Can I collect unemployment if I was terminated from my Washington ESD job?
I was terminated from my job last week and I'm not sure if I can file for unemployment benefits through Washington ESD. My supervisor said it was due to performance issues but I feel like they never gave me proper training or clear expectations. I've been working there for about 8 months. Does being terminated automatically disqualify me from getting UI benefits? I really need the income while I look for another job. Has anyone been in a similar situation with Washington ESD?
62 comments
Join the conversation
Aisha Khan
You can definitely apply for unemployment even if you were terminated. Washington ESD will investigate whether the termination was for 'misconduct' or not. Performance issues usually don't count as misconduct unless it was willful or you ignored clear warnings.
0 coins
Mateo Hernandez
•That's reassuring! I never got any written warnings, just verbal feedback that was pretty vague. Should I mention that in my application?
0 coins
Aisha Khan
•Yes, absolutely include that information. Document everything you remember about the feedback you received and when.
0 coins
Ethan Taylor
I was terminated for being late too many times and still got approved for benefits. The key is whether it was misconduct connected to your work. Performance issues are different from misconduct.
0 coins
Mateo Hernandez
•How long did it take for Washington ESD to make a decision on your claim?
0 coins
Ethan Taylor
•Mine went into adjudication for about 3 weeks while they investigated. They called both me and my former employer.
0 coins
Mateo Hernandez
•Did they ask specific questions during the phone interview?
0 coins
Yuki Ito
File your claim immediately! Don't wait. Even if there's a question about your eligibility, you want to get the process started. You can always appeal if they deny you initially. I've seen plenty of people get approved after termination for performance issues.
0 coins
Mateo Hernandez
•Should I be worried about what my employer might tell Washington ESD about why I was fired?
0 coins
Yuki Ito
•They'll get both sides of the story. Just be honest about what happened and stick to the facts. Don't badmouth your employer but explain your perspective clearly.
0 coins
Carmen Lopez
If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to check on your claim status, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me actually reach a real person. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call.
0 coins
Mateo Hernandez
•How does that work exactly? Do they just call for you?
0 coins
Carmen Lopez
•They basically get you connected to an actual Washington ESD agent without you having to sit on hold for hours. Really helpful when you need to ask specific questions about your claim.
0 coins
AstroAdventurer
ugh i got fired too but for attendance issues. been trying to call washington esd for weeks but cant get through. so frustrating!!!
0 coins
Yuki Ito
•Keep trying! Early morning calls around 8 AM tend to work better. Also try calling right after lunch around 1 PM.
0 coins
AstroAdventurer
•tried that but still just busy signals or get disconnected after waiting forever
0 coins
Carmen Lopez
•That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. The phone system is just impossible sometimes.
0 coins
Andre Dupont
File ASAP but be prepared for adjudication. They'll want to determine if the termination was your fault or the employer's. Performance issues usually favor the employee unless there's gross negligence involved.
0 coins
Mateo Hernandez
•What counts as gross negligence? I made some mistakes but nothing dangerous or intentional.
0 coins
Andre Dupont
•Gross negligence is usually things like stealing, showing up drunk, or completely ignoring safety procedures. Regular work mistakes don't count.
0 coins
Zoe Papanikolaou
I was terminated for 'not meeting expectations' and got my benefits approved after adjudication. The important thing is that Washington ESD looks at whether you were trying to do your job properly, even if you weren't successful.
0 coins
Mateo Hernandez
•That gives me hope. I was definitely trying to do my job well, I just think I needed more training than they provided.
0 coins
Zoe Papanikolaou
•Make sure to mention the lack of adequate training when you file. That's relevant to whether the performance issues were your fault.
0 coins
Ethan Taylor
Just remember that even if you get benefits, you still need to do the job search requirements every week. Don't forget about that part!
0 coins
Mateo Hernandez
•How many job contacts do I need to make per week?
0 coins
Ethan Taylor
•I think it's 3 per week now but check the Washington ESD website to be sure. They're pretty strict about documenting your job search activities.
0 coins
Jamal Wilson
The Washington ESD system is so slow right now. My friend got terminated 2 months ago and her claim is still pending adjudication. Hope yours goes faster!
0 coins
Mateo Hernandez
•2 months?! That's crazy. How is she surviving financially?
0 coins
Jamal Wilson
•She's been doing gig work to get by. The system is just overwhelmed I guess.
0 coins
Aisha Khan
One more thing - when you file, be very specific about the reasons given for your termination and any documentation you have. The more details you provide upfront, the smoother the adjudication process usually goes.
0 coins
Mateo Hernandez
•I don't have any written documentation, just the verbal conversations with my supervisor. Is that still helpful?
0 coins
Aisha Khan
•Yes, write down everything you remember - dates, what was said, who was present. Even verbal feedback is important for your case.
0 coins
Mei Lin
Whatever you do, don't lie or leave out details when filing. Washington ESD will find out anyway when they contact your employer, and being dishonest will definitely hurt your case.
0 coins
Mateo Hernandez
•Good point. I'll make sure to be completely honest about everything that happened.
0 coins
Liam Fitzgerald
I got terminated for performance issues last year and it took forever to get anyone at Washington ESD on the phone to explain what was happening with my claim. Finally used some service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual person who could tell me what documents they needed.
0 coins
Mateo Hernandez
•Was it worth it? I'm getting desperate to talk to someone about my situation.
0 coins
Liam Fitzgerald
•Definitely. Way better than spending entire days trying to get through on my own. They have a demo video that shows how it works if you want to check it out first.
0 coins
AstroAdventurer
the worst part is not knowing whats happening with your claim. like are they even working on it or did it get lost somewhere??
0 coins
Yuki Ito
•You should be able to check your claim status online through the Washington ESD website. Have you tried logging into your account?
0 coins
AstroAdventurer
•yeah it just says 'adjudication in progress' for weeks now. no other info
0 coins
GalacticGuru
File now, worry later. The worst they can say is no, and then you can appeal. But if you don't file, you definitely won't get anything. Most terminations for performance issues get approved eventually.
0 coins
Mateo Hernandez
•How long do I have to file after being terminated?
0 coins
GalacticGuru
•You should file within the first week if possible. There might be waiting periods but you want to get the process started ASAP.
0 coins
Amara Nnamani
Been through this twice - once denied initially then approved on appeal. The second time approved right away. It really depends on how your employer describes the termination to Washington ESD.
0 coins
Mateo Hernandez
•What made the difference between the first and second time?
0 coins
Amara Nnamani
•First employer claimed misconduct, second one was honest that it was just performance issues. Documentation matters a lot in these cases.
0 coins
Giovanni Mancini
Don't stress too much about it. Performance-related terminations are pretty common and Washington ESD knows the difference between someone who's trying but struggling vs someone who's being deliberately problematic.
0 coins
Mateo Hernandez
•Thanks, that helps calm my nerves a bit. I was definitely trying my best at the job.
0 coins
Fatima Al-Suwaidi
Pro tip: when they do the phone interview during adjudication, have all your notes and timeline ready. They ask very specific questions about dates and conversations.
0 coins
Mateo Hernandez
•Good advice! I'll start writing everything down now while it's still fresh in my memory.
0 coins
Fatima Al-Suwaidi
•Smart move. Also keep any emails or texts related to your job performance if you have them.
0 coins
Dylan Cooper
Just wanted to add that even if your claim gets approved, it might take a while to actually receive your first payment. The system is really backed up right now.
0 coins
Mateo Hernandez
•How long are we talking? I need to plan my budget accordingly.
0 coins
Dylan Cooper
•Could be anywhere from 2-6 weeks depending on how complex your case is. Make sure you have some savings if possible.
0 coins
Sofia Morales
One thing that helped me was calling Claimyr when I couldn't figure out why my payments stopped. Turns out I had missed filing one of my weekly claims properly. An agent walked me through fixing it.
0 coins
Mateo Hernandez
•That's exactly the kind of help I might need. The online system is confusing.
0 coins
Sofia Morales
•Yeah, sometimes you just need a human to explain what's going on with your specific case.
0 coins
StarSailor
Remember that you can work part-time while collecting unemployment too, as long as you report your earnings. Might help bridge the gap financially.
0 coins
Mateo Hernandez
•How does that affect the benefit amount? Do they reduce it dollar for dollar?
0 coins
StarSailor
•No, there's a formula. You can earn up to a certain amount before they start reducing your weekly benefit. Check the Washington ESD website for the exact numbers.
0 coins
Dmitry Ivanov
Good luck with your claim! Most people in your situation do get approved, it just takes time and patience with the system.
0 coins
Mateo Hernandez
•Thank you! This thread has been really helpful and reassuring.
0 coins