Can you receive Washington ESD unemployment if you were fired for cause?

That's somewhat reassuring. How long does the adjudication process usually take? I haven't heard anything back yet and it's been about 10 days since I filed.

Adjudication can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks depending on how complex your case is. They'll likely contact both you and your former employer to get statements about what happened.

That gives me hope! Did you have to provide any documentation about your childcare situation?

I provided some emails I had sent to my supervisor explaining the situation, plus daycare records showing the issues I was having. Any documentation helps your case.

Never heard of that before but I'll definitely look into it. I've been trying to call for days and either get busy signals or get disconnected after waiting forever.

Wait, is that legit? Sounds too good to be true that they can actually get you through to Washington ESD that quickly.

I was skeptical too but it actually worked for me. They basically handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent picks up. Saved me so much frustration.

Unfortunately that's kind of true. A lot depends on who reviews your case and how well you can document your side of the story.

That's what I'm worried about. I don't have tons of documentation about my medical issues since I was trying to handle it privately at first.

Should I try to get medical records now to support my case, or is it too late?

It's not too late. If you have any medical appointments or treatments from that time period, getting records could help. Even if you don't have formal documentation, be prepared to explain what was going on.

5 weeks? Man that's a long time to wait when you need the money now.

yeah it sucked but he got backpay for all those weeks once it was approved

That's interesting. I definitely never quit or intended to quit, I was just dealing with health issues and trying to get back to work.

Exactly right. Job abandonment usually requires clear evidence that you intended to quit, like not showing up for several days without any communication.

I did try to communicate with my supervisor about the health issues, but I was probably too vague because I was embarrassed about the details.

That's understandable, but now you'll want to be more specific with Washington ESD about what was going on medically, even if it's personal.

Yes, I've been doing that. It's weird filing when I don't know if I'll get approved, but I figured it was better to be safe.

Absolutely the right approach. If you get approved, you'll receive backpay for all those weeks you filed.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already tight on money.

I think the value is definitely worth it when you consider how much time you save and the reduced stress of actually getting through to speak with someone. Check out their site for details.

If you were fired in retaliation for reporting safety issues, that could actually strengthen your unemployment case. Washington ESD looks at whether the termination was for legitimate misconduct.

That's good to know. I have emails about the safety concerns I raised, so maybe that will help.

Will do! Hopefully I hear something soon. This waiting is killing me financially and emotionally.

Hang in there. The waiting is the worst part, but most people I know who had legitimate reasons for their work issues eventually got approved.

How long do you have to file an appeal if you get denied?

You have 30 days from the date of the denial notice to file an appeal. Don't wait if you get bad news - start the appeal process right away.

That makes sense. I was never dishonest or did anything malicious, just had some health problems that affected my attendance.

Exactly, and the fact that you tried to handle it privately at first shows you weren't trying to abuse the system or anything.

Yeah, I've used it a few times now and it's been consistent. Way better than spending half my day redialing busy numbers.

I was skeptical but tried it last week and actually got through to an agent who helped resolve my identity verification issue. Pretty impressed honestly.

I do have some pharmacy records and a couple of urgent care visits from around that time. Should I gather those?

Absolutely. Anything that shows you were dealing with legitimate health issues during the time your attendance was suffering will support your case.

I'm worried they might have painted me in a really bad light since things were tense when I left.

That's exactly why the adjudication process exists - to get your side of the story and make a fair determination based on all the facts.

Thanks for all the support everyone. This thread has been really helpful and given me hope that things might work out.

Keep us posted on how it goes! Rooting for you.

That's good advice. I should probably write down a timeline of what happened before I potentially get that call.

Exactly. Having a clear timeline with dates and details will make you sound more credible and prepared during any interview.