Can you claim unemployment if you are fired - Washington ESD eligibility question

Yes, you can definitely apply for unemployment even if you were fired. Washington ESD will investigate whether the firing was for 'misconduct' - if it wasn't misconduct, you should qualify for benefits. Performance issues usually don't count as misconduct unless it was willful or you ignored repeated warnings.

File your claim ASAP! Washington ESD has a waiting period before benefits start, so don't delay. When you file, be honest about being terminated but explain your side. They'll contact your employer to get their version too. Most firings that aren't for serious misconduct (theft, violence, etc.) still qualify for UI benefits.

I was fired from my retail job for being late too many times and still got unemployment. Washington ESD said it wasn't misconduct because I had transportation issues that were beyond my control. As long as you weren't stealing or doing something really bad, you should be fine.

washington esd is pretty fair about this stuff. i got fired for attitude problems (lol) and they approved my claim. just be honest when you file and dont try to hide that you got terminated

THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!! I was wrongfully terminated and it took MONTHS to get my benefits while my employer lied about everything. Washington ESD doesn't care about workers, they just believe whatever employers tell them. Good luck fighting this corrupt system!

Quick tip - when you file your Washington ESD claim online, there's a section where you can explain the circumstances of your separation. Use that space to tell your side of the story about the safety concerns and lack of warnings. Don't just say 'fired for performance.

Be prepared for your employer to contest your claim though. My old boss fought my unemployment even though they fired me for bogus reasons. Washington ESD will send you paperwork if there's a dispute and you'll need to respond quickly.

Thanks everyone for the advice! I'm going to file my claim today. One more question - should I mention that I was looking for other jobs before I got fired? I had started sending out resumes because I wasn't happy there.

also make sure you start doing your job search requirement right away. washington esd makes you apply for jobs every week and keep track of it. dont wait until they tell you to start

One thing that helped me when I was fired was getting character references from coworkers who witnessed the unfair treatment. If you have colleagues who saw what happened with the safety issues, ask them if they'd be willing to provide a statement.

Just to clarify the misconduct standard - Washington ESD looks at whether your actions were willful violations of company policy that showed disregard for your employer's interests. Questioning safety procedures is usually protected activity, not misconduct.

Another tip - when you do your weekly claim filing, there's always a question about whether you were fired or quit from any job that week. Make sure you answer consistently with what you put on your initial application.

If Washington ESD does find misconduct and denies your initial claim, don't give up. You have appeal rights and the standards can be different at the hearing level. I've seen cases where initial denials get overturned on appeal.

Update us on how it goes! I'm curious to hear if Washington ESD processes your claim quickly or if it gets stuck in adjudication like so many others lately.

If you end up needing to call Washington ESD about your claim status and can't get through, I actually used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. It really works - got me connected to an agent in like 10 minutes instead of calling for hours.

bottom line is you should qualify unless you did something really bad. getting fired for performance or raising safety issues isnt misconduct. file asap and dont stress too much about it

Final advice - document everything from this point forward. Keep copies of all your Washington ESD correspondence, note dates of phone calls, save emails, etc. If there are any complications, having good records will help resolve them faster.