Can I get ESD unemployment if fired after bereavement leave in WA? Employer claiming no-show

Based on what you've described, you would likely qualify for unemployment if terminated. Washington considers terminations case-by-case, but generally if you followed your company's procedures for bereavement leave and communicated as required, being fired for this reason should not be considered misconduct that would disqualify you from benefits. As for timing, ESD typically has a one-week waiting period after you file. Then if everything goes smoothly (no adjudication issues), you could see your first payment around 2-3 weeks after filing. However, if your employer contests your claim (which they might in this case), it could go to adjudication and take 4-8 weeks or sometimes longer. Make sure you document everything! Save that email, any communication about your bereavement leave, and definitely your message confirming you reached out by the date you promised. This will be crucial if they contest your claim.

this happened to my cousin last yr!!! they tried to say he abandoned his job after his dad died but he had txts proving he told them when hed be back. ESD approved him but it took like 6 weeks to get $$$. they make u wait no matter what

I'm sorry you're going through this. Before worrying about unemployment, have you checked your company's bereavement policy to confirm you followed it correctly? Some policies specify a maximum number of days (usually 3-5) unless additional time is approved. If your company has an HR department, I'd recommend contacting them directly to clarify the situation before things escalate further. If they do terminate you, Washington considers whether you were fired for work-related misconduct when determining eligibility. Taking bereavement leave and communicating as promised wouldn't typically be considered misconduct, so you'd likely qualify. Regarding timing, claims without issues typically start paying after the one-week waiting period plus processing time (about 2-3 weeks total). However, when there's a dispute about the reason for termination, it goes to adjudication, which is currently taking 4-8 weeks in Washington. Make sure you have documentation of all communication about your leave.

If you do get terminated, file immediately!! Don't wait even a day. Also, when you fill out your application, make sure you explain that you followed all company procedures for bereavement leave and communicated as required. Be specific about dates and methods of communication. My claim was stuck in adjudication for 5 weeks last year and I couldn't get through to ESD on the phone at ALL. I found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually reach a live person at ESD. They got me connected in about 20 minutes when I'd been trying for weeks. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. It was worth it to finally get someone to review my case and release my payments.

THE ESD SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!!! I got fired for a completely bogus reason last fall and they made me wait THREE MONTHS before approving my claim. My employer straight-up LIED about why they fired me and ESD just believed them at first!!! Had to appeal and everything. The whole system is rigged against workers. Document EVERYTHING. Record calls if WA law allows it (pretty sure it's two-party consent so maybe not). But save EVERY email, text, everything. They WILL lie about you, I guarantee it.

Have you checked your employee handbook for the specific bereavement policy? Most companies have pretty clear guidelines about how many days are allowed and what kind of notification is required. If you followed their policy and have documentation, you should be in good shape for an unemployment claim if it comes to that. Also, make sure your weekly claim certifications are accurate if you do end up filing. Any inconsistencies can trigger additional review and delay your payments. Answer the job search questions carefully too - you need to document at least 3 job search activities every week.

my neighbor had something similar happen and what got her through the long wait for benefits was calling her utility companies, landlord, etc and explaining the situation. lots of places have hardship programs if you're waiting for unemployment to kick in. might be worth looking into before you're in a desperate situation?

One important thing to know is that if your employer contests your claim, ESD will schedule a fact-finding interview. This is when both you and your employer present your side of the story. Many people miss these calls because ESD often only gives a few days' notice, and if you miss it, your claim could be denied automatically. Once you file, check your ESD account and messages DAILY and answer any ESD phone calls even if you don't recognize the number. They often call from unmarked or blocked numbers. If you miss their call, there's usually no easy way to reschedule and it can add weeks to your claim processing time.