Can you get Washington ESD unemployment benefits if you get terminated from your job?

That's a relief to hear. I did follow the call-in policy most of the time. Should I mention the specific reasons for my absences when I file my claim?

Absolutely mention them in your initial claim. Be honest and detailed about your circumstances. Washington ESD will likely contact your employer for their side of the story too.

Good point, I'll file today. How long did it take for them to make a decision on your claim?

Mine took about 2 weeks for the initial determination, but some people wait longer if there's an investigation into the termination circumstances.

Oh no, that sounds frustrating. Is there any way to speed up the adjudication process or get updates?

I actually found a service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. I used it last month when my claim was stuck and finally got to talk to someone who could explain what was happening.

Really? I've never heard of that. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?

It's legit - they basically handle the calling and waiting for you so you don't have to sit on hold for hours. Way better than trying to call Washington ESD yourself and getting hung up on.

That's not always true. Many people do get approved for benefits after termination. It really depends on the specific circumstances and whether there was actual misconduct.

Easy for you to say! I fought my case for months and got nowhere. The whole unemployment system is designed to deny as many claims as possible.

Good luck! Make sure you keep documenting everything and save any text messages or emails about your absences.

6 weeks?? How did you survive that long without income?

Had to borrow money from family and use credit cards. It was rough but the retroactive payment helped catch up on bills.

This is super helpful info. Wish I had known this when I got fired last month.

It's never too late to file an appeal if you were denied and think the decision was wrong. You have 30 days from the determination letter.

That's encouraging! How long did the review process take for you?

about 3 weeks total from filing to getting my first payment

That's good to know. I was wondering if my employer contesting meant they had a really strong case against me.

Not necessarily. They're just protecting their interests. Washington ESD will make an independent decision based on all the facts.

Good reminder! How many job contacts do you need per week in Washington?

It's usually 3 job search activities per week, but check your specific requirements on your Washington ESD account. Some people have different requirements based on their situation.

Actually, sometimes calling does help if your case is taking longer than usual. I called after 4 weeks and found out my case was sitting on someone's desk because they needed additional documentation from me.

True, but calling every few days like I did was probably overkill. Once a week is probably more reasonable.

Washington eliminated the waiting week requirement a few years ago, so you should get paid for your first eligible week if approved.

Oh that's great news! I remember having to wait an extra week when I filed years ago.

Good advice! I'm going to write everything down tonight while I can still remember clearly.

Wow, that's scary that they would make false accusations. Glad you got approved in the end though.

Yeah it was stressful but I had a clean employment record and character witnesses. Washington ESD investigators are pretty thorough when there are serious allegations.

I had a phone hearing for my case. It was actually less scary than I thought. Just be honest and stick to the facts. The judge will ask questions to both you and your employer.

Thanks, that makes me feel a bit better about the possibility.

Several people have mentioned this service now. Might be worth trying if I run into problems getting information about my claim.

Will do! I'll post an update once I hear back from Washington ESD about my determination.

That's reassuring. I really did try to follow the attendance policy as best I could given my circumstances.

Exactly - Washington ESD will consider whether you made good faith efforts to comply with company policies. Having legitimate reasons for absences definitely helps your case.

Good to know! I was wondering about that. So I should file weekly claims starting this week even though I haven't heard back about my initial application?

Yes, exactly. Keep filing every week or you might miss out on benefits for those weeks even if you get approved later.