Can I get Washington ESD unemployment benefits when fired from my job?

It depends on WHY you were fired. If it was for misconduct (like stealing or fighting) then no benefits. But if it was for things like poor performance or attendance issues that weren't intentional, you might still qualify. Washington ESD will investigate and decide.

I was fired for performance issues last year and still got approved for UI benefits. The key is that it has to be 'misconduct' for them to deny you, not just being bad at your job. File your claim anyway and let Washington ESD decide. The worst they can do is say no.

You should definitely file your claim as soon as possible. Even if you were fired, Washington ESD will review the circumstances. They'll contact your employer and you to get both sides of the story. If you were fired for reasons beyond your control or for simple mistakes (not willful misconduct), you can still qualify for benefits.

I had such a hard time getting through to Washington ESD when I was going through something similar. Spent weeks calling and either getting busy signals or getting disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to a real person at Washington ESD who could explain my situation. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works.

The Washington ESD system is SO confusing when you're fired vs laid off. I thought for sure I wouldn't qualify when I got terminated but turns out there's a whole process they go through. They'll send questionnaires to both you and your employer asking for details about what happened.

honestly the whole system is messed up... I know people who got fired for actual misconduct and still got benefits while others who did nothing wrong got denied. It's like they flip a coin sometimes

Just remember that even if you get approved, you still have to meet all the other requirements - looking for work, registering with WorkSource, filing weekly claims. Being fired doesn't change those obligations.

The attendance thing might actually work in your favor if you can show it wasn't willful. I had a similar situation where I was fired for being late too much due to childcare issues. Washington ESD approved my claim because they determined it wasn't misconduct.

One thing to watch out for - if your employer contests your claim (which they probably will), it might go to adjudication. That's when Washington ESD does a full investigation and it can take several weeks to get a decision.

If you do end up in adjudication and need to speak with someone at Washington ESD, definitely consider using Claimyr again. I used them twice during my claim process and it saved me so much frustration trying to get through on my own.

Here's what will likely happen: 1) You file your claim online, 2) Washington ESD sends questionnaires to you and your employer, 3) They review the responses and make a determination, 4) If approved, you start getting benefits, 5) If denied, you can appeal within 30 days.

don't let your employer intimidate you into not filing... they might try to tell you that you won't qualify but that's not their decision to make

I got fired for attendance too but it was because I kept having panic attacks and couldn't make it to work. Ended up getting approved because it was related to a medical condition. If any of your absences were health-related, mention that.

The whole process is stressful but don't give up. Even if you get denied initially, the appeal process gives you another chance to present your side. I know several people who won on appeal after losing the first round.

File ASAP and be completely honest in your application. Don't try to hide the fact that you were fired - they'll find out anyway when they contact your employer. Being upfront shows good faith.

Make sure you understand the difference between 'misconduct' and 'gross misconduct' too. Regular misconduct might still qualify you for benefits after a waiting period, but gross misconduct disqualifies you completely.

The waiting game is the worst part honestly. Even when everything goes smoothly it feels like forever before you see any money.

I used to work in HR and I can tell you that most employers will contest unemployment claims regardless of the circumstances. It's usually just automatic. Don't take it personally if they fight it.

Whatever you do, don't wait to file thinking you need to find another job first. You can look for work AND collect benefits at the same time - that's literally the point of the system.

One last thing about Claimyr - I found them super helpful when I needed to get clarity on my specific situation. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person who can look at your account and explain what's actually happening instead of guessing based on generic information online.