How can I get Washington ESD unemployment if fired from my job?

Thanks! Should I mention the safety complaint I made or just focus on the performance stuff they said?

Definitely mention the safety complaint - that could be considered retaliation which would strengthen your case. Keep any documentation you have about those complaints.

How long did the adjudication take for your claim? I'm worried about the wait time.

Mine took about 3 weeks which was pretty typical from what I've heard. You can check your status online but calling to check is nearly impossible with their phone system.

Actually there's a service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents by phone. I used it last month when my claim was stuck in adjudication and it saved me so much frustration. Check out claimyr.com - they even have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

This is really helpful. I do have some text messages about the safety issues I sent to my coworker. Would those count as documentation?

Yes absolutely! Screenshots of those texts could be valuable evidence. Also try to remember exact dates and times of when you made the safety complaints.

That's frustrating but don't give up on the appeal process. Medical documentation usually helps your case, especially if your employer knew about your health issues.

Yeah I submitted all my medical records but who knows if anyone even looked at them. The whole process is a joke.

Good to know, thanks. I'll file this weekend.

Oh I didn't know about the weekly claims during review. Thanks for the heads up!

Wait I thought you couldn't file weekly claims until your initial claim was approved? Now I'm confused.

No you can and should file weekly claims even during adjudication. The system will hold payment until your claim is approved, but you need to establish those weeks to get paid for them later.

That's exactly what I was hoping to hear. The timing of my firing right after I complained seems pretty suspicious.

Document everything with dates and times. If you have any witnesses to your safety complaints or the conditions you reported, get their contact info too.

4 weeks is a long time to wait but at least you got approved. Did you have to do a phone interview?

Yes, I had a fact-finding interview where they asked about the circumstances of my termination. Be prepared to explain your side clearly and calmly.

The phone interviews can be hard to schedule because Washington ESD's phones are always busy. That Claimyr service I mentioned earlier also helps with getting through for interviews and hearings if needed.

That's scary that they might deny first. How do you know if you should appeal vs just accepting the denial?

If you believe you were wrongfully denied, always appeal. You have nothing to lose and the appeal gives you a proper hearing to present your case.

Good point. I guess I was overthinking whether I should even apply.

Exactly! Don't self-reject. Let them make the decision based on the facts.

You can and should apply immediately. There's no waiting period for filing the initial claim, only potential waiting weeks after approval depending on your situation.

Thanks, I was wondering about that too. I'll definitely file this weekend then.

How many job applications do I need to do per week? I want to make sure I meet the requirements.

I believe it's 3 job search activities per week minimum, but check the Washington ESD website for current requirements. Activities can include applications, networking, job fairs, etc.

That's really good to know. How do you request those documents?

You can request them through the appeals process or by calling Washington ESD directly. Having those documents helps you prepare your response if you need to appeal.

Good luck getting through on the phone though. I've been trying to reach them for 2 weeks about my adjudication status with no luck.

That's exactly why I started using Claimyr - got tired of spending hours trying to get through to an actual person. Worth every penny for the time and frustration it saves.

Great job filing quickly! Remember to keep filing your weekly claims even during adjudication. Good luck with the process.

Hope it goes smoothly for you. The waiting is the worst part but sounds like you have a solid case.

Thanks again everyone. This forum has been super helpful. I'll update when I hear back from Washington ESD.