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Zara Ahmed

If I get fired will I get unemployment benefits in Washington state?

My boss has been giving me a really hard time lately and I'm worried I might get terminated. If I do get fired from my job, will I still be able to collect unemployment benefits through Washington ESD? I've been working at this company for about 2 years and have never filed for unemployment before. I'm really stressed about this situation and need to know what my options would be.

It depends on the reason you get fired. If it's for misconduct or violating company policy, Washington ESD will likely deny your claim. But if you're fired for performance issues or through no fault of your own, you should be eligible for UI benefits.

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What exactly counts as misconduct? I've been late a few times but nothing major.

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Being late occasionally usually isn't considered misconduct unless it's a pattern and you were warned. Misconduct is more like theft, violence, or willfully violating clear company rules.

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I got fired last year for attendance issues and still got approved for unemployment. The key is that Washington ESD looks at whether you were fired for willful misconduct or just not meeting expectations.

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That's reassuring to hear. How long did it take for your claim to get approved?

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About 3 weeks, but mine went through adjudication because my employer contested it initially.

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If you do get fired and need to apply, make sure you're honest about the circumstances on your Washington ESD application. They'll contact your employer anyway, so lying will just hurt your case. I've seen people get denied because they weren't truthful about why they were terminated.

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Good point, I'll definitely be honest if it comes to that.

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This is so important! Being dishonest can disqualify you entirely from receiving benefits.

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I was in a similar situation where I thought I was going to get fired. The stress of not being able to reach Washington ESD when I finally did get terminated was awful. I spent weeks trying to call them to check on my claim status. Finally found out about claimyr.com and they actually got me through to an agent right away. There's even a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

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I've never heard of that service before. Does it actually work?

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It worked for me when I couldn't get through on my own. Worth checking out if you end up needing to talk to Washington ESD.

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ugh the whole system is so frustrating. I got fired for 'poor performance' but really my boss just didn't like me. Still got my unemployment though after they investigated.

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Did you have to appeal or did it get approved right away?

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had to wait for adjudication but no appeal needed. took forever though

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Just to clarify the process - when you file your initial claim with Washington ESD, you'll need to provide details about your separation from employment. If your employer contests your claim, it will go to adjudication where both sides present their case. The adjudicator will determine if you're eligible based on Washington state unemployment law.

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What kind of evidence do they look at during adjudication?

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They'll review your employment records, any documentation from your employer about the termination, witness statements if applicable, and your testimony about what happened.

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I had to provide text messages and emails during my adjudication process to prove what really happened.

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Keep in mind that even if you qualify for unemployment, you'll still need to meet all the ongoing requirements like doing job searches and filing weekly claims. Don't assume it's easy money - there are responsibilities that come with receiving UI benefits.

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How many job searches do you have to do each week?

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You need to complete at least 3 job search activities per week and keep a log of them. This includes applying for jobs, networking, attending job fairs, etc.

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My friend got fired for calling in sick too much and didn't get unemployment. But my other friend got fired for not meeting sales quotas and did get it. It really does depend on the specific circumstances.

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That makes sense. Excessive absences probably look like misconduct while not meeting quotas is more of a performance issue.

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exactly! the first one was seen as violating company policy while the second was just not being good at the job

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If you're really worried about getting fired, you might want to start documenting everything now. Keep records of any meetings with your boss, performance reviews, or incidents that might be relevant later. It could help your case if you do need to file for unemployment.

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That's really smart advice. I should start keeping track of things just in case.

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Yes! I wish I had done this. Would have made my adjudication hearing so much easier.

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Also remember that if you do get fired and your claim gets denied initially, you can appeal the decision. Don't give up if the first determination isn't in your favor. The appeals process exists for a reason.

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How long do you have to file an appeal?

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You have 30 days from the date of the determination letter to file your appeal with Washington ESD.

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Been through this whole process twice unfortunately. First time I got denied because I was fired for attendance, second time I got approved because I was laid off due to budget cuts. The difference is really whether Washington ESD determines you caused your own unemployment or not.

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Did you appeal the first denial?

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I did but lost the appeal. My attendance record was pretty bad so I understand why they upheld the denial.

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Whatever you do, don't quit thinking you'll get unemployment instead. Quitting almost always disqualifies you unless you can show good cause like unsafe working conditions or harassment.

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Good to know. I'll stick it out and see what happens rather than quitting.

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Yeah quitting is usually the worst option unless you have documented proof of serious issues like discrimination or safety violations.

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If you do end up needing to file a claim and run into issues reaching Washington ESD, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really does help. I was skeptical at first but it saved me so much time and frustration trying to get through their phone lines.

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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 for me it was worth it to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD when I needed to resolve my claim issues.

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just want to add that even if you get unemployment, the benefits aren't that much. In Washington you get about 60% of your wages up to a maximum amount. It's better than nothing but don't expect to live comfortably on it.

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Yeah I know it won't be much but it would at least help with basic expenses while I look for another job.

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that's the right attitude. it's meant to be temporary assistance while you search for work, not a replacement for your salary

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I work in HR and deal with unemployment claims regularly. From what I've seen, Washington ESD is pretty fair in their determinations. They really do look at each case individually and consider all the facts before making a decision.

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That's reassuring to hear from someone who sees it from the employer side too.

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Do employers usually contest unemployment claims?

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It depends on the circumstances. We usually only contest if we have clear documentation of misconduct or policy violations. If someone is just not working out performance-wise, we typically don't contest.

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The waiting can be the worst part. I remember checking my Washington ESD account multiple times a day waiting for updates on my claim status. Try to be patient if you do have to go through this process.

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I can imagine the stress. Hopefully I won't have to find out but it's good to know what to expect.

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Same here! The uncertainty was almost worse than being unemployed. At least now I know the process if it ever happens again.

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One last piece of advice - if you do get fired and file for unemployment, make sure you continue looking for work immediately. Don't wait for your claim to be approved. The job search requirement starts right away and showing that you're actively seeking employment can only help your case.

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Makes sense. Even if I wasn't getting unemployment I'd need to find another job anyway.

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Plus having job search activities documented from day one shows Washington ESD that you're taking the requirements seriously.

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Hope things work out for you and you don't actually get fired! But if you do, at least now you know you have options and what to expect from the unemployment process.

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Thanks everyone for all the helpful information. I feel much less anxious about the situation now.

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Good luck! Hopefully your work situation improves and you don't need to use any of this advice.

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My cousin used that Claimyr thing too when she couldn't get through to Washington ESD about her weekly claim certification. She said it was way easier than trying to call on her own.

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Seems like a lot of people have had success with it. I'll keep it in mind if I need it.

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Yeah, definitely worth knowing about if you end up dealing with Washington ESD and can't get through their regular phone lines.

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The whole unemployment system can seem overwhelming at first but it's really designed to help people who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. Don't be afraid to use it if you need it - you've been paying into the system through your payroll taxes.

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That's a good way to think about it. I have been paying into the system so I shouldn't feel bad about using it if necessary.

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Exactly! It's insurance that you've been paying for. There's no shame in using unemployment benefits when you need them.

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