Can I get Washington ESD unemployment if I was terminated from my job?

Yes, you can definitely apply for unemployment even if you were terminated. Washington ESD will determine if your termination was for 'misconduct' or not. Performance issues usually don't qualify as misconduct unless it was willful or deliberate. File your claim as soon as possible since there's a waiting period.

I got fired too and still got approved for UI benefits. The key is that Washington ESD looks at whether you were fired for misconduct or just because you weren't a good fit. Performance issues without willful negligence usually don't disqualify you.

File immediately and be completely honest about why you were terminated. I've seen people get denied because they weren't truthful on their application. Washington ESD will contact your employer anyway to get their side of the story.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to check on your claim status or ask questions, I recently found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually reach a human agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really helped me when I was stuck in adjudication limbo.

The whole system is rigged anyway. They'll find any excuse to deny your claim even if you were wrongfully terminated. Employers lie all the time and Washington ESD just believes whatever they say.

Update: I filed my claim online and it went through. Now it says 'pending' on my account. How long does it usually take to hear back from them?

I was fired for attendance issues and still got unemployment. As long as it wasn't willful misconduct you should be fine. Performance problems are different from deliberately doing something wrong.

Whatever you do, don't quit your next job without having another one lined up. I made that mistake and learned the hard way that voluntary quits are way harder to get approved for UI.

Just went through this exact situation. Got fired for 'not meeting expectations' but it was really because I refused to work unpaid overtime. Took about 2 weeks to get approved. The safety complaint angle might actually help your case.

Check your email regularly for any requests from Washington ESD. They sent me a fact-finding questionnaire that I almost missed and it would have delayed my claim.

If you end up needing to speak with someone at Washington ESD about your termination case, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really does work. I was skeptical at first but they got me through to an actual adjudicator who explained exactly what documentation I needed for my appeal.

Document everything about your termination - emails, witness statements, performance reviews, anything that shows you weren't fired for misconduct. I wish I had done this better when I got fired.

been there, got approved after being fired. the worst they can say is no and then you appeal. at least you'll have income while you job hunt

Make sure you're actively job searching and keeping a log. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week and they do audit this. Don't let that be the reason you lose benefits later.

The system is so confusing. I got fired and approved but my friend got fired for the same thing and denied. Nobody explains how they make these decisions.

Another thought - if your employer contests your claim, don't panic. That's normal and doesn't mean you'll be denied. Just respond to any requests for information quickly and honestly.

Hope it works out for you! I was so stressed when I got fired but the unemployment helped me get through until I found something better. Stay positive!

Final tip about Claimyr - if you do end up in adjudication or need to appeal, having someone who can actually get you through to talk to a real Washington ESD representative is invaluable. I wasted so much time trying to call on my own before I found that service.

Thanks everyone for all the advice! I feel much more confident about my claim now. I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

Just want to add that retaliation for reporting safety issues is illegal and could actually strengthen your unemployment case. Might be worth consulting with an employment lawyer too.