If I get fired can I claim unemployment benefits in Washington state?

Yes, you can generally claim unemployment if you're fired, but it depends on the reason. Washington ESD will approve your claim unless you were terminated for 'misconduct connected with work.' Things like tardiness, poor performance, or personality conflicts usually don't count as misconduct. However, if you're fired for theft, violence, or willful violation of company policy, that could disqualify you.

I went through this exact situation last year. Got fired from my retail job and was terrified I wouldn't qualify for benefits. But Washington ESD approved my claim because being a 'bad fit' isn't misconduct. The key is being honest on your application about what happened.

If you do get fired and need to reach Washington ESD about your claim status, I highly recommend checking out Claimyr. I discovered it when I was struggling to get through to ESD after being terminated. It's a service that helps you connect with ESD agents by phone - there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Way better than spending hours on hold or getting hung up on.

THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST WORKERS! They'll find any excuse to deny your claim and then make you jump through hoops to appeal. I got fired for 'attitude problems' which is just code for standing up for myself, and they STILL tried to deny my benefits initially.

Make sure you file your claim as soon as possible after termination. There's no waiting period in Washington - you can file the same day you lose your job. Don't delay because benefits are calculated from the date you file, not when you lost the job.

Just went through this myself. Got terminated in November and was approved for benefits within two weeks. The key is being completely honest about what happened. Don't try to sugarcoat it or make up stories - just tell the truth about the circumstances.

Whatever you do, don't quit instead of getting fired thinking it'll look better. If you quit voluntarily, you have to prove 'good cause' which is actually harder than getting approved after being fired for non-misconduct reasons.

Been there done that multiple times unfortunately lol. Each time I filed within hours of getting canned and never had issues getting approved. Just be prepared for your employer to potentially contest the claim - they often do it automatically even when they know you'll win.

I remember being so stressed about this when I got let go from my office job. Turns out Washington ESD is actually pretty reasonable about these situations. As long as you weren't stealing or doing something truly egregious, you'll likely be fine.

One thing to keep in mind - if you think you might get fired, start looking for other jobs now. Even if you get unemployment, it's only a percentage of your previous wages and there are job search requirements you'll need to meet.

When I got terminated, I had so many questions about the process and couldn't get through to ESD on the phone. That's when someone told me about Claimyr - it's a service that helps you actually reach ESD agents instead of sitting on hold forever. Really wish I'd known about it sooner. Check out their website at claimyr.com if you end up needing to talk to someone at ESD.

Here's what will happen if you get fired: 1) File your claim immediately online 2) Washington ESD will contact your employer 3) They'll make a determination within 1-3 weeks 4) If approved, you'll start receiving benefits 5) If contested, it goes to adjudication. The whole process is actually pretty systematic once you understand it.

Don't forget you'll also need to register with WorkSource Washington and meet their job search requirements once you start receiving benefits. It's part of maintaining eligibility for continued payments.

The most important thing is to be completely truthful in your application. Don't embellish or downplay what happened - just stick to the facts. Washington ESD has heard every story before and they're pretty good at sorting out what really happened.

Got fired from my warehouse job last spring for 'performance issues' and still got approved for benefits. As long as you were trying to do your job and weren't willfully screwing up, you should be okay. Performance problems and personality conflicts aren't misconduct in Washington's eyes.

If you end up in adjudication and need to speak with someone at ESD about your case, try using Claimyr. I found out about it from a coworker and it saved me hours of trying to get through their phone system. They have a video demo that shows exactly how it works - https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Really helpful when you actually need to talk to a human being about your claim.

Bottom line - unless you did something seriously wrong, you'll probably qualify for benefits if you get fired. Don't let the fear of not qualifying prevent you from filing. The worst they can do is say no, and then you can appeal if you disagree with their decision.