Can u draw unemployment if fired from Washington ESD job
Got terminated last Friday from my warehouse job and wondering if I can still file for unemployment benefits? Manager said it was for attendance issues but I had a family emergency that month. Does Washington ESD still approve claims if you get fired or do they automatically deny you? I've never filed before so not sure how this works.
49 comments


Amara Torres
Yes you can potentially get unemployment even if fired, but it depends on the reason. Washington ESD looks at whether it was 'misconduct' or not. Attendance issues can go either way depending on your circumstances.
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Elijah O'Reilly
•What counts as misconduct exactly? I was late a few times because of the family situation.
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Amara Torres
•Generally misconduct is willful violation of company policy. If you had legitimate reasons for attendance issues and can document them, that's not misconduct.
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Olivia Van-Cleve
I got fired from my last job for being late too much and still got approved for UI benefits. You should definitely apply - worst case they say no but you might get approved. The key is explaining your side of the story in the application.
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Elijah O'Reilly
•That's encouraging! How long did it take to hear back after you applied?
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Olivia Van-Cleve
•About 2 weeks for me, but that was before they got so backed up. Could take longer now.
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Mason Kaczka
You need to file ASAP because there's a waiting period. Even if your employer contests it, Washington ESD will investigate and make a determination. Document everything about your family emergency - medical records, whatever proof you have.
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Elijah O'Reilly
•I do have hospital records from when my mom was sick. Should I submit those with my application?
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Mason Kaczka
•Yes definitely include any documentation that supports your case. The more evidence the better.
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Sophia Russo
Had a similar situation and couldn't get through to Washington ESD for weeks to explain my side. Finally used Claimyr.com to actually reach an agent who could review my case properly. They have this video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works - basically calls for you until they get through.
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Evelyn Xu
•Never heard of that service. Does it actually work or is it a scam?
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Sophia Russo
•It's legit - I was skeptical too but desperate. Got connected to an agent same day after weeks of busy signals.
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Elijah O'Reilly
•Might need to try that if I can't get through. Thanks for the tip!
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Dominic Green
The system is SO BROKEN. They make it impossible to reach anyone and then deny claims without proper investigation. I've been fighting a disqualification for months.
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Hannah Flores
•Same here, it's ridiculous how hard they make it to get help
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Amara Torres
•That's why documentation is so important from the start. Makes appeals much easier.
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Kayla Jacobson
Apply online through your SAW account right away. Don't wait. When they ask about reason for separation, be honest but emphasize the family emergency circumstances. Washington ESD has to prove misconduct, not the other way around.
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Elijah O'Reilly
•What's a SAW account? Do I need to create that first?
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Kayla Jacobson
•SecureAccess Washington - that's how you access all state services including unemployment. You'll need to set that up first.
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William Rivera
I know someone who got fired for attendance and was approved because they proved it was due to medical issues. Family emergencies definitely count as good cause if you can document it properly.
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Elijah O'Reilly
•That's exactly my situation. Gives me hope I might get approved.
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Grace Lee
•Just make sure you're completely honest in your application about everything.
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Mia Roberts
File immediately and start your job search requirements right away even while the claim is being reviewed. You have to be actively looking for work to maintain eligibility.
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Elijah O'Reilly
•How many jobs do I need to apply for each week?
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Mia Roberts
•Three work search activities per week minimum. Can be applications, networking, interviews, etc.
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The Boss
Your employer will probably contest the claim but don't let that discourage you. I got fired for 'poor performance' which was really just impossible quotas, and I won my appeal after explaining the situation.
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Elijah O'Reilly
•How long did the appeal process take?
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The Boss
•About 6 weeks total but I got backpay for the whole period once approved.
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Evan Kalinowski
•Appeals can take forever these days with how backed up they are
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Victoria Charity
Whatever you do, don't quit your next job without good cause or you'll definitely be disqualified. Being fired is actually better for UI eligibility than quitting in most cases.
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Elijah O'Reilly
•Good to know for the future. Right now I just need to focus on getting through this claim.
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Jasmine Quinn
The adjudication process can take weeks so be prepared for that. They investigate both sides before making a decision on whether the termination was misconduct or not.
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Elijah O'Reilly
•Will I get paid during the investigation or only after it's resolved?
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Jasmine Quinn
•Usually payments are held until the adjudication is complete, then you get backpay if approved.
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Oscar Murphy
My brother used that Claimyr service mentioned earlier when he couldn't reach Washington ESD about his adjudication. Worked really well - he finally got to talk to someone who could explain what was happening with his claim.
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Elijah O'Reilly
•Seems like a lot of people are having success with that. Might be worth trying.
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Nora Bennett
•Anything to avoid those endless busy signals and disconnected calls
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Ryan Andre
Make sure you keep detailed records of your job search activities from day one. Washington ESD can audit your work search log at any time and disqualify you if it's not complete.
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Elijah O'Reilly
•What kind of records do I need to keep exactly?
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Ryan Andre
•Company names, contact info, dates, method of contact, position applied for. Keep it all organized.
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Lauren Zeb
Don't stress too much about it. I've seen plenty of people get approved after being fired for attendance issues, especially when there were legitimate personal reasons involved.
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Elijah O'Reilly
•Thanks, that helps ease my anxiety about this whole process.
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Daniel Washington
•Yeah just be honest and thorough in your application and you should be fine
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Aurora Lacasse
One thing to remember - even if you get initially denied, you can appeal and often win if you have good documentation. Don't give up after the first decision.
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Elijah O'Reilly
•Good advice. I'll make sure to gather all my documentation before filing.
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Anthony Young
•Appeals have a pretty good success rate if you have legitimate reasons for the attendance issues
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Charlotte White
The whole system is designed to make you give up. Keep pushing through the bureaucracy and eventually you'll get the help you need. I had to use Claimyr twice during my claim just to get basic questions answered.
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Elijah O'Reilly
•Seems like that service is becoming essential for dealing with Washington ESD these days.
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Admin_Masters
•Sad but true - the regular phone system is basically useless now
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