Can you collect unemployment when you are fired - Washington ESD eligibility questions

Yes, you can absolutely collect unemployment in Washington when you're fired, but it depends on the reason. Washington ESD looks at whether you were terminated for 'misconduct' or not. Performance issues usually don't count as misconduct unless it was willful or intentional. You should definitely apply - the worst they can say is no, and if you get denied you can always appeal.

I was fired from my retail job 6 months ago and Washington ESD approved my claim. The key is being honest about what happened when you apply. They'll contact your employer to get their side of the story too. If it really was just performance issues and not something like theft or insubordination, you should be fine.

You mentioned safety violations - that could actually work in your favor. Washington has strong whistleblower protections and if you can show you were fired for reporting safety issues, that would definitely not be considered misconduct. Keep any documentation you have about those complaints.

Just wanted to mention - if you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD by phone to check on your claim status, I recently discovered this service called Claimyr that helps you actually reach a live agent. They have this system that calls for you and gets you connected. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.

The Washington ESD website has a whole section about misconduct vs non-misconduct terminations. Basically, if you weren't fired for something intentionally wrong or against company policy, you should qualify. Performance issues, attendance problems, or even conflicts with coworkers usually don't disqualify you.

been fired twice and got unemployment both times lol. as long as you werent stealing or doing drugs or something obvious like that youre probably fine. washington esd is pretty reasonable about these things

One thing to keep in mind - when you apply, Washington ESD will ask for specific details about why you were terminated. Be as detailed as possible about the performance issues they cited and definitely mention the safety reporting. The more context you provide, the better they can evaluate whether it was misconduct.

I hate how stressful this whole process is when you're already dealing with losing your job. The system should be clearer about what qualifies and what doesn't instead of making people guess.

Pro tip: when you file your initial claim, you'll get a determination letter from Washington ESD within a couple weeks. If they deny your claim, you have 30 days to appeal. Don't panic if you get denied initially - appeals are pretty common and often successful, especially in cases like yours where the termination reason is questionable.

Same thing happened to my brother last year - got fired for 'performance' but it was really retaliation for union organizing. Washington ESD approved his claim no problem. The key is that performance issues aren't misconduct unless the employer can prove you were deliberately underperforming.

Just apply as soon as possible! You can't collect benefits for weeks before you apply, so every day you wait is money you're losing. Even if Washington ESD needs to investigate your termination, you should still file your weekly claims while they review everything.

For what it's worth, I work in HR and we rarely contest unemployment claims unless there was actual misconduct like theft or violence. Most companies don't want to deal with the hassle of proving misconduct for performance issues.

UPDATE: I ended up using that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier when I had questions about my adjudication process. Super helpful to actually talk to a Washington ESD representative instead of just wondering what was happening. Would definitely recommend if you run into issues getting through on the phone.

this whole thread is making me feel better about my situation. got fired last week for 'attitude problems' which is BS but sounds like washington esd doesnt automatically deny these claims. gonna apply tomorrow

Quick question - do you have to do job searches right away when you apply or can you wait until your claim is approved? I want to make sure I understand all the requirements.

The whole misconduct definition in Washington is pretty narrow. They look for things like willful violation of company rules, insubordination, illegal activities, etc. Regular performance issues or conflicts with management usually don't qualify as misconduct.

One more thing - make sure you're completely honest in your application. Washington ESD will verify everything with your employer anyway, so any inconsistencies will just hurt your case. Sounds like you have a solid situation though.

Thanks everyone for all the advice! I'm going to apply today and make sure I mention the safety reporting situation. Feel much more confident about this now.

This thread should be pinned - so much good information about unemployment eligibility after being fired. Wish I had found this when I was going through my situation last year!