Got fired can I get unemployment benefits through Washington ESD?

Yes, you can definitely apply for unemployment benefits even if you were fired! The key thing Washington ESD looks at is whether you were terminated for 'misconduct.' Performance issues usually don't count as misconduct unless it was willful or you were deliberately not doing your job. Since you didn't have written warnings, that actually works in your favor. Go ahead and file your claim online at esd.wa.gov - the worst they can do is say no, but you have a good chance of getting approved.

The misconduct standard in Washington is pretty high - they have to prove you willfully violated company policy or were grossly negligent. Poor performance by itself usually doesn't qualify as misconduct. When you file, make sure to explain that you were trying to meet expectations but the standards may have been unclear or unrealistic. Also mention that you had no prior disciplinary actions. Washington ESD will likely contact your former employer to get their side of the story too.

OMG I'm dealing with the same thing right now!! I got fired 2 weeks ago and filed immediately but my claim is still in 'adjudication pending' status. It's so stressful not knowing if I'll get benefits or not. The waiting is killing me and I can't get through to anyone at Washington ESD to check on it. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to a real person there?

File ASAP because there's a waiting week and you want to get the process started. Even if your claim gets denied initially, you can appeal. I've seen plenty of people win appeals for terminations that weren't really misconduct. Document everything you can remember about your termination - dates, conversations, any emails, etc. This will help if you need to appeal or if Washington ESD asks for more information during adjudication.

been through this before - washington esd is actually pretty fair about terminations that arent straight up misconduct. if you werent stealing or getting in fights or showing up drunk they usually approve it. the adjudication process just takes forever sometimes especially if your employer contests it

Don't let them intimidate you into not filing. I almost didn't apply when I got fired because my boss made it sound like I'd never qualify. Turns out he was wrong and I got benefits for 6 months while I found a new job. The application is pretty straightforward on the Washington ESD website.

Make sure you understand the job search requirements too. Once you start receiving benefits you'll need to be actively looking for work and log your job search activities. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week. Don't wait until you're approved to start looking - get ahead of it now.

I hate to be negative but the whole system is so messed up right now. I've been waiting 5 weeks for my adjudication to complete and I'm about to lose my apartment. Even when you do everything right, Washington ESD moves at a snail's pace. The phone system is a joke - you call hundreds of times and either get hung up on or told to call back later.

Question - if I file and get denied, does that hurt my chances if I apply again later? Like if I get fired from another job?

Pro tip: when you file your initial claim, be very detailed in your explanation of what happened. Don't just put 'performance issues' - explain the specific circumstances, what you did to try to improve, lack of training, unrealistic expectations, etc. The more context you provide, the better Washington ESD can evaluate whether it was truly misconduct.

The monetary determination will come first, then the separation determination. Don't panic if you see the monetary one approved but haven't heard about the separation issue yet - they're processed separately. The separation determination is what decides if you actually qualify based on how your employment ended.

If you do get approved, make sure you file your weekly claims on time every week. You can do them online starting Sunday for the previous week. Miss a week and you might lose benefits for that period even if you were eligible.

Just want to echo what others have said - definitely file. I was fired for 'attitude problems' (aka standing up for myself) and got approved after a brief adjudication period. Washington ESD really does try to be fair about these things. Don't let your former employer scare you away from benefits you've earned.

One more thing - if your claim does go to adjudication (which it might since you were terminated), that doesn't mean you're denied. It just means they need to investigate the circumstances. Try to be patient during this process even though I know it's stressful. Most performance-related terminations get approved eventually.