If I got fired can I still get unemployment benefits from Washington ESD?

That's good to know! They never gave me any formal warnings so I think I have a decent chance. Should I file right away?

File as soon as possible. There's a waiting period anyway so don't delay. Make sure you have all your employment information ready when you apply online.

How long did it take for them to make a decision on your claim?

It went into adjudication for about 3 weeks while they investigated. Then I got approved and received all the back pay.

Thanks for the tip about documenting everything. I do have some emails that might help my case.

What exactly is Claimyr? Is it legitimate or just another scam service?

It's legit - they basically help you get through Washington ESD's phone system when the lines are busy. I used it when my claim was stuck in adjudication and couldn't get through on my own.

That makes me feel a lot better. It really was just performance stuff, nothing serious like theft or anything.

What if they say you were insubordinate though? That might count as misconduct.

True, but they'd need to prove actual insubordination, not just disagreeing with management decisions.

Good point. I'll be completely honest when I file the claim online.

How do they contact the employer? Do they call or send letters?

Usually they send a form to the employer asking for details about the termination. The employer has to respond within a certain timeframe.

Three weeks sounds really stressful. Have you been able to get any updates from Washington ESD?

I keep trying to call but the lines are always busy. Might try that Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier.

Claimyr actually worked for me when I couldn't get through. Saved me hours of redialing.

True, I might as well give it a shot. Thanks for the encouragement.

How long do you have to file after getting fired?

There's no specific deadline but you should file as soon as possible. Benefits start from the week you file, not when you lost your job.

That's reassuring. I definitely wasn't trying to do a bad job, I was just struggling with some of the tasks.

What about if you were late a lot? Is that misconduct?

Depends on the circumstances. If you had good reasons for being late, probably not misconduct. If you were just being lazy and not caring, that might be different.

That's a really helpful distinction. I think my situation falls into that category.

So even if the firing was justified, you might still get unemployment?

Exactly. The employer can have good business reasons to terminate someone, but if it's not misconduct under Washington law, the person can still collect benefits.

I'll start gathering everything I can find. Thanks for the advice!

Should you also get witness statements from coworkers?

That could help, but make sure any witnesses are willing to be contacted by Washington ESD investigators if needed.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice. I'm feeling much more confident about filing now.

Good luck! Keep us posted on how it goes.

I definitely will. This community has been so helpful!

Great tip! I'll make sure to keep filing weekly even if nothing is happening with my claim.

How do you file weekly claims if your initial claim hasn't been approved yet?

Once you file your initial claim, you can start filing weekly claims immediately. The system will hold them pending the adjudication decision.

That gives me hope. I really was trying my best at that job, it just wasn't a good fit.

Sometimes a job just isn't the right match. Doesn't mean you don't deserve unemployment benefits.

Exactly how I feel about it. Thanks for understanding!