Can I get unemployment if I was fired for being late in Washington?

That's good to hear. I do have screenshots of the bus app showing delays almost every day. Should I include those when I file?

Yes absolutely! Any documentation that shows the transportation issues were outside your control will help your case.

How long did it take for them to decide? I'm worried about the adjudication process taking forever.

Mine took about 3 weeks but that was last year. I hear it's faster now but you never know with Washington ESD.

Is that service legit? I've never heard of it before but I'm desperate to talk to someone at Washington ESD.

Yeah it's real. They basically handle the calling for you so you don't have to sit on hold forever. Worked for me when I needed to explain my firing circumstances.

I used Claimyr too when my claim was pending for weeks. Much better than trying to call yourself and getting hung up on constantly.

I did get written up twice but only because my manager said she had to document it. I explained about the bus issues each time.

The fact that you explained the transportation issues and they're documented in your write-ups actually helps your case. It shows you weren't just being careless.

That gives me hope! Did he have to appeal or did they approve it right away?

it went to adjudication first but got approved after like a month. he provided documentation about the daycare schedule

Good point. I'll make sure to be specific about the bus route problems and how I tried to address them.

Also mention if you ever tried to find alternative transportation or adjust your schedule. Shows you made an effort.

That makes sense. I definitely wasn't trying to be late on purpose, it was just the reality of depending on public transit.

Exactly. Document everything you can about the bus delays and your attempts to resolve the issue. That will be key if it goes to adjudication.

That sucks! Did you have documentation for the medical appointments?

Yeah but Washington ESD said I should have requested schedule accommodation from my employer first. So frustrating.

That's why it's important to show you tried to address the issue beforehand. Did you ever talk to your supervisor about adjusting your start time?

Already started the application but got nervous about the separation reason part. I'll go back and be more detailed like everyone suggested.

Good call. The more specific you are upfront, the less likely it is to drag out in adjudication.

I did ask about starting 30 minutes later to account for the bus schedule but my manager said company policy wouldn't allow it.

Perfect! Make sure to mention that when you file. Shows you were proactive about finding a solution.

You should file as soon as possible but you generally have up to a year to file a claim. However, benefits only start from when you file, not when you were terminated.

Yeah I read that too. That's why I'm trying to get my application finished this week.

Did you have to provide a lot of documentation or was it pretty straightforward?

i had to submit some evidence during adjudication but nothing too crazy. just proof of the childcare situation and that id asked for help

What kind of documentation should I prepare just in case?

Bus schedules, screenshots of delays, any emails or texts with your supervisor about the tardiness, your employee handbook section on attendance policy. Anything that supports your case.

I'm hoping to avoid that whole mess by being thorough with my initial application.

Smart approach. The more detail you provide upfront the better chance you have of avoiding adjudication altogether.

That's reassuring. I was worried I'd have to prove I deserved benefits instead of them having to prove I didn't.

Exactly. Your employer will need to provide evidence that your tardiness was deliberate misconduct, not just poor attendance due to circumstances.

How did you explain it in your application? I want to make sure I phrase things correctly.

just be honest about the transportation challenges and any efforts you made to solve them. dont make excuses just state facts

Good to know there's a backup plan. Hopefully it won't come to that but it's reassuring.

The appeal process gives you a chance to present your case more thoroughly, especially if new information comes to light.

Already started updating my resume and looking at job boards. Do I need to register with WorkSource too?

Yes, you'll need to register with WorkSourceWA and log your job search activities. It's all part of the ongoing eligibility requirements.

That's exactly what I was hoping to hear! Did you use the transit authority's own data about delays?

Yes, I got official delay reports from Metro and included screenshots from their app showing the consistent problems with my route.

I'll definitely keep that in mind. The idea of waiting on hold for hours trying to reach someone sounds awful.

Claimyr saved me so much frustration when I needed to clarify details about my job separation. Much easier than the normal calling process.

This is really helpful advice, thank you! I was wondering if I should mention the weather factor too since we had some really bad storms this winter that made the bus delays even worse. I do have some of those emergency transit alerts saved on my phone. It sounds like being thorough with documentation is really the key here. Did you have to go through adjudication or did they approve you initially?

It went to adjudication but got approved after about 4 weeks. The weather documentation definitely helped - those emergency alerts from the transit authority show it wasn't just you having issues but a systematic problem affecting all riders. I also included screenshots of the childcare pickup times and how they aligned with the delayed bus arrivals. The adjudicator seemed impressed that I had kept such detailed records and that I'd proactively tried to work with my employer on solutions. Since you already asked about schedule adjustments and were denied due to company policy, you're in a similar position where you can show you weren't just ignoring the problem.

This is exactly the kind of detailed advice I was looking for! I've actually been keeping screenshots of the bus delays on my phone for the past few weeks just out of frustration, but now I realize they could actually help my case. I also have the transit authority's service alerts about construction delays on my route that have been ongoing for months. The part about being specific in the application really resonates - I was worried about sounding like I was making excuses, but it sounds like the key is presenting facts and showing I tried to be proactive. Did you have to provide all that documentation upfront when filing, or did they ask for it later during the review process?

You don't need to provide all the documentation upfront when filing - just be detailed in the separation reason section. They'll ask for supporting documents if your claim goes into adjudication. I uploaded my bus delay screenshots and service alerts through the secure messaging system in my online account after they requested additional information. The construction delays on your route sound like perfect evidence since they show it's an ongoing infrastructure issue, not something you could control. Keep saving those screenshots and alerts - having months of data really strengthens your case that this was a persistent problem you were dealing with, not just occasional lateness.

Thank you so much for the encouragement! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who went through such a similar situation and came out successful. The school bus comparison is actually really helpful because it shows how transportation delays can affect anyone regardless of the specific circumstances. I'm feeling much more confident about filing now after reading everyone's advice here. I've already started gathering my documentation - I have about 3 months worth of bus delay screenshots and several service alerts from the transit authority about ongoing construction on my route. The fact that I asked my manager about adjusting my schedule and was denied due to company policy seems to be a key point that multiple people have mentioned as helpful. I'm going to finish my application this weekend and make sure to be very detailed in the separation reason section about the specific transportation challenges and my attempts to address them.