Does your previous employer have to approve unemployment in Washington ESD?

That's a relief! So even if my supervisor was mad about me leaving during their busy season, they can't stop my benefits?

Right, being laid off due to budget cuts is exactly what unemployment is for. They'd have to prove you were fired for serious misconduct to block your claim.

Oh no, what happened? Did you eventually get your benefits?

yeah i had to do a phone interview with an adjudicator and explain what really happened. once i told my side they approved it

What counts as misconduct? I was never written up or anything, just caught in a layoff.

Misconduct has to be willful and substantial - things like theft, violence, repeated tardiness after warnings, or deliberately violating company policy. Budget cuts and layoffs definitely don't qualify.

This is good to know. I was worried my old boss would try to screw me over just because she could.

Really? How does that work exactly? I've been trying to call Washington ESD all week.

They basically handle the calling for you and get you connected to an actual person. Way better than sitting on hold for hours or getting disconnected.

Sounds too good to be true. How much do they charge?

I mean, there are bad employers out there but most of the time if you were legitimately laid off it goes through fine.

Tell that to everyone who's had to wait months for adjudication because their employer lied about the reason they were let go.

That makes sense. I was really worried for nothing I guess.

Yeah don't stress about it. File your weekly claims on time and you should be fine.

Being fired doesn't automatically disqualify you. It depends on WHY you were fired. If it was for misconduct, you can be disqualified. If it was due to poor performance or not being a good fit, you're usually still eligible.

Oh I see. So it's not just about whether you were fired but the reason behind it?

Exactly. Washington ESD looks at the specific circumstances, not just the fact that you were terminated.

Seems like a lot of people here have used that service. I might have to check it out if my employer tries anything.

It's worth it just for the peace of mind. Trying to navigate the phone system on your own is a nightmare.

What kind of evidence would they look at?

Things like employment records, any documentation about your termination, witness statements, etc. They might also conduct interviews with you and your employer.

This is why it's important to keep records of everything at work, just in case.

If your employer provides false information, you have the right to appeal and present evidence to support your case. Washington ESD investigates these disputes thoroughly.

But what if I don't have any evidence? It's just my word against theirs.

Your testimony is evidence. Plus, if you were truly laid off due to budget cuts, there might be other employees who can confirm that, or company records that support your version.

How did you prove he was lying?

I had text messages from other coworkers who were laid off the same day, plus my final paycheck had 'layoff' written on it. Made it pretty clear what really happened.

I already filed but good advice for anyone else reading this.

Yes! And make sure to file your weekly claims even if your main claim is still being processed.

Okay I'm definitely going to look into this Claimyr thing if I run into any issues.

Smart move. Wish I had known about it earlier in the process.

Thank you, this really helps put my mind at ease. I was so stressed about this.

Glad you got the info you needed! The unemployment system can be confusing but knowing your rights helps a lot.