Can you collect Washington ESD unemployment if you get fired after giving notice?

This happened to my friend last year and she was able to get benefits. Since your employer chose to terminate you instead of letting you work your notice period, Washington ESD should treat it as a termination rather than a voluntary quit.

You should definitely apply. When an employer terminates you after you give notice, it's generally considered involuntary separation. Make sure to document that you were willing to work the full notice period but the employer chose to end your employment early.

I've seen this scenario many times and it usually favors the employee for UI benefits. The key is that you were constructively discharged - you intended to continue working but the employer chose to terminate the relationship early. When you file your claim, be clear about the sequence of events.

I had this exact situation happen to me in 2023. I gave notice, they walked me out that day, and I was approved for benefits. The Washington ESD adjudicator told me that since I was willing and able to work the notice period, the termination was on the employer. Took about 2 weeks to get approved after they reviewed it.

Honestly the whole system is confusing. I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for weeks about my claim and can never get through. If you need to talk to someone about your specific situation, I recently found this service called Claimyr that helps you actually get connected to ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

you should be fine to file. most employers do this to avoid having employees potentially sabotage things during their last two weeks. as long as you document everything you'll be approved

I work in HR and see this situation regularly. From Washington ESD's perspective, what matters is the final action that ended the employment relationship. Since your employer chose to terminate you rather than accept your notice period, it's considered involuntary separation. You should qualify for benefits assuming you meet all other eligibility requirements.

This is actually pretty straightforward - you gave notice in good faith intending to work out your notice period, but your employer made the decision to end your employment immediately. That's their choice and it makes you eligible for unemployment. I've helped several people through similar situations and they all got approved.

Whatever you do, don't lie on your application. Be honest about giving notice but make it clear you were terminated before your intended last day. The worst thing you can do is try to hide the fact that you submitted a resignation.

I'm dealing with Washington ESD right now on a different issue and the phone system is absolutely terrible. Took me forever to get through until someone recommended this Claimyr service that helps you get connected to actual agents. It's been really helpful for getting answers about claim issues.

Make sure you have your resignation letter or email saved, along with any communication from your employer about the immediate termination. Washington ESD might ask for documentation during the adjudication process, especially if your former employer decides to contest the claim.

In my experience employers rarely contest these claims when they chose to terminate someone immediately after receiving notice. They know they made the decision to end the employment early, so they don't have much ground to stand on. But it's still good to have your documentation ready just in case.

Just apply and see what happens. The worst they can do is deny it and then you can appeal if you disagree with their decision. But based on what you've described, I think you have a good case for benefits.

I had almost the exact same thing happen to me in 2024. Gave my notice, they said don't bother coming back, I filed for unemployment and was approved within about 3 weeks. The key was being clear that I intended to work my full notice period but wasn't allowed to by the employer.

Don't overthink it. File your claim, be honest about what happened, and you should be fine. This type of situation comes up all the time and Washington ESD has clear guidance on how to handle it. You were terminated, plain and simple.

If you do run into any issues or need to speak with someone at Washington ESD about your specific situation, that Claimyr service people mentioned earlier really does work. I was stuck in adjudication limbo for weeks and they helped me get through to an agent who resolved my issue the same day. Worth checking out their demo video if the regular phone system gives you trouble.

Bottom line - you were ready, willing, and able to work but your employer chose to terminate you instead. That's textbook involuntary separation in Washington State. File your claim with confidence and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

One more thing - make sure you start your job search activities right away since Washington ESD requires that you be actively looking for work to maintain eligibility. Don't wait until after you're approved to start applying for jobs.

Good luck with your claim! Based on everything you've described and all the similar experiences people have shared here, I think you'll be approved without any major issues. Just be patient with the process and make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even while it's under review.