Can you collect unemployment if you are fired from your job in Washington?

That's reassuring to hear. They said it was performance but I was honestly trying my best. The metrics they wanted seemed impossible to meet.

Yeah performance issues are different from misconduct. I got fired for not meeting sales quotas and still got approved for benefits.

Really? That's a relief. What exactly counts as misconduct then? I was never written up or anything, they just said my sales numbers weren't meeting expectations.

Misconduct has to be willful violation of company policy or deliberately poor performance. Not meeting sales goals when you're trying your best is just poor performance, not misconduct. You should be fine.

Good point, I should probably just file and see what happens. How long does the investigation process usually take?

It varies but usually 2-4 weeks if there's an adjudication. They'll contact both you and your employer to get the facts.

How long did it take for them to approve your claim? I'm worried about the waiting period while they investigate.

It took about 3 weeks because they had to do an investigation. They contacted my old employer and me to get both sides of the story. Just be honest about what happened when they call.

I've been trying to call Washington ESD all morning but keep getting busy signals or getting hung up on after waiting forever. Is there a better way to reach them?

The phone system is absolutely brutal right now. I actually discovered this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. It's been a lifesaver for people who need to actually talk to someone.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already stressed about money since I lost my job.

It's worth it when you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD. Way less stressful than calling hundreds of times yourself.

Never heard of that but might be useful. I've been trying to reach them for weeks about my adjudication.

I feel you! The hold times are absolutely insane. Have you tried calling right when they open at 8am? Sometimes that helps.

tried that too, still couldnt get through. this system is broken

I do have some emails where I was asking for help and clarification on the job requirements. Should I submit those?

Absolutely! Those emails show you were engaged and trying to do better. That's the opposite of misconduct.

What if they claim you violated company policy but you disagree with their interpretation? Can you still get benefits?

Yes, you can appeal if they deny your claim. Washington ESD will review all the evidence and make a determination. If you disagree with that, you can request an administrative law judge hearing.

That gives me hope! Did you have to go through any kind of appeal process or did they approve it right away?

They approved it after the initial investigation. My employer tried to fight it but Washington ESD sided with me because I had documented my transportation problems with HR.

I know it's frustrating but the Washington ESD website actually has pretty good info about eligibility if you dig around for it.

Yeah but who has time to read all that legal jargon when you just lost your job and are panicking

I'm filling it out now but some of the questions are confusing. Like it asks about 'separation reason' - should I put 'fired' or 'terminated' or something else?

Be honest and specific. Put 'terminated for performance issues' or whatever they told you. Don't try to sugarcoat it - Washington ESD will get your employer's side anyway.

How did the appeal process work? Was it complicated?

It was actually pretty straightforward. You get a hearing where you can explain your side. Just be honest and have any evidence ready.

Appeals can take a while though, just FYI. Mine took like 6 weeks before I got the hearing scheduled.

Did you get backpay for the weeks you were waiting?

Yeah once I was approved I got all the back weeks I was eligible for. Just had to keep filing my weekly claims even while it was pending.

That matches what I've read too. The bar for misconduct is actually pretty high in Washington state.

That makes me feel better about applying. I definitely wasn't sabotaging anything, just struggling to keep up with the pace they wanted.

Absolutely, I wouldn't lie about it. I'm just worried they'll automatically deny me without looking at the details.

They have to investigate if there's any dispute. They can't just automatically deny without looking at the facts.

Exactly! Too many people don't even try to file because they think getting fired automatically disqualifies them. That's not how it works.

My brother didn't file for months after getting fired because he thought he couldn't get benefits. When he finally applied, he got approved and wished he had done it sooner.

Really? That's interesting. My company seemed pretty disorganized so maybe they won't respond.

Yeah a lot of smaller companies especially just don't have the bandwidth to deal with unemployment claims unless it was like theft or something major.

That happened to me! Got fired but the company never responded to Washington ESD so my claim got approved automatically.

How are you handling the stress of waiting? I'm already worried about paying rent next month.

It's really hard. I'm trying to stay positive and look for new jobs while I wait. At least I know I did nothing wrong so I should get approved eventually.

Good reminder. How many job searches do you need to do per week?

It's usually 3 per week but check your specific requirements when you file. They'll tell you exactly what you need to do.

Yeah someone else mentioned that service earlier. Might be worth looking into if I have trouble getting through.

It was definitely easier than spending hours on hold. The agent was able to tell me exactly what was happening with my case.

Oh I didn't know about the waiting week. So even if approved I won't get anything for the first week?

Right, the first week is unpaid no matter what. It's just how the system works in Washington.

That's encouraging to hear from someone who's been through it multiple times. I'm feeling more confident about applying.

Yeah just be honest and patient with the process. It works out most of the time.

I should probably file this week then since it just happened Friday. I do have the termination paperwork they gave me.

Perfect, that paperwork will be helpful if there's a dispute about the reason for termination.

Thanks, I'll definitely keep that in mind if I run into issues getting through to them.

Is that service legit? Seems too good to be true that they can actually get you through when everyone else can't.

It worked for me. I was skeptical at first too but when you're desperate to talk to someone at Washington ESD you'll try anything.

You're absolutely right. I'm going to file my claim tonight. Thanks everyone for all the advice and encouragement!

Good luck! Hope it works out for you. The waiting is stressful but try to stay positive.

What kind of documentation should I gather? I don't have any performance reviews or anything like that.

Any emails about your performance, texts from your manager, employee handbook sections - anything that shows what happened. But don't worry if you don't have much, your testimony matters too.

That's interesting. Do you think retail employers are more likely to contest claims than other industries?

Not really. Most retail companies have high turnover and expect some performance-related terminations. They usually only fight claims for misconduct or policy violations.

I definitely won't lie. I just want to make sure I explain my side of the story clearly when they investigate.

Good approach. When they call for your statement, just stick to the facts and don't get emotional about it. They want to hear what happened, not how you feel about it.

Thanks for the encouragement! I'm feeling more confident about filing now after reading everyone's experiences.

You got this! The worst they can say is no, but based on what you described, you should be fine. Just file as soon as possible.

How does that service work exactly? Do they just help you get through or do they give advice too?

They basically bypass the busy phone system and connect you directly to an available agent. The agent can then help you with whatever you need - checking claim status, explaining decisions, etc.

You're right, I need to stop worrying and just file. Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice!

Good luck! Come back and let us know how it goes. Your experience might help someone else in the same situation.