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

Yes, you can absolutely file for unemployment benefits in Washington even if you were fired. The key is whether you were terminated for 'misconduct' or not. Performance issues usually don't count as misconduct unless you were willfully negligent or violated company policies. You should file your claim right away since there's a waiting period, and Washington ESD will investigate your termination during the adjudication process.

File immediately! I got fired from my retail job for being late too many times and still got approved for UI benefits. The important thing is to be honest about why you were terminated when you file your claim. Washington ESD looks at whether your actions were deliberate misconduct or just poor performance.

I had such a hard time getting through to Washington ESD when I needed to check on my claim status after being fired. The phone lines are always busy and I kept getting disconnected. I finally used Claimyr.com to get through to an actual agent who explained my adjudication process. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made the whole process so much less stressful.

The Washington ESD system is so confusing! I got fired from my last job for attendance issues and was terrified to apply thinking I'd be automatically rejected. Turns out chronic lateness isn't always considered misconduct if there were legitimate reasons. You really need to file and let them make the determination.

whatever you do dont lie about why you got fired!!! washington esd will find out when they contact your employer and then you'll be in real trouble. just be honest and explain your side of the story

File online at esd.wa.gov as soon as possible. Even if you get denied initially, you can always appeal the decision. I know someone who got fired for poor performance and won their appeal because the employer couldn't prove it was willful misconduct.

I'm dealing with something similar right now. Got fired three weeks ago and my claim has been in adjudication ever since. The waiting is killing me financially but at least I know there's still a chance for approval.

Just want to emphasize again - performance issues are very different from misconduct in Washington ESD's eyes. If you were trying to do your job but just weren't meeting expectations, that's typically not grounds for benefit denial. Misconduct usually involves things like theft, violence, or deliberately violating known policies.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST WORKERS! I got fired for 'attitude problems' which is just code for standing up for myself and they still denied my claim. had to go through months of appeals just to get basic benefits i deserved

I used to work in HR and saw this situation a lot. Employers often use vague terms like 'performance issues' when they terminate someone, but that doesn't automatically mean misconduct. Washington ESD investigators are pretty good at distinguishing between someone who was genuinely struggling vs. someone who was being deliberately problematic.

quick question - do you have to be actively looking for work while your claim is in adjudication? or can you wait until its approved?

Just went through this exact situation last month. Got fired for 'not being a good fit' which was really just them not liking my personality. Still got approved for unemployment because it wasn't misconduct. The adjudication took about 4 weeks but was worth the wait.

Pro tip: when you file your claim, be very specific about what happened and why you believe it wasn't misconduct. The more detail you provide upfront, the smoother the adjudication process tends to go.

I tried calling Washington ESD so many times when I was dealing with my firing situation but could never get through. Finally broke down and used Claimyr to reach an agent who walked me through the whole adjudication process. Honestly wish I'd found them sooner - would have saved me weeks of stress and uncertainty.

Remember that even if you get initially denied, the appeals process exists for a reason. I've seen plenty of people get overturned on appeal when they had good documentation and could clearly explain why their termination wasn't misconduct.

this thread has been super helpful! i got fired from my restaurant job last week for 'poor customer service' but it was really because i wouldn't put up with customers being abusive. sounds like i should definitely file

Don't forget to file your weekly claims even while you're waiting for the adjudication decision. You can't go back and claim those weeks later if you forget to file them.

Update on my earlier comment about using Claimyr - I actually used them again this week to ask about my benefit amount calculation and the agent was super helpful. They really know their stuff about Washington ESD policies and procedures. Definitely recommend if you're having trouble getting through the regular phone lines.

Just wanted to say good luck to everyone dealing with this situation. Getting fired is stressful enough without having to worry about whether you'll qualify for benefits. At least Washington state is generally pretty fair about distinguishing between misconduct and performance issues.