Can you get unemployment if fired during 90-day probation period with no reason given?

Yes, you can absolutely apply for unemployment even if you were terminated during your probation period. The key factor is whether you were fired for misconduct, not how long you worked there. 'Not working out' is typically considered a discharge for reasons that aren't misconduct, which means you'd likely qualify. Make sure to apply ASAP and honestly report that you were let go - not for misconduct, but because the employer felt it wasn't a good fit. Your previous job will also count toward your base year earnings as long as it was within the last 5 quarters.

Thank you SO much for this info! I was really worried that the probation period meant I automatically wouldn't qualify. I'll apply today. Do you know if I should expect them to fight my claim? The HR person seemed nice about it but I've heard companies often contest unemployment.

i was fired during probation from a warehouse job and got benefits no problem. just be honest when u file. they might put u in adjudication for a bit to check with ur employer but if u didnt do anything wrong youll be fine

That's really reassuring to hear! How long did your adjudication process take? I'm getting nervous about bills piling up while waiting.

THEY ALWAYS DENY FIRST CLAIM!!! Doesn't matter if probation or not, ESD automatically denies and makes you appeal. It's how they save money by hoping people give up!!! Make sure to file appeal within 30 days if denied!!!!

This isn't accurate. ESD doesn't automatically deny claims as a policy. Many first-time claims are approved without issue. They review each case based on the information provided by both the claimant and employer. Denials happen when there's conflicting information or potential disqualifying circumstances that need further review. While appeals are important if you are denied, it's not accurate to say everyone is automatically denied.

I remember when I was fired during my probationary period at a retail job last year. The manager just said I wasn't a good culture fit but I know it was because I couldn't work Sundays for religious reasons. Anyway, I applied for unemployment and it took FOREVER to get through adjudication - like 7 weeks! By the time I got approved I was almost out of savings. My advice is to apply right away but also start looking for a new job immediately because the waiting period can be brutal.

7 weeks?! That's terrifying. I've got maybe 3 weeks of savings at best. Did you try calling ESD to speed things up? I heard they're impossible to reach.

I had a similar situation in January 2025 and successfully received benefits. The key factors in my approval were:\n\n1. No documented performance issues or warnings before termination\n2. No misconduct (this is what ESD primarily looks at)\n3. Having sufficient hours in my base year from previous employment\n\nMake sure to clearly state in your application that you were terminated without specific cause during probation. If your claim goes to adjudication (mine did for about 3 weeks), be prepared to explain your side. The adjudicator will also contact your former employer for their version of events.

Thank you for sharing your experience! That's really helpful. I'll definitely emphasize that there were no warnings or performance issues documented. Did you have to provide any additional documentation during adjudication?

I was struggling to reach ESD about my adjudication for a similar situation last month - it was impossible to get through on their regular number. After trying for days, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an ESD agent in about 25 minutes when I'd been trying for literally days on my own. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Made a huge difference in resolving my claim that was stuck in adjudication over a probation period termination.

does that really work? ive been trying to get thru to esd for 2 weeks about my identity verification issue

Yes, it definitely worked for me. I was skeptical too but was desperate after being on hold for hours and getting disconnected repeatedly. It's not free but was worth it for me to actually talk to a real person at ESD.

My daughter went through this exact thing with her medical assistant job in 2024. Got fired 60 days in during probation for

Oh wow, I didn't even think about them appealing if I get approved. That sounds incredibly stressful. Did your daughter have to hire an attorney for the hearing?

One important thing to understand is that in Washington state, there's a difference between being fired for poor performance and being fired for misconduct. Not being a good fit or not meeting performance expectations during probation is generally considered poor performance, not misconduct. Only misconduct disqualifies you from benefits.\n\nSome examples of misconduct would be things like:\n- Violating company policies you were aware of\n- Excessive unexcused absences\n- Dishonesty or theft\n- Insubordination\n\nSimply not being good enough at the job or not meshing with the team isn't misconduct. Make this clear in your application.

That's really helpful to understand the distinction. Since they never documented any performance issues or gave me warnings, and the termination letter just says 'not working out during probation,' it sounds like I should be eligible. I'll make sure to emphasize that there was no misconduct involved when I apply.

After you apply, make sure you start doing your job search activities right away! You need 3 per week and they can deny your weekly claims if you don't do them. I learned that the hard way and missed out on two weeks of payments 😩

Thanks for the reminder! I would have probably waited until I was approved to start job searching. Do you know if I need to do the WorkSource orientation right away too, or does that come later?

update us when u hear back! i hate how companies can just fire people for no reason during probation and then we have to stress about bills. good luck!

Thank you! I'll definitely update when I know more. You're right - at-will employment feels so one-sided sometimes.