Can you draw unemployment if you were fired from your job in Washington?

You can still file! Being fired doesn't automatically disqualify you from unemployment benefits in Washington. The key is whether you were fired for 'misconduct' - which has a specific legal definition. Being late occasionally usually isn't considered misconduct unless it was willful and repeated after warnings. Washington ESD will investigate and make a determination.

File immediately! Even if there's a question about misconduct, you want to get your claim started. I was fired for a customer complaint (totally bogus) and still got approved after adjudication. Took about 3 weeks but I got benefits.

Washington ESD has specific criteria for misconduct. Generally includes things like theft, violence, or willful violations of company policy after clear warnings. Attendance issues can be tricky - if you had legitimate reasons for tardiness and it wasn't willful disregard, you might still qualify.

I tried calling Washington ESD for weeks about a similar situation but could never get through. If you need to actually talk to someone about your specific case, I recently discovered this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that calls for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of redialing.

ugh the whole system is so confusing. I got fired for 'attitude problems' which I think is totally subjective. Been waiting 2 months for a decision on misconduct. Meanwhile bills are piling up and I can't get anyone at Washington ESD to give me a straight answer about my case status.

File your claim online as soon as possible. Even if there's a misconduct question, you want to establish your claim date. Washington ESD will investigate and you'll have a chance to provide your side of the story. Don't assume you're disqualified.

I'm dealing with something similar - got let go for 'performance issues' but I think it was really because I requested accommodations for my disability. Planning to file for unemployment but also considering other legal options. The misconduct standard in Washington is pretty high from what I've read.

Whatever you do, don't wait to file thinking you won't qualify. I made that mistake and lost out on 3 weeks of potential benefits. Even if they initially deny you for misconduct, you can appeal and present your case to a judge. The appeal process gives you a real chance to explain your situation.

Same boat here! Got fired for 'insubordination' because I questioned a safety violation. Filed anyway because I knew I was right. Washington ESD sided with me after investigation - said standing up for workplace safety isn't misconduct. Don't let them scare you out of filing.

File immediately and start your job search log right away. Even if there's a misconduct investigation, you still need to meet the work search requirements once benefits start. Don't wait for the decision to start looking for work.

Been through this exact scenario. Car kept breaking down, got written up for tardiness, eventually terminated. Filed for unemployment expecting denial but got approved! The key was showing I was actively trying to fix the transportation issue and it wasn't willful misconduct.

Washington ESD is actually pretty fair about misconduct determinations compared to some other states. They look at whether your actions were willful and substantial. Chronic tardiness due to circumstances beyond your control often doesn't meet that standard.

If the adjudication process drags on and you need answers, I had luck using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Finally got through to an agent who could actually check my case status instead of just the generic 'under review' message online.

Pro tip: When you file, be very specific about any mitigating circumstances. Don't just say 'car trouble' - explain what was wrong, what you did to fix it, how it affected your ability to get to work on time. The more detail the better.

Don't overthink it - just file the claim and let Washington ESD make the determination. You've paid into the system through payroll taxes and deserve consideration. Worst case scenario is they deny it and you appeal. Best case is you get approved and have income while job hunting.

One more thing - if you do get approved, make sure you understand the weekly claim filing requirements. You have to certify every week that you're able and available for work and actively searching. Missing a weekly claim can cause payment delays.

Bottom line: being fired doesn't automatically disqualify you from unemployment in Washington. The misconduct standard is pretty specific and requires willful violation of company policy after clear warnings. File your claim, be honest about what happened, and let them investigate. You might be surprised by the outcome!