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Adrian Hughes

How to get Washington ESD unemployment when fired from job

I got fired from my warehouse job last week for being late too many times. My supervisor said it was job abandonment but I was never a no-show, just late because of my car breaking down. Can I still file for unemployment benefits with Washington ESD? I'm worried they'll deny my claim since I was terminated. Has anyone successfully gotten UI benefits after being fired? What should I expect during the adjudication process?

Yes, you can still file for unemployment even if you were fired. Washington ESD will investigate whether you were terminated for misconduct or not. Being late due to car problems might not qualify as willful misconduct, especially if you can document the car issues. File your claim right away and be honest about the circumstances.

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Thanks! Should I mention the car problems in my initial application or wait until they ask?

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Include it in your initial application. The more documentation you have about the car issues, the better your case will be.

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I was fired for attendance issues too and still got approved. The key is proving it wasn't willful misconduct. If you can show you tried to fix the transportation issue or that it was beyond your control, you have a good shot.

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How long did the adjudication process take for you?

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About 3 weeks. They contacted both me and my former employer to get both sides of the story.

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I had trouble reaching Washington ESD when my claim got stuck in adjudication. Calling their main line was impossible - always busy or I'd get disconnected. I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual agent. 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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Is that legitimate? I've never heard of it before.

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Yeah it's real. They basically help you get through the phone system when you need to talk to someone about your claim status or adjudication issues.

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I used them too when I had an overpayment issue. Much easier than spending all day redialing.

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BEING FIRED DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFY YOU!!! I see this misconception all the time. Washington ESD looks at whether you were fired for misconduct connected to your work. Attendance issues can go either way depending on the circumstances.

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What counts as misconduct exactly?

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Willful violations of company policy, theft, violence, deliberate poor performance. Car trouble causing tardiness usually isn't willful misconduct.

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file asap dont wait around. even if they deny you initially you can appeal. i got denied first then won my appeal hearing

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How was the appeal hearing? Was it scary?

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nah just me and my old boss on a phone call with a judge. brought my car repair receipts and text messages about being late. judge sided with me

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Make sure you gather any documentation now - repair receipts, text messages to your supervisor about car trouble, any emails about your attendance. The more evidence you have that the lateness was due to circumstances beyond your control, the stronger your case.

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I have the tow truck receipt and some texts to my supervisor. Should I upload these with my application?

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Yes, upload everything you have. The adjudicator will review all the evidence before making a decision.

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ugh the whole system is rigged against workers. they make you jump through hoops to get benefits you already paid for through taxes. good luck but dont get your hopes up

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While the system can be frustrating, many people do get approved even after being fired. It's worth trying.

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maybe but the adjudication process is a joke. takes forever and they usually side with employers

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I work in HR and deal with unemployment claims regularly. Washington ESD does a thorough investigation for termination cases. They'll likely send a questionnaire to both you and your employer asking for details about the firing. Be completely honest and provide any supporting documentation.

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What kind of questions do they ask on the questionnaire?

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They ask about company policies, warnings given, reasons for termination, whether you had control over the situation that led to firing. Very detailed.

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Update: I filed my claim this morning and got a confirmation number. It says I need to wait for a determination letter. How long does that usually take?

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Usually 2-4 weeks for termination cases since they need to do the investigation. Keep filing your weekly claims even during adjudication.

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Don't forget to do your job search activities. You need to log 3 job search activities per week even while waiting for the determination.

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I was in a similar situation - fired for attendance but it was due to my kid being sick constantly. Got approved because I could prove it was beyond my control. The adjudicator said the key was that I communicated with my employer about the issues.

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I did text my supervisor most times I was going to be late. Hopefully that helps.

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That should definitely help your case. Shows you were trying to be responsible about it.

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Whatever you do, don't lie on your application. They will find out and then you're in real trouble. Fraudulent claims can result in penalties and having to pay everything back.

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I'm definitely being honest about everything. Just worried they'll see 'fired' and automatically deny me.

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They won't. They have to investigate and make a fair determination based on the facts.

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If you run into issues getting through to Washington ESD during your adjudication, I can't recommend Claimyr enough. I was stuck waiting for 6 weeks with no updates and couldn't reach anyone. Used their service and got connected to an agent within hours who explained exactly what was happening with my claim.

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How much does something like that cost?

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I don't want to get into pricing details, but it was worth it to finally get answers about my claim status instead of sitting in limbo.

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been there done that. got fired for 'poor performance' but really it was because my supervisor didnt like me. still got unemployment because i could prove i was doing my job fine. document everything and fight for your benefits

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Did you have to go to a hearing?

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no they approved me after the initial investigation. but i was ready to appeal if needed

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Pro tip: If Washington ESD requests additional information during the adjudication process, respond immediately. Delays in providing requested documentation can slow down your case significantly.

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Good to know. I'll make sure to check my account regularly for any requests.

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Yes, and check both your online account and physical mail. Some communications still come by mail.

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The worst part is waiting. I was fired and it took 6 weeks to get a decision. But I got approved retroactively so I got all the back pay. Just be patient and keep filing your weekly claims.

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6 weeks seems like forever when you need money for bills. How did you manage?

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Had to ask family for help and use credit cards. Not ideal but the back pay helped catch up when it came through.

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Make sure your employer doesn't try to claim you quit. I've seen companies lie and say someone quit when they were actually fired to try to block unemployment claims. If that happens, you'll need to fight it hard.

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How would I know if they're claiming I quit instead of being fired?

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Washington ESD will tell you what reason the employer gave when they send you the questionnaire. If it doesn't match what actually happened, dispute it immediately.

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I had car trouble too that got me fired. Saved all my AAA receipts and got unemployment approved. The adjudicator said it was clear I was trying to get to work despite the car problems. Your situation sounds similar so I think you have a good chance.

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That's encouraging to hear. I really was trying to get to work, just kept having car issues.

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That's exactly what I told them. As long as you can prove you were making an effort, they usually understand.

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dont stress too much about it. worst case they deny you and you appeal. lots of people win their appeals even if they lose the initial determination. the system gives you multiple chances to make your case

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Thanks, that makes me feel better about the whole process.

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yeah just take it one step at a time. file the claim, provide the info they ask for, and see what happens

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Final advice: Start your job search immediately even while waiting for your determination. Washington ESD requires job search activities from day one, and it shows good faith effort on your part. Log everything in WorkSourceWA.

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I already started applying to jobs yesterday. Should I create the WorkSourceWA account now?

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Yes, create it right away. You'll need it to track your required job search activities for your weekly claims.

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WorkSourceWA is required for all unemployment claimants now. Better to set it up early than scramble later.

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Update us when you get your determination! I'm curious how it turns out. Your case sounds pretty reasonable to me based on what you've described.

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I definitely will. Thanks everyone for all the advice and encouragement. This forum has been really helpful.

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Good luck! Hope it works out for you.

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