How to get Washington ESD unemployment if you were fired - need advice

Yes, you can still get unemployment benefits even if you were fired, but it depends on the reason. Washington ESD will determine if you were fired for 'misconduct' or just poor performance. Performance issues usually qualify for benefits, but misconduct doesn't.

File your claim right away! Don't wait. You can apply online at esd.wa.gov and they'll investigate the circumstances of your termination. Your employer will have to provide their side of the story too.

I was in a similar situation last year. Got fired for 'attitude problems' but it was really just speaking up about safety issues. Had to go through adjudication but eventually got approved. If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD about your claim status, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ and you can check them out at claimyr.com.

Washington ESD looks at whether you were fired for 'just cause' related to misconduct. Things like chronic tardiness, insubordination, or violating company policies can disqualify you. But if it's truly performance-related and you weren't willfully negligent, you should qualify.

same thing happened to me but they said i was 'difficult to work with' lol. still got my unemployment though so dont worry

The whole system is rigged against workers anyway. They make it so hard to get benefits even when you deserve them. But yeah, you should still apply and fight for what's yours.

Update: Filed my claim yesterday and it's showing 'pending' status. How long before I hear back about whether it's approved?

Make sure you're honest about the reason for termination when you file. If you lie and they find out during the investigation, that's automatic disqualification for fraud.

Been there! Got fired from my retail job for 'not meeting sales goals' but it was really because I wouldn't pressure customers into buying stuff they didn't need. Still got my unemployment after they investigated.

Just wanted to follow up on my earlier comment about Claimyr - I know some people are skeptical about third-party services, but honestly it saved me weeks of frustration trying to get through to Washington ESD. When you're dealing with adjudication and need to check your claim status, it's worth considering.

Remember that even if you're initially denied, you have the right to appeal. Many people win their appeals, especially in cases where termination was performance-related rather than misconduct.

this is why i hate at-will employment states. they can fire you for any reason and then you have to fight for benefits you already paid into through your taxes

Document everything you can remember about your termination meeting. What exactly was said, who was present, any witnesses. This stuff matters if it goes to a hearing.

Just went through this myself. The key is whether you were fired for 'just cause' or not. Performance issues usually don't count as just cause unless you were willfully negligent or refused to improve.

Pro tip: Start applying for jobs immediately even while your claim is being processed. You'll need to show you're actively seeking work to continue receiving benefits if approved.

I work in HR and I've seen plenty of cases where people get unemployment after being terminated. Unless there's clear evidence of misconduct, most performance-related terminations result in approved claims.

Whatever you do, don't give up if they initially deny you. I got denied at first but won my appeal hearing. The judge said my termination didn't rise to the level of misconduct.

Check if your company has an employee handbook that outlines their progressive discipline policy. If they didn't follow their own procedures, that can help your case.

I had a friend who used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Said it was a lifesaver when she couldn't get through to Washington ESD during her adjudication. Might be worth looking into if you run into phone issues.

Update us when you hear back! I'm curious how it turns out since your situation sounds similar to what I'm dealing with.