Can you claim unemployment if you were fired in Washington ESD?

You can absolutely file 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. If they fired you for not meeting expectations or lack of skills, that's typically not misconduct.

The key thing Washington ESD looks for is whether your firing was due to misconduct connected with work. Things like theft, violence, or repeatedly violating clear company policies would be misconduct. Poor performance, not fitting the role, or personality conflicts usually aren't considered misconduct. File your claim and let them investigate.

I was in a similar situation last year - got fired for 'not meeting sales targets' but it was really because they set unrealistic goals. Filed with Washington ESD anyway and got approved after they investigated. The employer tried to fight it but couldn't prove misconduct. Definitely worth filing your claim.

I had so much trouble getting through to Washington ESD when I had questions about my termination and eligibility. Spent hours on hold every day. Finally found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually got me connected to a real person at Washington ESD within minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Game changer for getting answers about whether your firing qualifies for benefits.

ugh i got fired too and they're saying it was for attendance but i was sick!! so frustrating. washington esd system is so confusing

The unemployment office doesn't automatically side with employers. They do a fair investigation and look at both sides. I've seen plenty of people get benefits even after being fired, especially for performance issues. Just be honest on your application.

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now. Got fired last month for 'poor performance' but I think they just wanted to get rid of me because I complained about unsafe working conditions. Filed for UI benefits and it's been in adjudication for 2 weeks now. The waiting is killing me.

Here's what I learned when I got fired - Washington ESD will contact your former employer and ask for their side of the story. The employer has to provide specific examples of misconduct, not just vague claims about performance. If they can't prove you willfully did something wrong, you'll likely get approved.

Whatever you do, don't wait to file thinking you need to figure out if you qualify first. File immediately and let Washington ESD make the determination. You can't get benefits for weeks you don't file, even if you're later approved.

The Washington ESD misconduct standard is pretty high. They're looking for things like stealing, fighting, showing up drunk, or blatantly refusing to do your job. Performance issues, skills gaps, or personality conflicts usually don't rise to that level. You have a good shot at getting approved.

I tried calling Washington ESD multiple times to ask about misconduct vs performance but could never get through. Finally used that Claimyr service someone mentioned and got connected to an actual adjudicator who explained the difference. Saved me so much stress and confusion about my case.

Even if your employer contests your claim, don't panic. They have to provide documentation proving misconduct, and many employers can't actually do that. I got fired for supposedly violating a policy I was never told about, employer fought my claim, but I still won because they couldn't prove I knew about the rule.

WASHINGTON ESD SIDES WITH WORKERS MORE THAN PEOPLE THINK!! I got fired for missing too many days but it was because my kid was in the hospital. They approved my benefits because the absences were for legitimate reasons, not misconduct. Don't let employers intimidate you into not filing.

Quick question - does it matter how long you worked at the job before getting fired? I only worked at my last place for 6 months before they let me go for performance reasons.

The hardest part is the waiting during adjudication. Filed my claim 3 weeks ago after being fired for 'attitude problems' (whatever that means) and still haven't heard back. The uncertainty is worse than the job loss sometimes.

For anyone still on the fence about filing - I work in HR and see this stuff all the time. Most terminations we do for performance reasons result in approved unemployment claims. Unless someone did something really egregious, Washington ESD usually approves benefits. Don't let fear stop you from filing.

Just wanted to update everyone - I was in a similar situation last month and got approved for benefits after being fired for performance issues. The investigation took about 2 weeks and Washington ESD determined it wasn't misconduct. Keep your heads up, there's hope!

One more thing - when Washington ESD contacts you during the investigation, be completely honest about what happened. Don't try to make yourself look perfect or bash your former employer. Just tell the truth about the circumstances of your termination.

I used Claimyr again this week to check on my adjudication status after being fired for performance issues. Much easier than trying to navigate the Washington ESD phone system. Got connected immediately and found out my case should be resolved within the next few days. Highly recommend for anyone needing quick answers.