Can you apply for unemployment if you were fired - Washington ESD eligibility question

Thanks! I was worried I'd be wasting my time applying. What exactly counts as misconduct then?

Misconduct has to be willful - like stealing, fighting, being drunk at work, or deliberately violating company policy after warnings. Poor performance or not being a good fit usually isn't misconduct.

How long did the adjudication take for you?

About 5 weeks total, but that was during a busy period. They interview both you and your employer to get both sides of the story.

Is that legit? I've never heard of using a third party service for this stuff.

Yeah it's real, they just help you navigate the phone system to reach a human. Was skeptical at first but it actually worked for me when I needed to check on my adjudication status.

That's encouraging to hear. Did your employer try to fight it?

Oh yeah they contested it hard, but Washington ESD saw right through their BS. Document everything you can remember about your termination.

Good advice on documentation. Keep any emails, write down dates and what was said during meetings, etc.

What did you put for the reason for separation? I'm not sure how to word it.

I put 'terminated by employer' and then explained in the details that it was for performance reasons, not misconduct. Be factual, don't get emotional about it.

Yes, unemployment insurance isn't just for layoffs. It's for people who lose their job through no fault of their own. Being fired for performance vs being fired for stealing are very different things.

Exactly. We pay into this system specifically so we have a safety net when we lose our jobs, regardless of how it happens (as long as it's not our fault).

True, I guess I have nothing to lose by trying.

Exactly. And if they deny you initially, you can always appeal the decision.

That gives me hope! Did you have to do anything special during the application process?

Just answered all the questions honestly and provided as much detail as possible about why I was terminated. Don't try to sugar coat it or make it sound like something it wasn't.

Good to know. I'm expecting them to fight it based on how they handled the termination.

If they do contest it, make sure you participate in the phone interview when Washington ESD calls. That's your chance to tell your side of the story.

I didn't know about the waiting period. I'll file today.

Good call. Also remember you have to file your weekly claims even while your initial claim is being processed, or you could lose benefits for those weeks.

Seems like performance-related firings are pretty common and most people still get benefits. That's reassuring.

Yeah, employers sometimes threaten that you won't get unemployment to scare you, but they're usually wrong about that.

I'll keep that in mind if I can't get through. The phone system sounds like a nightmare from what I'm reading.

It really is. I spent literally hours trying to get through before finding that service. Made the whole process much less stressful.

Already got fired so too late for that, but good advice for others reading this.

This is really important advice. 'Voluntary resignation' is much harder to get benefits for than being terminated without misconduct.

Yeah I'm getting that impression. Thanks for the encouragement.

np, just remember you paid into this system and deserve to use it when you need it

That's really helpful to hear from someone on the employer side. I definitely wasn't willfully doing anything wrong.

Then you should be fine. Just be honest about what happened and let the process work.

Will do! Planning to file my claim this afternoon.

Good luck! Hope it goes smoothly for you.

Good reminder. I've already started looking but need to make sure I'm tracking everything properly.

Yeah they can ask for your job search log at any time, so keep good records of where you applied and when.

Thanks everyone for all the advice and encouragement. I feel much more confident about applying now.

You've got this! Remember that worst case scenario you get denied and appeal, but sounds like you have a good chance of approval.

Bookmarked it just in case. Hopefully I won't need it but good to have options.

Smart move. Better to have it and not need it than the other way around when dealing with government phone systems.