If I'm fired can I get unemployment benefits through Washington ESD?

You can definitely apply for unemployment even if you were fired. Washington ESD will investigate whether your termination was for 'misconduct' or not. If it was just performance issues or attendance problems that weren't willful misconduct, you'll likely qualify. The key is whether your employer can prove you deliberately violated company policy or were negligent on purpose.

File your claim ASAP! Even if Washington ESD initially denies you, you can appeal. I was fired from my retail job last year for being late too many times (my car kept breaking down) and I thought I was screwed. Turns out I qualified because the tardiness wasn't considered willful misconduct since I was actively trying to get to work and it was due to circumstances beyond my control.

Just went through this exact situation myself. Got terminated for 'not being a good fit' after 4 months at an office job. Was scared to apply thinking being fired meant automatic disqualification. Washington ESD approved my claim within 2 weeks. The adjudicator said termination for poor performance usually doesn't count as misconduct unless there's clear evidence you were deliberately not doing your job. I'd been trying but just wasn't catching on fast enough to their systems.

Don't let anyone tell you that being fired automatically disqualifies you - that's one of the biggest myths about unemployment. Washington ESD looks at the specific reasons for termination. Performance issues, lack of skills, personality conflicts, or economic reasons usually qualify you for benefits. What disqualifies you is stuff like theft, violence, deliberate insubordination, or repeatedly violating clear company policies after warnings.

I'm dealing with something similar right now - got fired 3 weeks ago and my Washington ESD claim has been stuck in adjudication hell ever since. Can't get through to anyone on the phone no matter how many times I call. The automated system just hangs up on me after being on hold for hours. Anyone know a better way to reach them?

Update: I filed my claim this morning after reading all your advice. The online application was pretty straightforward. Now I'm just waiting to see what happens. Fingers crossed! Thanks everyone for the encouragement.

The system is so confusing though. I got fired 2 months ago for supposedly violating safety protocols but I was never trained properly on those protocols. Washington ESD initially denied my claim saying it was misconduct. I'm appealing but have no idea how that process works or what to expect.

Been through this 3 times in my career unfortunately. Each time I was worried about being fired affecting my unemployment eligibility. What I learned is that Washington ESD really does investigate each case individually. They don't just rubber stamp denials for people who were terminated. As long as you were making a good faith effort to do your job, you'll probably qualify.

Quick question - if I get approved for unemployment after being fired, does that go on some kind of record that future employers can see? I'm worried about how this might affect job applications.

The whole misconduct standard is really employer-friendly in my opinion. I got denied initially because my boss claimed I was 'insubordinate' for questioning a policy that seemed illegal. Had to go through a whole appeal process to prove I was acting in good faith. Eventually won but it took 2 months total.

Just to add another perspective - I was fired for attendance issues due to my chronic illness and still qualified for unemployment. Washington ESD understood that my absences were due to circumstances beyond my control. So even attendance-related terminations aren't automatic disqualifications if there are legitimate reasons.

One thing to keep in mind is that even if you qualify, your weekly benefit amount will be based on your wages from the past year. Make sure all your employers are correctly reported in your claim so you get the maximum amount you're entitled to.

Does anyone know if Washington ESD considers it misconduct if you're fired for not meeting sales quotas? I worked at a dealership and just couldn't hit their numbers consistently, even though I was trying hard and following all their sales processes.

I was fired from a restaurant job for supposedly being rude to customers, but I think the manager just didn't like me. Customer complaints were never documented and I never received any coaching. Still nervous about applying for unemployment though.

The adjudication process can be nerve-wracking but it's really about gathering facts. When I was fired for supposedly violating company policy, the Washington ESD adjudicator asked both me and my employer very specific questions about what happened, what policies were involved, and what training I'd received. They were very thorough and fair in their investigation.

If you do get into an adjudication situation, I highly recommend using Claimyr to speak with Washington ESD directly about your case. I was stuck in adjudication for weeks without any updates, used their service, and finally got to talk to someone who explained exactly what documents they were waiting for. Cleared everything up in one phone call that I never would have gotten through to on my own.

Bottom line - don't assume you're disqualified just because you were fired. The unemployment system exists to help people who lose their jobs through no fault of their own, and that includes many people who are terminated. File your claim and let Washington ESD make the determination based on the facts of your specific situation.