I keep getting disconnected. Has anyone found a better way to reach them?

I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual Washington ESD agent. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. It was super easy and I finally got my claim sorted out.

Really? That sounds too good to be true. How much does it cost?

It's worth checking out their website for details. The main thing is it actually works - I was able to talk to someone at Washington ESD within a few hours instead of calling for days.

ugh the whole system is so broken. i got fired for being late a few times and they denied my benefits. had to appeal and it took forever

Did you win your appeal? Being late seems like it could go either way depending on the circumstances.

yeah i won because i had documentation that my bus route got cancelled and i was trying to find alternative transportation. took 3 months though

The most important thing is to file your claim as soon as possible. Even if there's going to be an adjudication, you want to get the process started. You can file online at secure.esd.wa.gov and the sooner you start, the sooner you'll get answers.

Thanks, I'm going to file today. Should I mention that they've been laying people off or just focus on why I specifically was terminated?

Mention both - the overall context of layoffs helps show it wasn't about your conduct specifically. Be thorough but stick to facts.

Performance terminations are tricky. I got let go for not meeting sales quotas but I qualified for benefits because the quotas were unrealistic. It really depends on whether Washington ESD thinks the employer had reasonable expectations.

That gives me hope. My supervisor kept changing what they expected from me and never gave clear feedback until the day they fired me.

That sounds like poor management rather than your fault. Make sure to document those inconsistencies when you tell your story to Washington ESD.

Just want to say don't let this get you down. I've been through the unemployment process twice and it's stressful but the system does work when you follow the rules. Keep applying for jobs and file your weekly claims on time.

Thank you, I really needed to hear that today. This whole situation has me feeling pretty defeated.

One more thing - when you're doing your job search for the weekly claims, make sure you keep detailed records. Washington ESD requires 3 job contacts per week and they can audit your search activities at any time.

3 per week? That seems like a lot but I guess it makes sense. Do online applications count?

Yes, online applications definitely count. Just keep records of where you applied, when, and what position. WorkSourceWA has good job search tools too.

I hate how they make you jump through so many hoops when you're already stressed about money. Like we're not trying hard enough to find work 🙄

I get the frustration but the job search requirement actually helped me stay focused when I was unemployed. Without that structure I might have gotten too depressed to look.

fair point, i guess it did keep me motivated even when i didn't want to apply anywhere

For what it's worth, I used Claimyr again last month to check on my overpayment issue and they got me connected to someone who actually knew what they were talking about. Way better than the runaround I usually get when I try calling myself.

How long did it take them to connect you?

Maybe 2-3 hours? I just gave them my info and they called me back when they had someone on the line. Beat spending all day redialing busy signals.

washington esd is the worst. took them 2 months to process my claim and then they said i owed them money back. make sure you report everything correctly or you'll be dealing with overpayment notices later

That's terrifying. What did you report wrong?

i didn't report some freelance work i did because i thought it was too small to matter. apparently every dollar counts

That's an important point about reporting all income. Even if you earn just $50 in a week, you need to report it on your weekly claim. It might reduce your benefit amount for that week but it won't disqualify you completely like hiding it could.

Good to know. I was thinking about doing some gig work while I look for a full-time job. I'll make sure to report everything.

The key with performance firings is documentation. If your employer can't show they gave you proper warning and chances to improve, Washington ESD usually sides with the employee. Sounds like they blindsided you so that's in your favor.

They did blindside me. I had my annual review 2 months ago and nothing was mentioned about performance problems. Then suddenly I'm fired for issues they claim went back months.

That inconsistency will help your case. Make sure to mention the timing of your review vs the termination when you talk to Washington ESD.

been there, the waiting is the worst part. try to stay busy with job applications and don't check your claim status obsessively like i did lol

Haha too late, I've already checked it 5 times today and I just filed yesterday!

Just remember that even if your initial claim gets denied, you can always appeal. The appeals process gives you another chance to present your case and sometimes they overturn the original decision.

How long do appeals take? I'm hoping it doesn't come to that but good to know it's an option.

Appeals can take 6-12 weeks depending on the backlog. But many people win on appeal, so don't give up if you get denied initially.

Also don't forget that you might qualify for other assistance while waiting - food stamps, rental assistance, etc. Check with DSHS to see what's available.

Good point, I hadn't thought about other programs. I'll look into that tomorrow.

My cousin went through something similar - fired for 'attitude problems' but really they were just cutting costs. She got approved for benefits after adjudication showed the employer couldn't prove misconduct. Stay positive!

That's encouraging! It does seem like they were looking for reasons to cut people. Thanks for sharing that.

Whatever you do, don't lie or exaggerate when Washington ESD contacts you. They can verify most things with your employer and getting caught in a lie will definitely disqualify you.

Absolutely, I plan to be completely honest. I know I did my best at that job even if it wasn't perfect.

The whole process is designed to be confusing and make you give up. Don't let them wear you down - you paid into the system and deserve benefits if you qualified.

Thanks for the reminder. Sometimes it does feel like they're trying to make it as difficult as possible.

Update us on how it goes! I'm always curious to hear how these cases turn out. Hoping you get approved quickly 🤞

Will do! Thanks everyone for all the advice and support. This thread has been incredibly helpful and made me feel a lot less alone in this process.