Can you get unemployment from being fired - Washington ESD eligibility rules?

Yes, you can potentially get unemployment benefits even if you were fired, but it depends on the reason. Washington ESD will look at whether you were terminated for 'misconduct' or not. Performance issues usually don't count as misconduct unless you were willfully not doing your job.

You should absolutely file your claim as soon as possible. Washington ESD distinguishes between being fired for misconduct vs. being fired for other reasons like poor performance, company restructuring, or inability to do the job. The key is whether your actions were willful and substantial violations of company policy.

I was in a similar situation last year. Got fired for allegedly not meeting sales quotas but it was really because they were eliminating positions. I filed anyway and after going through adjudication, Washington ESD approved my claim. The whole process took about 3 weeks but I got all my back pay.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to file your claim or check on status, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Really saved me hours of trying to call myself.

The important thing is to file immediately even if you're not sure about eligibility. You can't get benefits for weeks you don't claim, so don't wait. Let Washington ESD make the determination about whether your firing disqualifies you.

Make sure you understand the difference between being fired and being laid off when you file your claim. If it was really about cost-cutting or restructuring, that's more like a layoff even if they called it a termination.

ugh the whole misconduct thing is so confusing. I got fired for being late too many times but I had legit transportation issues. Washington ESD still approved my claim because I wasn't being late on purpose to avoid work.

Just file the damn claim already. Worst case they say no and you appeal. Best case you get approved right away. There's literally nothing to lose by filing.

One more thing - when you file, be completely honest about the circumstances of your termination. Don't try to hide anything or spin the story. Washington ESD will investigate anyway and dishonesty can disqualify you even if the original firing wouldn't have.

Been through this twice unfortunately. First time I got denied because I was fired for violating safety rules (totally my fault). Second time I got fired for 'attitude problems' which Washington ESD said wasn't misconduct. Really depends on the specific situation.

File your weekly claims right away even while they're deciding on your eligibility. If you get approved later, you'll get paid for those weeks. If you don't file them, you can't go back and claim them later.

If Washington ESD takes forever to make a decision, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier is really helpful for getting through to ask about your claim status. I used it when my adjudication was taking too long and finally got some answers.

My brother got fired for sleeping on the job and still got unemployment because he had a medical condition causing the fatigue. Context matters a lot with these decisions.

Bottom line - file the claim, be honest, and don't assume you're not eligible just because you were fired. Let Washington ESD make that determination. You might be surprised by the outcome.

Also remember you have to do the job search requirements even while your claim is being adjudicated. Don't slack on that part or you could get disqualified for other reasons.

One last tip - if they do deny your claim, don't give up. The appeal process exists for a reason and lots of people win their appeals even after initial denials.

Good luck OP! The uncertainty is the worst part but at least you're taking action now instead of just worrying about it.

If you need help navigating the Washington ESD website or have trouble with the online filing, there are also WorkSource offices that can help you file in person. Sometimes talking to someone face to face makes the process easier.

Update us when you hear back! These threads are so helpful for people in similar situations.