Can fired employees collect unemployment benefits in Washington state?

You can definitely still apply for unemployment even if you were fired. Washington ESD looks at whether you were terminated for 'misconduct' - performance issues usually don't count as misconduct unless it was willful or deliberate. You should file your claim right away since there's a waiting period.

I was in a similar situation last year. Got fired for allegedly not meeting sales targets but I think my supervisor just didn't like me. Filed for unemployment anyway and got approved after about 3 weeks of adjudication. The key is that performance issues aren't the same as misconduct.

File immediately! I made the mistake of waiting because I thought being fired meant I couldn't get benefits. Turns out I was wrong and I lost 2 weeks of potential payments. Washington ESD will sort out whether you're eligible during the adjudication process.

The whole calling Washington ESD thing is such a nightmare though. I spent hours trying to get through to ask questions about my claim when I got fired. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to an agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration.

Being fired doesn't automatically disqualify you but it depends on the reason. Misconduct includes things like theft, violence, or willfully violating company policy. Poor performance or not being a 'good fit' usually doesn't rise to that level. Washington ESD will make the determination during adjudication.

ugh the whole system is so confusing!! I got fired 3 months ago and STILL haven't figured out if I did everything right with my claim. They keep asking for more documentation and I don't even know what half of it means

File your claim online at esd.wa.gov - it's pretty straightforward. When they ask about the reason for separation, just put 'terminated/fired' and explain briefly. Don't overthink it. They'll contact your employer separately to get their version.

I thought if you got fired you were screwed but apparently not? My friend got fired for being late too many times and still got unemployment. Seems like they're pretty lenient about what counts as misconduct.

The thing that sucks is even if you get approved, there's usually a delay while they investigate. I was out of work for 6 weeks before my first payment hit. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even during adjudication or you'll lose those weeks.

Just went through this exact situation 2 months ago. Got fired for 'not being a team player' which was total BS. Filed anyway and got approved. The adjudication interview was actually pretty fair - they asked me to explain my side and I was honest about the situation.

whatever you do don't lie on your application!! They WILL find out and then you'll be in way worse trouble. Better to be honest about being fired and let them sort it out than try to hide it

Also make sure you're doing your job search requirements while waiting. Even during adjudication you need to be looking for work and logging it. I almost got dinged for not keeping up with that part.

The worst part about getting fired is trying to reach Washington ESD when you have questions. Their phone lines are always busy and the hold times are insane. I finally found this thing called Claimyr that basically waits on hold for you and connects you when an agent answers. Total game changer.

Been there done that. Got canned from my retail job for supposedly having a bad attitude. Filed for UI and got approved after they investigated. The key thing is Washington ESD looks at whether you were trying to do your job or if you were deliberately causing problems.

File now, worry later. Seriously. Even if there's a chance you might not qualify, file anyway. Worst case they deny you and you're no worse off than you are now. Best case you get benefits while you look for a new job.

I'm so sick of employers thinking they can fire people for bogus reasons and that we just have to take it. At least unemployment benefits give us some protection while we find something better.

Quick tip - when you file online, make sure you have your Social Security number, driver's license, and information about your last employer ready. Makes the process go faster.

Another success story here - got fired from a warehouse job for 'safety violations' that were really just accidents. Still got my unemployment benefits approved. Don't let them scare you into not filing!

honestly trying to reach someone at Washington ESD is harder than finding a new job sometimes lol. I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it actually worked. Saved me hours of redialing busy signals.

Bottom line - being fired doesn't automatically disqualify you from unemployment benefits in Washington. File your claim, be honest about what happened, and let Washington ESD make the determination. You've got a good chance of being approved if it was truly about performance and not misconduct.

I went through something very similar about 8 months ago. Got let go for "not meeting expectations" but I suspect they just wanted to restructure my position. Filed for unemployment immediately and was approved after about 3 weeks of adjudication. The investigator was actually really fair during the phone interview - they asked both me and my employer detailed questions about the circumstances. My advice: file right away, keep detailed notes about what happened at your job, and don't stress too much about the outcome. Washington ESD really does look at each case individually and performance issues rarely count as disqualifying misconduct unless there was willful negligence involved.