ESD eligibility question: Can I use wages from jobs I quit if I was fired from my last job?

ESD looks at your base year (the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters) to determine monetary eligibility. They will include wages from ALL employers during that period, including the jobs you quit, when calculating your benefit amount. However, your eligibility is primarily determined by your reason for separation from your MOST RECENT employer. Since you were fired from your most recent job, that's what ESD will focus on for determining if you qualify. Being fired for performance issues often qualifies for benefits, especially if you can show you were trying your best but weren't properly trained. The fact that you quit previous jobs shouldn't affect your eligibility as long as your most recent separation qualifies.

they wont care about the jobs u quit if ur last job fired u. my cousin went thru this exact same thing last yr and he got approved no problem. its all about ur last employer

To clarify some misinformation above: ESD typically looks at your most recent work separation, but they CAN look back to previous separations in certain circumstances. Here's how it actually works: 1. If you worked at your last job for less than 680 hours, ESD may examine your previous job separations. 2. All wages from your base year (first 4 of last 5 completed quarters) DO count toward your monetary eligibility and benefit calculation, regardless of why you left those jobs. 3. Since you were fired for performance reasons rather than misconduct, you'll likely qualify if you can demonstrate you were making a good faith effort to meet expectations. 4. The fact that your most recent employer didn't provide adequate training strengthens your case. I recommend applying and clearly explaining the circumstances of your firing. If asked about the previous jobs, be honest about why you left but focus on the most recent separation.

DONT EVEN MENTION YOU QUIT THE OTHER JOBS!!!! Just talk about getting fired. ESD is looking for ANY reason to deny you!!!!!!

I had a somewhat similar situation in 2025. I quit a job, then worked somewhere else for 3 months before being laid off. ESD initially questioned me about why I quit the first job, but after I explained my separation from the most recent employer, they approved my claim based on the layoff. One thing that really helped me was being able to actually speak with an ESD agent to explain my situation. I waited on hold for HOURS with no luck, then I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to ESD quickly. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Once I spoke with a real person, they were able to note my account with the correct information about my job separations. It made a huge difference compared to just trying to explain everything through their online system.

When I filed last year, I had quit a job then got laid off from another. ESD only cared about the most recent job. But when I had to do the fact-finding interview, they did ask me about both jobs. Just be honest about everything. If your most recent employer contests your unemployment claim and says you were fired for misconduct (not just performance), that's when things get complicated. Performance issues usually qualify for UI but misconduct doesn't. Make sure you have documentation of any performance reviews or lack of training if possible.

I'm actually going through adjudication right now for a similar issue. Had 3 jobs in my base year, quit 1, laid off from another, and fired from the last one. The adjudicator is reviewing all three separations but told me they're primarily concerned with the most recent one. My previous employer is trying to claim misconduct but I'm fighting it. The whole process is taking FOREVER though - been waiting 5 weeks already!

One additional point that hasn't been mentioned: When you file your initial claim, you'll need to report ALL employment in the last 18 months, including jobs you quit. ESD's application will specifically ask for the reason you left each job. For the jobs you quit, be prepared to provide brief explanations. For the first job, "significant reduction in scheduled hours" is a potentially qualifying reason to quit. For the second job, if you can document the verbal abuse, that might also be considered "good cause" to quit. However, as others have said, since your most recent separation was being fired for performance reasons (not misconduct), that will likely be the determining factor for eligibility. Just be honest throughout the process, and if your claim goes to adjudication, make sure to respond to all requests for information promptly.

Everyone's situation is different with ESD. When I applied after being laid off from my third job in a year, they ended up asking about ALL of my previous jobs and why I left each one. The adjudicator told me they're supposed to only look at the most recent job, but sometimes they look back further if they see a pattern they're concerned about. Just something to be aware of.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses! I'm going to go ahead and apply, making sure to be honest about all my job separations but focusing on the details of my most recent firing (no training, trying my best, etc.). I'll gather whatever documentation I can about the performance issues too. I'll update here if I run into any issues or if I get approved. Fingers crossed!