Can you get unemployment if you fired - Washington ESD eligibility rules?

You can still apply for unemployment even if you were fired. Washington ESD will review your case during adjudication to determine if the termination was for misconduct or not. Attendance issues might not always count as misconduct depending on the circumstances.

same thing happened to me got fired for being late too many times but still got approved for UI benefits took about 5 weeks though

I had a similar situation last year and couldn't get through to Washington ESD for weeks to check on my claim status. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to an agent who explained the whole process. There's even a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Made the whole experience way less stressful.

The key thing Washington ESD looks for is whether your termination was due to willful misconduct. Missing work due to car trouble generally doesn't qualify as misconduct if you notified your employer and it wasn't a pattern of irresponsible behavior. Make sure to document everything when you file your claim.

WAIT don't get your hopes up too high. I was fired for attendance and Washington ESD denied my claim saying it was misconduct. Had to appeal and it took MONTHS to get resolved. The system is brutal.

file your claim ASAP even if you think you might get denied because there's a waiting period anyway

When you file, be completely honest about the termination reason. Washington ESD will contact your employer anyway, so any inconsistencies will hurt your case. Focus on the legitimate reasons for your absences.

I work in HR and see these cases all the time. Three absences in a month for legitimate reasons like car trouble usually won't qualify as misconduct unless your company has a very strict policy that was clearly communicated.

The adjudication process can be nerve-wracking but try not to stress too much. Most people who get fired for attendance issues eventually get approved if they have legitimate reasons.

Make sure you're doing your job search activities too while waiting for the adjudication decision. Washington ESD requires you to be actively looking for work even during the review process.

been through this exact scenario got fired for missing work due to my kid being sick but still got benefits after explaining the situation

If you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about your adjudication, definitely try Claimyr. I was so frustrated trying to get through on my own but they made it super easy to reach an actual person who could help.

Don't let them bully you into thinking you can't get benefits. I was fired for performance issues and still got approved because they couldn't prove it was willful misconduct.

Make sure your employer doesn't try to contest your claim unfairly. Some companies automatically fight every unemployment claim to keep their rates low.

The waiting period for adjudication is the worst part honestly. Try to find some temporary work if you can while waiting for the decision.

Washington ESD has gotten better about processing these cases since COVID but it still takes time. Be patient and make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even while waiting.

got fired from my last job too and was terrified about getting benefits but it worked out fine in the end Washington ESD was actually pretty fair about it

One more thing - if you do get approved, make sure you understand the job search requirements. You'll need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep detailed records in WorkSourceWA.

Best of luck with your claim! Sounds like you have a good case based on what you've described. Just be honest and thorough in your application.