Got fired can I get unemployment benefits from Washington ESD?

Yes you can definitely apply! Being fired doesn't automatically disqualify you from unemployment benefits in Washington. The key is whether you were terminated for 'misconduct' or not. Performance issues usually don't count as misconduct unless it was willful or deliberate. You should file your claim as soon as possible since there's a waiting period.

I got fired last year and still got benefits. You just have to be honest about what happened when you file your weekly claim. They'll ask your employer for their side too but don't let that scare you.

The Washington ESD will look at whether your termination was for misconduct connected with work. Simple performance issues, inability to do the job, or personality conflicts usually don't qualify as misconduct. However, if you violated company policy willfully or were insubordinate, that could be different. File your claim online at esd.wa.gov and be completely honest about the circumstances.

Just be prepared that if Washington ESD is backed up you might have trouble getting through to talk to anyone. I've been trying to reach them about my claim for weeks and can't get past the busy signal. There's this service called Claimyr that people have been using to actually get connected to Washington ESD agents - check out claimyr.com if you need to talk to someone urgently. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST WORKERS! They'll find any excuse to deny your claim even when you were wrongfully terminated. I got fired for 'attitude problems' which was really just standing up for myself and they still made me fight for 2 months to get benefits.

Don't listen to the doom and gloom. Most people who are fired for non-misconduct reasons do get benefits. The system isn't perfect but it's not rigged either. Just file your claim, be honest, and if they deny you initially, appeal it. You have rights as a worker.

File online ASAP! The sooner you file the sooner your waiting week starts. Even if they have to do adjudication you want to get the process rolling.

Make sure you save all your documentation - termination letter, any emails, performance reviews, everything. If it goes to adjudication or appeal you'll need proof of what really happened.

When you file your initial claim, you'll need your Social Security number, employment history for the last 18 months, and information about your most recent employer. The online application will walk you through everything step by step. Don't stress too much about getting every detail perfect - you can clarify things later if needed.

same thing happened to my cousin, he got fired for being late too many times but still got unemployment because they said it wasn't misconduct just poor attendance

One more thing about getting through to Washington ESD if you need help - I mentioned Claimyr earlier but seriously, if your claim gets complicated and you can't reach anyone, it's worth trying. I was getting so frustrated calling for hours every day and getting nowhere. Claimyr got me connected in like 10 minutes and the agent was able to explain exactly what was holding up my claim.

The most important thing is to file your weekly claims every week once you submit your initial application, even while your claim is being adjudicated. If you miss weeks you can lose those benefits permanently.

I went through this whole process last year after getting fired. The adjudication took forever but I eventually got approved and got all my back pay. Just be patient and keep filing your weekly claims like everyone said.

Another thing - start looking for work right away and keep a log of your job search activities. Washington requires you to actively look for work to keep getting benefits, and they can ask for your records at any time.

Don't overthink it too much. Millions of people get unemployment benefits after being fired. As long as you weren't stealing or fighting with customers or something really bad, you'll probably be fine.

Remember that even if Washington ESD initially denies your claim, you have the right to appeal that decision. Many people win on appeal even after being denied initially. Don't give up if the first decision doesn't go your way.

I work in HR and see this all the time. Performance-based terminations usually don't disqualify people from unemployment unless there was willful misconduct involved. Sounds like you have a good case, especially with the safety complaint angle.

Just wanted to add - if you do end up needing to talk to Washington ESD and can't get through, I also had success with that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Sometimes you just need to actually speak with an agent to get your questions answered, especially during adjudication.

The whole thing is a pain but it's worth it if you qualify. I got like $450 a week when I was unemployed last year, which was way better than nothing while I looked for a new job.

Thanks everyone for all the advice! I'm going to file my claim online today and start documenting everything like you suggested. Feeling a lot more confident about this now. I'll update if anything weird happens during the process.