If you are fired do you get unemployment benefits in Washington state?

Yes, you can potentially get unemployment benefits even if you were fired, but it depends on the reason. Washington ESD will review your case to determine if you were terminated for 'misconduct' or not. Performance issues that aren't willful misconduct usually don't disqualify you from benefits. You should definitely apply and let them make the determination.

I got fired last year for being late too many times and still got my unemployment approved. Washington ESD said it wasn't misconduct because I had transportation issues. You should definitely apply.

The key thing is to apply right away even if you're not sure. Washington ESD will investigate and make the determination. If your employer contests it, you'll go through an adjudication process where they review all the facts. Don't assume you're not eligible - let them decide.

I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for weeks about my claim and can never get through on the phone. The wait times are insane. Someone told me about this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Might be worth it if you need to talk to someone about your situation.

File your claim online at esd.wa.gov as soon as possible. Even if you're not sure about eligibility, it's better to apply and find out than to wait and lose potential benefits. The worst they can do is deny it.

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME! Got fired for 'performance' but it was really just the new manager wanting to bring in their own people. Applied anyway and got approved after they investigated. Don't let them intimidate you into not applying!

You'll need to meet the monetary requirements too - make sure you've earned enough in the base period. But if you worked there for 2 years, you should be fine on that front.

I'd recommend starting your weekly claims right away once you apply, even if your claim is still pending. You can't go back and claim those weeks later if you don't file them.

The Washington ESD website has a good section explaining misconduct vs non-misconduct. Performance issues, attendance problems, or just not being a good fit usually don't qualify as misconduct that would disqualify you.

Whatever you do, don't quit before they fire you thinking it will help. Quitting makes it much harder to get benefits. Since you're already fired, just apply and see what happens.

I used Claimyr last month when I couldn't get through to ESD and it actually worked. Got connected to an agent in like 20 minutes instead of waiting on hold all day. Totally worth it if you need to talk to someone about your claim status.

Make sure you have all your employment information ready when you apply - dates, wages, reason for separation, etc. Having everything organized makes the process smoother.

Been there, done that. Got fired for 'poor performance' but really it was just a toxic work environment. Applied for unemployment and got approved. Don't let them discourage you from applying.

If your claim gets denied initially, don't give up. You can appeal the decision. Sometimes they deny first and then approve on appeal after looking at it more carefully.

I'm dealing with something similar right now. Got fired two weeks ago and my claim is still in adjudication. The waiting is killing me but everyone says to just be patient and let the process work.

Pro tip: when you do your weekly claims, make sure to report any work you do accurately. Even if it's just a few hours of freelance work, report it. Being honest is always better than trying to hide something.

The job search requirements are pretty reasonable in Washington. You need to do 3 job search activities per week once you're approved. Keep good records of everything you do.

I went through this exact situation last year. Filed my claim online, went through adjudication, and got approved. The key is to be honest about what happened and let ESD make the determination. Don't assume you're not eligible.

Just wanted to follow up on the Claimyr thing I mentioned earlier. I ended up using them again this week to check on my claim status and it worked great. If you're having trouble getting through to ESD, it's definitely worth checking out their demo video to see how it works.

Update: I applied for unemployment after being fired for performance issues and just got approved! The adjudication took about 4 weeks but it was worth the wait. Don't let anyone tell you that being fired automatically disqualifies you.