How soon can you apply for unemployment after being fired in Washington?

You can apply right away - there's no waiting period to file your initial claim with Washington ESD. The sooner you apply, the better because your benefit year starts from when you file, not when you were terminated. You'll need your last employer's information and your SSN.

Yeah you can file immediately but just be prepared - if they fired you for performance issues Washington ESD might put your claim into adjudication to investigate. That can take weeks to resolve.

File today if possible. Even if you end up in adjudication, getting your claim started is crucial. Make sure you have all your employment history for the past 18 months ready - Washington ESD will need dates, wages, and reasons for leaving each job.

If you're worried about getting through to Washington ESD to check on your claim status, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually reach a live agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Really saved me when my claim got stuck.

just apply asap dont overthink it. the system is so backed up anyway that every day you wait is money lost

One important thing - make sure you file your weekly claims every week even if your initial claim is still pending. Missing those weekly certifications can mess up your benefits later.

Performance issues can be tricky. If they can prove it was willful misconduct you might get denied. But if it was just not being good at the job, that's different. Washington ESD looks at whether you were trying to do your job properly.

ugh the whole system is such a nightmare. took me 3 months to get my benefits after being laid off. good luck dealing with washington esd

Don't let horror stories scare you. Many claims go through smoothly, especially if you're honest and provide complete information upfront. The problems usually happen when people leave things out or aren't clear about their situation.

Make sure you start looking for work right away too. Washington ESD requires job search activities and they can ask for proof. I think it's like 3 job contacts per week or something.

Seriously though, if you run into issues getting through to Washington ESD, don't waste weeks like I did. That Claimyr service I mentioned earlier connects you directly to agents who can actually help with your specific situation. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

Whatever you do, don't quit looking for work while you're on unemployment. They can audit your job search log at any time and if you're not actively searching, they'll cut off your benefits and might even make you pay money back.

I got fired for performance issues too and still got approved for benefits. The key is that they fired you - you didn't quit. As long as you weren't stealing or doing something really bad, you should be okay.

DONT WAIT FILE TODAY!! every day you wait is money you lose because they dont backdate to when you got fired only to when you applied

When they ask about availability for work, make sure you say yes to everything reasonable. Don't limit yourself to just your old job type if you can do other things. Washington ESD wants to see that you're genuinely available for suitable work.

also make sure you have your bank account info ready for direct deposit. way faster than waiting for a check in the mail

The whole firing vs quitting thing is huge for eligibility. Since you were terminated, you're in a much better position than someone who quit. Just be honest about what happened and don't try to make it sound worse or better than it was.

Once you get through the initial application, the hardest part is usually just waiting. Try to stay patient and keep filing those weekly claims. And if you need to reach them for any reason, that Claimyr thing people mentioned actually does work - used it myself when my claim had issues.