If you are fired can you claim unemployment - Washington ESD rules?

That's reassuring to hear. They mentioned performance but never gave me any formal warnings or put me on a performance improvement plan. Should I mention that in my application?

Absolutely mention the lack of formal warnings. Washington ESD looks at whether the employer followed progressive discipline policies. Document everything you can remember about your termination meeting too.

How long did the investigation take? I'm worried about how I'll pay rent while waiting for a decision.

took about 3 weeks for them to make a decision but I got backpay for the whole time so it worked out

This is exactly right. I work in HR and we rarely contest unemployment claims for performance issues unless there was clear policy violation or insubordination involved.

Thank you both. I was worried I'd be wasting my time applying but it sounds like I have a decent chance of getting approved.

Never heard of that service before. How much does it cost to use?

I'd rather not discuss pricing in detail but it was totally worth it compared to the stress of trying to call myself. Check out claimyr.com for more info.

Sounds too good to be true honestly. Why would you need to pay someone to make a phone call?

Good point about filing right away. I was going to wait until I had all my documentation together but maybe I should just submit the application now.

YES! File today if possible. You can always provide additional documentation later if Washington ESD requests it during their review.

I hear you but complaining doesn't help anyone. OP needs actual advice about their situation.

fair enough, just venting because I went through the same runaround

What exactly do I need to document for the job search requirement?

You need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and log them in the system. Can be applications, networking, interviews, job fairs, etc. Keep detailed records with dates and contact info.

Did your employer fight the claim? I'm worried mine will try to contest it out of spite.

They did contest it initially but Washington ESD saw through their BS. As long as you're honest about what happened, you should be fine.

That's terrible advice. You should always be completely honest on your application. Lying will get you in much more trouble than whatever the original issue was.

not saying lie, just saying dont volunteer information that hurts your case

This is exactly when Claimyr saved me. Instead of waiting weeks for adjudication, I was able to speak with an agent who expedited my case. Seriously worth checking out their service.

I might have to look into that if this drags on much longer. The uncertainty is worse than anything.

What kind of documentation should I gather to support my case?

Any employee handbook info about progressive discipline, email communications about your performance, witness statements from coworkers if possible. Anything that shows they didn't follow their own policies.

You need to start the job search requirement immediately, even during adjudication. If you're eventually approved, they'll expect you to have been looking for work the whole time.

Thanks for clarifying that. I was wondering if I could just wait to see what happens first.

That gives me hope. I really don't think what happened to me rises to the level of misconduct.

This attitude is why the system is so backed up. Not every termination deserves benefits.

And that's exactly the kind of thinking that lets employers get away with unfair treatment. The system exists for a reason.

Should I mention that I think the real reason was they wanted to hire someone cheaper?

Only if you have evidence to support that. Stick to facts you can prove rather than speculation about their motives.

How long do you have to file an appeal if you get denied?

You have 30 days from the date of the determination notice to file your appeal. Don't wait until the last minute though.

I'm definitely going to keep that option in mind if I run into problems getting through to them.

Thank you everyone for all the advice. I'm going to file my application tonight and see what happens. Really appreciate the help!

Good luck! Come back and update us on how it goes. Your experience might help the next person in the same situation.