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

Yes, you can potentially collect unemployment even if you were fired, but it depends on the reason. Washington ESD will approve your claim if you were terminated for reasons other than 'misconduct.' Attendance issues can be tricky - if you had legitimate reasons and followed company policy for calling in, you might still qualify. You should definitely apply and let Washington ESD make the determination.

I was in a similar situation last year - got fired for what they called 'performance issues' but I knew it was really because I complained about safety violations. Applied for unemployment anyway and got approved after an adjudication process. The key is to be honest about what happened when you file your claim.

Just went through this nightmare myself. Got fired in December and Washington ESD is taking FOREVER to make a decision. I've been trying to reach them for weeks but can never get through on the phone. The online system just says 'adjudication in progress' with no timeline. It's beyond frustrating when you need answers.

The Washington ESD will look at whether your termination was for misconduct or not. Things like theft, violence, or willful violations of company policy count as misconduct. But if you were fired for inability to do the job, lack of skills, or even isolated incidents of poor judgment, you can still qualify for benefits.

ugh this whole system is such a mess. they make it so hard to get benefits even when you deserve them. i got fired from my last job for supposedly being late too much but half the time it was because of the bus schedule. still fighting with them about it

File your claim ASAP regardless of whether you think you'll qualify. The worst they can do is deny it, and you can always appeal if that happens. I've seen people get approved for unemployment after being fired for all sorts of reasons. Better to try and find out than assume you won't qualify.

Been there with the attendance thing. Got canned from my retail job for missing too many shifts but some were due to my kid being sick. Washington ESD approved my claim because I had legitimate reasons and followed the call-in procedure. Document everything about why you missed work if you haven't already.

One thing to keep in mind is that your former employer will have a chance to contest your claim. They'll tell Washington ESD their side of the story about why you were fired. But that doesn't mean you won't get benefits - just that there might be an investigation period where they review both sides.

The key thing is being honest on your application. Don't try to hide that you were fired or lie about the circumstances. Washington ESD will find out anyway when they contact your employer, and being dishonest will definitely hurt your chances.

If you do get into adjudication and need to speak with someone at Washington ESD, I had luck with that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Was stuck for almost a month trying to get through on my own before I used them. Worth considering if you hit that wall.

Also remember that even if you're approved, there's usually a one-week waiting period before you start receiving benefits. And you'll need to file weekly claims and do job search activities to keep getting payments. The requirements are all on the Washington ESD website.

Whatever you do, don't wait around wondering if you qualify. File the claim now and let Washington ESD make the determination. Every week you wait is a week of potential benefits you're missing out on, even if you eventually get approved.

Just want to add that if you do get denied initially, don't give up. The appeal process exists for a reason and plenty of people win on appeal even after being denied the first time. I've seen it happen multiple times.

One more tip - when you're filling out the application, be specific about the circumstances of your termination. Don't just write 'fired for attendance' but explain the legitimate reasons you missed work and that you followed company policy for calling in.

From what I understand, Washington state is generally more worker-friendly than some other states when it comes to unemployment benefits. You've got a decent chance of getting approved if your termination wasn't for serious misconduct.

I actually just went through this exact situation a few months ago. Got fired for attendance issues but had legitimate reasons for most of my absences. Washington ESD approved my claim after about 2 weeks of adjudication. The key was having documentation for my absences and showing I followed company policy.

If you end up needing to contact Washington ESD during the process and can't get through on the phone, that Claimyr thing really does work. I was skeptical but it saved me weeks of trying to reach them myself. Sometimes you just need to talk to a human to get things resolved.

Bottom line - being fired doesn't automatically disqualify you from unemployment benefits in Washington. File your claim, be honest about what happened, and let the system work. You might be pleasantly surprised by the outcome.

Good luck with your claim! Remember to file your weekly claims on time if you get approved, and keep track of your job search activities. The system can be frustrating but it's there to help people in situations like yours.