Can you collect unemployment after being fired in Washington state?

Yes, you can absolutely collect unemployment benefits after being fired in Washington state. The key is whether you were fired for 'misconduct' or not. Performance issues generally don't qualify as misconduct unless it was willful or repeated violations after warnings. Since you mentioned no formal write-ups, you should definitely apply through the Washington ESD website.

I went through this exact same situation last year. Got fired for 'not meeting expectations' but was able to collect benefits no problem. The adjudication process took about 3 weeks but I eventually got approved retroactively.

The Washington ESD phone lines are absolutely impossible to get through to right now. I've been trying for weeks to get answers about my claim status. If you need to talk to someone quickly, I found this service called Claimyr that actually gets you through to an agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Be prepared for your employer to lie about the termination reasons. They'll probably claim it was misconduct to avoid their unemployment insurance rates going up. Document everything you can remember about your time there.

Wait, so you can get unemployment even if fired?? I thought only people who got laid off could collect benefits. This is news to me.

The whole system is rigged against workers anyway. Even if you qualify, they'll find some reason to deny your claim or make you jump through hoops for months.

Just file online at secure.esd.wa.gov and don't overthink it. The worst they can do is say no, but based on what you described, you should be fine.

Make sure you file ASAP because there's a waiting period before benefits start. Also, you'll need to start doing your job search activities right away even while your claim is processing.

I got fired for being late too many times and still got benefits. As long as it wasn't criminal misconduct or something really serious, you're probably good to go.

The adjudication process can be nerve-wracking but don't panic if your claim goes into review. It's pretty standard when there's a termination involved.

Pro tip: If you can't get through to Washington ESD on the phone, try calling right when they open at 8am or during lunch hours. Sometimes the hold times are shorter then.

Don't let your employer intimidate you into not filing. I've seen too many people get scared off by threats or misinformation from their former boss.

Remember that even if you get denied initially, you can appeal the decision. The appeals process gives you another chance to present your case.

File your weekly claims even while your initial claim is being processed. If you get approved, you'll get paid retroactively for those weeks.

The Washington ESD website has a lot of good information about what qualifies as misconduct vs. just being fired. Worth reading through before you apply.

One thing to keep in mind - if you had any kind of severance package or final paycheck, that might affect when your benefits start. Make sure to report all income accurately.

Bottom line - you have nothing to lose by applying. The worst case scenario is they say no, but based on what you've described, you should qualify for benefits.

Just wanted to add that I used Claimyr when I was having trouble reaching Washington ESD about my overpayment issue. It's worth the cost when you're desperate to talk to someone and can't get through the regular phone lines.

Make sure you keep detailed records of your job search activities from day one. Washington ESD can audit your claim at any time and ask for documentation.

Don't stress too much about the process. Most people who file get approved eventually, especially if they were fired for performance rather than misconduct.

Dylan, I went through almost the exact same situation about 8 months ago - fired for "performance issues" with no prior warnings or write-ups. I was terrified I wouldn't qualify but ended up getting approved after about 3 weeks of adjudication. The key thing Washington ESD looks for is whether it was misconduct (willful wrongdoing) versus just not meeting expectations. From what you described, it sounds like you have a solid case. File as soon as possible and be completely honest about the termination reason - they'll find out anyway when they contact your employer. Also, start your job search activities right away even while waiting for approval, because you'll need to report 3 per week once benefits kick in. Don't let your former employer discourage you from filing - that's between you and ESD to determine, not them. Good luck!