If you get fired can you still collect unemployment in Washington?

That's a relief to hear. So I should go ahead and file my claim then? I was worried they'd automatically deny me.

Definitely file as soon as possible. The worst thing that can happen is they investigate and you explain your side. Better to get the process started.

Same here, got let go for 'not meeting sales targets' during COVID and had no problems with my claim.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Makes me feel more confident about applying.

What happens during adjudication? Do I need to get a lawyer or anything?

No lawyer needed. Washington ESD will schedule a phone interview with you and possibly your employer. Just be honest about what happened and provide any documentation you have.

I went through adjudication last year and it took about 3 weeks. They asked me detailed questions about the firing and I had to explain my side of things.

Never heard of that before. Is it legit or one of those scam things?

It's legit, they just help you get through the phone system. I was skeptical too but it actually worked when I needed to talk to someone about my claim status.

How often do employers actually contest claims? My company seemed pretty disorganized so I'm not sure they'd bother.

In my experience, smaller companies are less likely to contest unless it was a really serious firing. Larger companies with HR departments are more likely to fight it.

How long did it take for your claim to get processed? I'm worried about how long I'll be without income.

It took about a week to get approved, but I know some people wait longer if there are issues. Just make sure you file your weekly claims even while waiting.

Oh wow, I didn't know that. Good thing I'm looking into this now rather than waiting.

This is super important. Always file the same week you lose your job, even if you're not sure you'll qualify.

Misconduct is usually things like stealing, fighting, showing up drunk, or willfully violating safety rules. Poor performance or not getting along with your boss typically isn't misconduct.

Yeah, there's a big difference between 'can't do the job' and 'won't do the job.' The first one usually still qualifies for benefits.

That's encouraging. My situation seems much less serious than attendance issues.

Right? As long as you weren't doing anything malicious or illegal, you'll probably be fine.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr - the phone system is impossible otherwise. Worth checking out if you're still having issues.

Maybe I'll look into that. Getting real tired of calling 100 times a day.

You have to be honest about how you lost your job. They'll find out anyway when they contact your employer, and lying will definitely disqualify you.

Makes sense. Better to be upfront about it then.

That's good to know. My boss was always vague about what exactly I was doing wrong, so maybe that will work in my favor.

Exactly. Vague complaints about 'attitude' or 'performance' without documented warnings usually don't hold up.

How long does the appeal process take? And is it complicated?

Took about 6 weeks for me, but I've heard it can vary. It's not too complicated - they schedule a phone hearing and you just explain what happened.

That's crazy they fired you for being late once. Definitely not misconduct in my opinion.

yeah it was totally unfair but at least i got benefits while looking for something better

Good advice. I should write down everything that happened while it's still fresh in my memory.

Definitely do that. Also save any emails or texts related to your job performance if you have them.

Not being a good' fit is definitely not misconduct.'That s more like a personality clash or management decision, which'shouldn t affect yourbenefits.

That's what I was hoping. Just playing the waiting game now I guess.

That's a common tactic employers use to avoid paying higher unemployment insurance rates. During adjudication, you'll get to explain what actually happened. Keep any documentation that shows you were fired.

Thanks, I have the termination letter that clearly says 'terminated' so hopefully that helps.

That's reassuring coming from someone who was on the employer side. Thanks for the perspective.

Yeah unless you burned the place down or something, most reasonable employers won't fight it. It's more hassle than it's worth for them.

Good to hear it worked out! I might need to use that if I run into any issues with my claim.

Yeah definitely keep it in mind if you need to actually talk to someone. The regular phone system is basically useless.

You're absolutely right. I'm going to file my claim today. Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice and encouragement!

Good luck with your claim! Keep us posted on how it goes.