Can you sign up for Washington ESD unemployment if you get fired from your job?

You can definitely file for unemployment even if you were fired. Washington ESD will investigate whether the termination was for 'misconduct' or not. Attendance issues might not always be considered misconduct, especially if you have medical documentation.

File your claim ASAP even if you're not sure about eligibility. Washington ESD will make the determination during adjudication. The worst they can do is deny it, but you might be surprised - I've seen people get approved when they thought they wouldn't.

I went through this exact same thing last year. Got fired for tardiness but it wasn't willful misconduct - I was having car trouble. Washington ESD approved my claim after about 3 weeks of adjudication. The key is being honest about everything and providing documentation.

honestly the hardest part about filing after getting fired is actually reaching someone at Washington ESD to ask questions. I spent weeks trying to call them about my claim status and could never get through. Super frustrating when you're already stressed about money.

Make sure you understand the difference between being fired FOR CAUSE vs just being let go. If they fired you for stealing or violence, that's definitely misconduct. But attendance issues, especially with medical reasons, usually aren't considered willful misconduct.

The system is so confusing. I got fired 6 months ago and my claim got denied initially but then approved on appeal. Don't give up if you get a denial letter - about 40% of appeals get overturned according to Washington ESD statistics.

YES you can file! I got fired from my warehouse job for 'performance issues' and was approved. Washington ESD looks at whether you were trying to do your job properly. Sounds like you were calling in sick legitimately, not just skipping work.

Just wanted to say I used Claimyr too after seeing it mentioned here. Got through to Washington ESD in about 15 minutes to check on my adjudication status. The site is claimyr.com if anyone needs it. Way better than the regular phone system.

File your weekly claims even during adjudication! This is super important. If you're eventually approved, you'll get backpay for those weeks, but only if you filed the claims.

The attendance thing is tricky but medical absences are usually protected. Did you follow your company's policy for calling in? If you did everything right and have documentation, you should be fine.

Washington ESD will send a questionnaire to both you and your employer asking about the termination. Be completely honest but also emphasize that you were following company policy and had legitimate medical reasons.

I'm dealing with something similar right now. Got fired for missing work but it was because of my kid being sick. Still waiting on my adjudication decision after 4 weeks. This whole process is nerve-wracking.

File immediately and don't assume you'll be denied. The worst case is they say no and you appeal. Best case is they approve it right away. Either way, you need to get the process started.

Make sure you're also looking for new work and keeping a job search log. Washington ESD requires 3 job contacts per week, and you need to be actively seeking work to maintain eligibility.

Don't let your employer intimidate you into not filing. Some employers will try to discourage former employees from applying for unemployment. You have every right to file a claim.

Just to add another success story - I was fired for 'poor performance' but got approved because I was trying my best and following all policies. Washington ESD really does look at the whole situation, not just the fact that you were fired.