How soon after being fired can you apply for Washington ESD unemployment benefits?
Got terminated yesterday for attendance issues (missed too many days due to childcare problems). My supervisor said it was job abandonment but I never quit, just had trouble getting to work consistently. Can I file for unemployment right away or do I need to wait? I'm worried Washington ESD will deny my claim since I was fired for cause. Has anyone been in a similar situation? I really need these benefits to cover rent while I look for something new.
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Daryl Bright
You can file immediately - there's no waiting period to submit your initial claim. Washington ESD doesn't require you to wait after termination. However, being fired for attendance could complicate your eligibility. You'll need to explain your side during the application process.
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Natalie Khan
•Thank you! Should I mention the childcare issues when I file? I'm worried it might hurt my case.
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Daryl Bright
•Definitely mention it. Childcare problems can be considered circumstances beyond your control, which might help your case during adjudication.
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Sienna Gomez
File ASAP but expect your claim to go into adjudication since you were fired. Washington ESD will investigate whether the termination was for misconduct or not. This process can take weeks unfortunately.
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Natalie Khan
•Weeks?? I can't wait that long for benefits. Is there any way to speed it up?
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Kirsuktow DarkBlade
•I had luck using Claimyr to get through to an actual person at Washington ESD when my claim was stuck. Check out claimyr.com - they help you connect with agents instead of waiting on hold forever. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.
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Natalie Khan
•Never heard of that service but I'll check it out if my claim gets delayed. Thanks for the tip!
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Abigail bergen
I was in almost the exact same situation last year - fired for missing work due to my kid being sick constantly. Filed my claim the day after termination and it took about 6 weeks to get approved. The key is being honest about everything when you file.
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Natalie Khan
•Six weeks?! How did you survive financially during that time?
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Abigail bergen
•It was rough, had to borrow money from family. But once it got approved I received all the back payments at once which helped.
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Ahooker-Equator
•Same here - the retroactive payments made up for the wait somewhat, but those first few weeks were brutal.
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Anderson Prospero
Being fired doesn't automatically disqualify you from UI benefits in Washington. It depends on WHY you were fired. If it was for gross misconduct then yes you'd be denied, but attendance issues due to childcare might not count as misconduct.
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Natalie Khan
•What exactly counts as gross misconduct? I was never violent or stole anything, just couldn't make it to work consistently.
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Anderson Prospero
•Gross misconduct is things like theft, violence, criminal behavior, willful violations of company policy. Attendance issues are usually considered simple misconduct at worst, which has different rules.
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Tyrone Hill
Don't listen to these people - if you got fired you're probably not getting benefits. Companies don't fire people for no reason and Washington ESD always sides with employers anyway.
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Daryl Bright
•That's not accurate at all. Plenty of people who were terminated receive UI benefits. It depends entirely on the circumstances of the firing.
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Tyrone Hill
•Maybe in theory but in practice Washington ESD denies most claims from fired workers. I've seen it happen too many times.
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Anderson Prospero
•I've helped people successfully appeal denials for exactly this type of situation. Don't give up before you even try.
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Toot-n-Mighty
File online at esd.wa.gov as soon as possible. Even if there are issues with your eligibility, you want to get your claim date established early. The sooner you file, the sooner your benefits can potentially start.
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Natalie Khan
•Good point about getting the claim date established. I'll file tonight when I get home from my job search.
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Kirsuktow DarkBlade
Just to add - when you do file make sure you have all your employment information ready including your employer's contact details and exact dates of employment. This will help avoid delays in processing.
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Natalie Khan
•I have my last paystub with most of that info. Should I also include the termination letter they gave me?
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Kirsuktow DarkBlade
•Yes, keep that termination letter handy. You might need it during the adjudication process to support your version of events.
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Lena Kowalski
ugh the whole unemployment system is so broken. took me 3 months to get my benefits when i got laid off last year. hope you have better luck than i did
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Natalie Khan
•Three months?! That's insane. Did you eventually get all the back pay?
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Lena Kowalski
•yeah but by then i was already working again so it was basically just a nice bonus lol
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Sienna Gomez
One thing to watch out for - if Washington ESD determines you were fired for misconduct, you might face a disqualification period before benefits can start. But like others said, childcare issues might not qualify as misconduct.
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Natalie Khan
•How long are disqualification periods usually?
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Sienna Gomez
•It varies but can be several weeks to several months depending on the severity. But again, your situation might not even result in a disqualification.
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DeShawn Washington
My friend used some service called Claimyr when she couldn't get through to Washington ESD during her appeal. Said it was a lifesaver for actually talking to someone instead of getting hung up on constantly.
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Natalie Khan
•Someone else mentioned that too. Might be worth looking into if I can't reach them through normal channels.
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Mei-Ling Chen
•I'm skeptical of paying for something you should be able to do yourself, but I guess if you're desperate...
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DeShawn Washington
•She said it was worth it just for her peace of mind knowing she could actually talk to someone when needed.
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Sofía Rodríguez
Make sure you start your job search immediately and keep detailed records. Washington ESD requires active job searching even during adjudication periods.
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Natalie Khan
•Good reminder - I was so focused on filing I almost forgot about the job search requirements. How many jobs do I need to apply to each week?
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Sofía Rodríguez
•It's typically 3 job search activities per week, but check the specific requirements when you file your claim.
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Aiden O'Connor
Don't get your hopes up too high. Even if you do qualify, the weekly benefit amount probably won't cover all your expenses. Start looking for work immediately regardless.
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Natalie Khan
•You're right, I'm already planning to apply everywhere I can. Just hoping UI can help bridge the gap.
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Zoe Papadopoulos
I went through something similar with attendance issues due to health problems. The key is documenting everything - keep records of your childcare situation, any communication with your employer about it, etc.
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Natalie Khan
•I have some texts with my supervisor about needing to leave early for childcare pickups. Should I save those?
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Zoe Papadopoulos
•Absolutely! Any evidence that shows you communicated about your situation could help your case.
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Jamal Brown
Whatever happens, don't give up if you get initially denied. The appeal process exists for a reason and many people win their appeals even after being denied at first.
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Natalie Khan
•Thanks for the encouragement. I'll definitely appeal if needed - I really was trying to keep my job despite the childcare challenges.
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Kirsuktow DarkBlade
One more tip - if you do end up needing to contact Washington ESD and can't get through, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier has been really helpful for people. Way better than spending hours on hold just to get disconnected.
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Natalie Khan
•I bookmarked their site earlier. Hopefully I won't need it but good to have as backup if the adjudication process gets complicated.
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Fatima Al-Rashid
File immediately but be prepared for a long wait. My sister's claim took forever because she was fired, but she eventually got approved and received all her back benefits.
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Natalie Khan
•That gives me hope at least. The waiting is going to be the hardest part.
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Giovanni Rossi
just file online tonight, answer all the questions honestly, and then start applying for jobs. thats really all you can do at this point
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Natalie Khan
•You're right - no point overthinking it. I'll get my application submitted and focus on finding new work.
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Aaliyah Jackson
The most important thing is filing as soon as possible after termination. Your benefit year starts from when you file, not when you were fired, so any delay just costs you money.
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Natalie Khan
•Definitely filing tonight then. Thanks everyone for all the advice and sharing your experiences!
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KylieRose
Good luck with everything! Remember that even if the process is frustrating, you have rights as a worker and shouldn't be afraid to advocate for yourself.
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Natalie Khan
•Thank you so much. This thread has been incredibly helpful and made me feel less alone in this situation.
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Daryl Bright
•That's what these forums are for! Keep us updated on how your claim goes.
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