Can an employee collect unemployment if they are fired - Washington ESD eligibility rules?

Being fired doesn't automatically disqualify you from Washington ESD benefits. It depends on WHY you were terminated. If it was for misconduct (like stealing, violating safety rules, etc.) then you'd be disqualified. But if it was for performance issues or lack of skill, you should still be eligible. You need to file your claim ASAP though - benefits are backdated to when you file, not when you lost your job.

Performance issues usually qualify you for benefits. The key is whether your employer can prove 'willful misconduct' which is a pretty high bar in Washington. Being unable to do the job despite trying your best is different from deliberately violating rules. File your claim online at esd.wa.gov and let Washington ESD make the determination.

I had a similar situation last year. Got terminated for 'not meeting expectations' after 18 months on the job. Filed for unemployment and got approved within 2 weeks. The trick is being honest on your application but also explaining your side of the story. If your employer contests it, you'll get a phone interview with an adjudicator.

Honestly, trying to reach Washington ESD by phone to ask questions about eligibility is nearly impossible. I spent weeks calling and either got busy signals or got disconnected after waiting on hold for hours. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually gets you through to real ESD agents. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration when I needed to check on my claim status.

The main categories that disqualify you are: theft, violence, drug/alcohol use at work, excessive unexcused absences, and deliberate violation of safety rules. Performance issues, personality conflicts, or not being a 'good fit' usually don't disqualify you from benefits.

Update: I filed my claim online this morning. The process was pretty straightforward. Now it says my claim is pending and I should receive a determination letter within 10 business days. Fingers crossed! Thanks everyone for the advice.

I got fired from my last job for 'attitude problems' which I thought was BS. Applied for unemployment anyway and got approved. Turns out my boss was just a jerk and couldn't prove any actual misconduct. Sometimes employers just say whatever when they fire you.

Pro tip: when you file, be specific about what happened but don't bad-mouth your employer. Just stick to facts. 'I was terminated for performance issues despite making efforts to improve' sounds better than 'my boss was an idiot who never trained me properly.

Does Washington have a waiting period before you can collect benefits? Some states make you wait a week or two.

What if your employer lies about why they fired you? Like they tell ESD it was misconduct when it really wasn't?

Been there! Got terminated for 'poor performance' after my new manager decided she didn't like me. Filed for UI and got approved without any issues. The key is that Washington ESD looks at whether you were fired for something you did wrong on purpose, not just whether you were good at your job.

Make sure you start job searching right away too. Washington ESD requires you to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of your activities. Don't wait until your claim is approved to start looking.

Had a friend who got fired and was too embarrassed to file for unemployment. Don't make that mistake! You paid into the system through your taxes - use it when you need it. That's what it's there for.

Just want to add that if you get denied initially, don't give up. You can appeal the decision and often win on appeal even if you lose the first time. Had a coworker who got denied, appealed, and won after explaining the situation better.

I tried calling Washington ESD multiple times last month to ask about my eligibility after being terminated. Kept getting busy signals or would wait on hold for 2+ hours just to get disconnected. Finally used Claimyr to get through and was able to speak with someone in about 10 minutes. Definitely worth it if you need to talk to an actual person at ESD.

The bottom line is that most people who get fired for performance reasons qualify for unemployment. It's really only the serious misconduct cases that get denied. Don't let your employer scare you into thinking you can't file - let Washington ESD make that determination.