Can you collect Washington ESD unemployment if you are terminated from your job?

Yes, you can definitely apply for unemployment benefits even if you were terminated. Washington ESD will investigate the circumstances of your termination during the adjudication process. If you were fired for reasons beyond your control (like performance issues that weren't willful misconduct), you should qualify for benefits. The key is whether it was misconduct vs. inability to do the job.

I went through this exact situation last year. Got fired for 'attendance issues' but it was really because I had to take care of my sick mom. Washington ESD approved my claim after about 3 weeks of adjudication. The key thing is being completely honest on your application about why you were terminated.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD to ask questions about your claim, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Really saved me hours of trying to call and getting busy signals.

DONT GET YOUR HOPES UP the system is rigged against workers. I got fired for bogus reasons too and Washington ESD sided with my employer even though they had no real evidence of misconduct. Took me 8 months to get benefits and by then I was already working again. The whole system is a joke!!!

The distinction between misconduct and poor performance is crucial here. Misconduct is willful behavior that violates company policy - like stealing, fighting, or repeatedly violating rules after warnings. Poor performance, inability to meet standards, or personality conflicts usually don't qualify as misconduct under Washington ESD guidelines.

File immediately! Even if your claim gets denied initially, you can appeal. I know someone who got denied at first but won on appeal because the employer couldn't prove actual misconduct. Don't let them scare you out of applying.

Wait are we talking about regular unemployment or is there different types? I'm confused about all the different programs.

I used to work in HR and saw lots of these cases. If you weren't given progressive discipline (verbal warning, written warning, final warning, then termination), it's usually not considered misconduct. Companies that fire people without following their own disciplinary procedures have a hard time winning UI protests.

Make sure you keep track of all your job search activities from day one. Washington ESD requires you to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and maintain a log. Even during adjudication you need to keep filing your weekly claims and doing the job search.

I tried calling Washington ESD for weeks about my termination case and could never get through. Finally used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and got connected to an agent the same day. Was able to get clarification on my adjudication status and what documents they needed from me.

Just want to add that even if your employer contests your claim (which they probably will to avoid higher UI taxes), don't panic. Washington ESD looks at the facts, not just what the employer says. I've seen plenty of people win even when employers fought it.

been there done that. Got fired from retail job for 'attitude problems' which was really just me standing up to an abusive manager. Took 4 weeks for adjudication but I got approved. The investigator could tell the manager was lying when they interviewed both of us.

Quick question - do you have to wait a week before you can start collecting benefits or does it start right away after approval?

The most important thing is to file ASAP. Benefits are backdated to when you file, not when you lost your job. So every day you wait is potentially money you're losing.

Another thing to keep in mind is that if you get approved, your benefit amount will be based on your earnings from the last 4 completed quarters. So if you were making decent money at that warehouse job, your weekly benefit should be reasonable.

One more tip - when you file your claim, be very specific about why you were terminated. Don't just say 'performance issues.' Explain exactly what they told you and why you believe it wasn't misconduct. The more detail you provide upfront, the better.

I had a similar situation and also used Claimyr when I needed to talk to Washington ESD about my adjudication case. Really helped me understand what was happening with my claim instead of just waiting and wondering. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to get clarity.

Just remember that getting terminated doesn't automatically disqualify you from benefits. The burden is on the employer to prove misconduct, not on you to prove you didn't do anything wrong. Stay positive and file that claim!