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

Yes you can definitely file! Washington ESD will determine if your termination was for 'misconduct' or not. Attendance issues might not qualify as misconduct especially if you had medical reasons. When you file your claim, be honest about why you were fired and provide any documentation you have about your medical appointments.

I got fired too and still got approved. They have to prove it was willful misconduct, not just poor performance or attendance. File immediately - worst case they deny it and you can appeal.

You should file right away regardless. Washington ESD will do their own investigation during adjudication if needed. The fact that you were fired doesn't automatically disqualify you - it depends on the specific reasons. Medical absences are generally protected, especially if you followed proper procedures.

WAIT - if you were fired for attendance you might have problems. My friend got denied because they said missing work was misconduct even with doctor notes. You better have really good documentation.

File online at secure.esd.wa.gov as soon as possible. Don't wait. Even if you end up getting denied initially, you can appeal the decision. The key is to document everything about your medical appointments and any communication with your employer about FMLA.

The worst they can do is say no and then you appeal. I've seen people win appeals even after initial denials for termination cases. Just be completely honest about everything when you file your claim.

Update: I tried calling Washington ESD again this morning and still can't get through. This is so frustrating when I need answers about my specific situation.

Just to be clear on the process - when you file, Washington ESD will contact your former employer to get their side of the story. This is standard procedure for all termination cases. They'll compare both versions and make a determination based on state law regarding misconduct.

I was fired for attendance too but got approved because I had documented medical reasons. The key is having paper trails - doctor notes, emails with HR, anything showing you tried to follow proper procedures.

This whole system is so confusing. I wish there was a clearer answer about what counts as misconduct and what doesn't.

File immediately and be 100% honest. Washington ESD investigators are pretty good at getting to the truth. If your termination was really due to legitimate medical issues, you should be fine.

One more thing to remember - even if your initial claim gets approved, your former employer has the right to appeal that decision too. Don't be surprised if the process takes a few weeks to fully resolve.

The bottom line is you have nothing to lose by filing. Even if you get denied, at least you'll know where you stand and can decide whether to appeal.

Good luck! And seriously, if you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about your specific case, don't waste hours trying to call. Services like Claimyr can get you connected quickly so you can get real answers about your situation.

Keep us posted on how it goes! Your case sounds pretty straightforward if you have the medical documentation.