How long after i get fired can i apply for unemployment - Washington ESD timing questions
got terminated from my retail job yesterday for attendance issues (called in sick too many times according to my manager). i know i can probably get unemployment but not sure about the timing. should i apply right away or wait? heard mixed things about when to file with Washington ESD after getting fired. also worried they might deny me since it was for attendance. anyone know the rules on this?
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Olivia Clark
You should apply immediately! There's no waiting period after termination in Washington. The sooner you file your initial claim with Washington ESD, the sooner your weekly benefit year starts. Even if they need to do adjudication on your termination, you want that clock ticking.
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Yara Assad
•thanks! i was worried i needed to wait a week or something. going to file today then
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Javier Morales
•yeah definitely don't wait, i made that mistake and lost 2 weeks of potential benefits
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Natasha Petrov
Apply right away but be honest about why you were fired. Washington ESD will investigate anyway so lying will just make it worse. Attendance issues can sometimes still qualify for UI depending on the circumstances - were you sick? did you have documentation?
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Yara Assad
•some of it was legit sick days but i probably called in a few times when i wasn't really sick just needed mental health days. should i mention that?
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Natasha Petrov
•Be truthful but focus on the legitimate absences. Mental health is real health - if you were genuinely struggling that's different than just skipping work
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Connor O'Brien
•this is why the system is broken, people gaming it for 'mental health days' smh
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Amina Diallo
I had a similar situation last year and it took FOREVER to get through to Washington ESD to check on my adjudication status. If you run into issues getting ahold of them, I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to a real person at Washington ESD. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling.
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GamerGirl99
•how much does that cost though? seems like something that should be free
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Amina Diallo
•it's not free but honestly worth it when you're stressed about your claim status and can't get through the normal way
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Hiroshi Nakamura
•never heard of this but might try it if i get stuck in adjudication hell
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Olivia Clark
The key thing is getting your application in within the first week if possible. Your weekly benefit amount is calculated based on wages from a specific base period, and filing late can sometimes affect which quarters they use for calculation.
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Yara Assad
•oh wow didn't know timing affected the calculation too. definitely filing today then
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Isabella Costa
•wait is this true? i filed 3 weeks after getting laid off, did i mess up my benefit amount?
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Olivia Clark
•it depends on when you file vs when your base period quarters end, not always an issue but better to file sooner
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Javier Morales
honestly the hardest part isn't when to apply, its dealing with all the bureaucracy after. make sure you keep filing weekly claims even if your initial claim is in adjudication or you'll lose weeks
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Yara Assad
•good point, i'll make sure to do the weekly filings no matter what
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Malik Jenkins
•yes this!! i stopped filing weekly claims during adjudication and had to appeal to get those weeks back
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Connor O'Brien
Getting fired for attendance and then immediately applying for unemployment benefits... this is exactly what's wrong with the system. People need to take some personal responsibility.
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Yara Assad
•look i paid into the system for years and had legitimate health issues mixed in with some bad choices. i'm not proud of it but i still deserve help while job hunting
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Freya Andersen
•everyone makes mistakes, that's literally what unemployment insurance is for
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Connor O'Brien
•it's supposed to be for people who lose jobs through no fault of their own, not chronic attendance problems
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Hiroshi Nakamura
File immediately but prepare for them to ask your employer for details. When I got fired for performance issues it took 6 weeks for adjudication to finish. During that time I kept filing weekly claims like others said.
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Yara Assad
•6 weeks?? how did you survive financially during that time?
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Hiroshi Nakamura
•had some savings thankfully, but it was stressful not knowing if i'd get approved
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Eduardo Silva
•this is why i always tell people to have emergency funds, you never know with these adjudications
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Natasha Petrov
One more tip - when you file, Washington ESD will ask for specific dates and details about your termination. Write down exactly what happened and what your employer told you before you apply so you don't forget important details.
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Yara Assad
•smart idea, my memory is already getting fuzzy on exactly what my manager said
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Leila Haddad
•yes get it in writing while its fresh! dates matter a lot for these claims
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Isabella Costa
does it matter what industry you worked in? i got fired from food service and wondering if they treat those claims differently
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Olivia Clark
•no the industry doesn't matter, Washington ESD follows the same eligibility rules regardless of where you worked
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Isabella Costa
•good to know, was worried restaurant jobs might be treated differently somehow
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Emma Johnson
Just went through this process myself. Filed the day after termination and my claim was approved 3 weeks later. The adjudication wasn't as scary as I thought it would be.
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Yara Assad
•that's reassuring! what kind of questions did they ask during adjudication?
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Emma Johnson
•mostly just confirming the details i put in my application and asking my employer for their side of the story
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Ravi Patel
whatever you do don't lie about why you got fired. they WILL find out and it'll make everything worse
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Yara Assad
•yeah definitely planning to be honest, just worried about how to explain it in the best light
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Ravi Patel
•just stick to facts and don't try to make excuses, they've heard it all before
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Astrid Bergström
Check if your state has any work search requirements too. In Washington you usually need to do job search activities even while your claim is processing.
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Yara Assad
•oh good point, i should start looking for jobs right away then
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Astrid Bergström
•yes and keep a log of your job search activities, Washington ESD can ask for proof
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PixelPrincess
•the WorkSource website has good tools for tracking job searches if you need help with that
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Omar Farouk
I used Claimyr when I couldn't reach Washington ESD about my disqualification appeal. Took forever calling the regular way but they got me through to someone who could actually help explain my case status.
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Yara Assad
•might need to try that if i get stuck, the phone system sounds like a nightmare
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Chloe Martin
•it really is, spent 4 hours one day just listening to busy signals
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Diego Fernández
good luck with your claim! remember even if they deny you initially you can always appeal. the appeals process gave me a chance to explain my situation better
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Yara Assad
•thanks for the encouragement, feeling a bit more confident about this now
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Diego Fernández
•you got this! just be patient with the process and keep filing those weekly claims
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