How do you get unemployment if you get fired - Washington ESD eligibility questions

You can definitely get unemployment if you were fired, but it depends on WHY you were fired. Washington ESD will look at whether you were terminated for 'misconduct' or not. Performance issues usually don't count as misconduct unless you were willfully not doing your job. File your claim ASAP - you can do it online at esd.wa.gov.

File your claim today if you can. Washington ESD takes forever to process claims and you don't get paid for the first week anyway (waiting week). The sooner you file, the sooner you might start getting benefits. You'll need to do weekly claims every week too.

I went through something similar last year. My employer said I was fired for 'attitude problems' but Washington ESD still approved my claim. They'll probably contact your employer to get their side of the story, but if it's just performance stuff you should be fine. Just be honest on your application about why you were terminated.

Honestly the hardest part isn't getting approved, it's actually getting through to Washington ESD when you need help. I spent literally hours on hold trying to get someone on the phone. If you run into issues, there's this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that will call for you and get you connected to an actual person. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Saved me so much frustration.

Just want to clarify something - there's no waiting week anymore in Washington. They eliminated it permanently in 2020. So if you get approved, you'll get paid for your first week of unemployment.

Make sure you start looking for work right away and keep track of your job search activities. Washington ESD requires you to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and you have to report them when you file your weekly claims.

ugh the whole system is such a mess. I got fired from my job and it took Washington ESD like 2 months to approve my claim. Then they said I had to pay back some money because of some stupid technicality. Good luck dealing with their incompetent staff.

Don't let the negative stories scare you. Most claims get processed much faster than that, especially if it's straightforward like yours sounds. The key things are: 1) File immediately, 2) Be completely honest about why you were fired, 3) Start your job search right away, 4) File your weekly claims on time every week.

Quick question - do you have to be actively looking for work during adjudication or only after you're approved? I'm in a similar situation and wasn't sure about the timing.

I had a similar experience where my employer claimed I was fired for cause but Washington ESD approved my benefits anyway. The unemployment office sees through a lot of the BS excuses employers give. Just be prepared to wait - even 'fast' claims take at least a week or two to get processed.

One more tip - make sure you have all your employment information ready when you file. You'll need dates of employment, your employer's address, your wages, etc. Having everything organized will make the process smoother.

Does anyone know if you can file online over the weekend or do you have to wait until Monday? I got fired on Friday too and want to file ASAP.

Just remember that getting fired doesn't automatically disqualify you from unemployment. The burden is on your employer to prove you committed misconduct. Performance issues, personality conflicts, or even minor mistakes usually don't rise to that level.

Update on the Claimyr thing - I just remembered they also helped me when I had questions about my weekly claim filing. Sometimes you need to talk to someone to clarify the requirements and it's impossible to get through to Washington ESD directly. Having that option saved me a lot of stress.

Filed my claim 3 weeks ago after getting fired and just got approved yesterday! Don't give up hope - the process works, it just takes time. Now I have to figure out this weekly claim thing but at least I know I'll have some income coming in.

Make sure you appeal if they deny your claim for any reason. A lot of people give up after the initial denial but you have rights. The appeal process can overturn wrongful denials.

This whole thread is making me feel better about my situation. Got fired last month and was too embarrassed to file for unemployment. Sounds like I should have done it right away instead of trying to tough it out.

One thing nobody mentioned - if your claim gets approved, you'll get a debit card in the mail for your benefits. Don't throw it away thinking it's junk mail! I almost did that and would have had to wait weeks for a replacement.

The safety complaint angle might actually help your case. Washington has strong protections for workers who report safety violations. If you can show you were fired in retaliation for raising legitimate safety concerns, that could strengthen your unemployment claim.

Bottom line - file your claim, be honest, keep looking for work, and don't let your employer intimidate you. The unemployment system exists to help people who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. Performance issues usually fall into that category.