Can I file for unemployment if I was terminated - Washington ESD eligibility question

You can definitely file for unemployment even if you were terminated. Washington ESD looks at the reason for termination - if it wasn't for misconduct, you should be eligible. Performance issues usually don't count as misconduct unless they were willful or deliberate. You should file your claim right away since there's a waiting period.

I was in the exact same situation last year - terminated for 'performance' after 3 years with no warnings. Filed with Washington ESD and got approved after about 2 weeks. The key is filing immediately and being truthful about everything.

Honestly dealing with Washington ESD phone lines is going to be your biggest challenge. I spent weeks trying to get through when I had questions about my claim status. If you run into issues reaching them, there's a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that can actually get you connected to a real person. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

Just want to clarify something - being terminated doesn't automatically disqualify you, but Washington ESD will investigate. If they determine it was for misconduct (like stealing, violence, repeated policy violations), then you won't qualify. But poor performance alone usually isn't considered misconduct unless it was intentional.

ugh the whole system is so confusing. I got fired 6 months ago and it took forever to get approved because of all the back and forth with adjudication. They kept asking for more documentation from my employer.

File online at esd.wa.gov as soon as possible. You'll need your Social Security number, employer information for the last 18 months, and bank account details if you want direct deposit. The sooner you file, the sooner your benefit year starts.

Same thing happened to my brother - they said budget cuts but called it performance issues to try to avoid paying unemployment. He fought it and won. Don't let them intimidate you.

Just a heads up - even if you qualify, there's a one week waiting period before you can start collecting benefits. Make sure you file your weekly claims every week even during that waiting period or you'll lose those weeks.

Pro tip: start documenting your job search efforts immediately. Washington ESD requires you to make at least 3 job search contacts per week once you start receiving benefits. Keep detailed records of where you applied, when, and any responses.

I went through this exact situation. Got terminated, filed immediately, and had my benefits approved within 3 weeks. The key is being completely honest about what happened and not trying to sugarcoat anything.

Washington ESD is actually pretty fair about these things. They know employers sometimes try to avoid paying unemployment by claiming performance issues. As long as you weren't doing anything intentionally wrong, you should be approved.

Don't wait to file! I made that mistake and lost 2 weeks of potential benefits because I thought I needed to gather more documentation first. You can always provide additional info later if needed.

If you end up needing to talk to someone at Washington ESD and can't get through their phone lines, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier actually works. I used it last month when I needed to check on my adjudication status and got connected within minutes instead of calling for hours.

The Washington ESD website has a really helpful tool where you can check if you qualify for benefits before you file. Might be worth looking at just to ease your mind.

Been there! Got terminated 'for cause' last year but it was really just them trying to avoid severance. Filed anyway and got approved after Washington ESD investigated. Don't let them scare you out of filing.

One more thing - if Washington ESD does deny your initial claim, you have the right to appeal. Don't give up after the first decision if you truly believe you were wrongfully terminated.

Just want to add - if you do get approved and start receiving benefits, make sure you report any income you earn from part-time work or side gigs. Washington ESD will find out eventually and you don't want to deal with an overpayment situation.

Sorry you're going through this! The uncertainty is the worst part. But based on what you've described, you should definitely qualify for benefits. File ASAP and try not to stress too much about it.

If you need help navigating the system or have trouble reaching Washington ESD later, there are resources available. That Claimyr service mentioned earlier can be a real lifesaver when you're stuck in phone tree hell trying to get answers about your claim.