If you get fired do you qualify for unemployment - Washington ESD eligibility question

You can definitely still apply for unemployment benefits even if you were fired. Washington ESD will investigate the circumstances around your termination to determine if you were fired for 'misconduct' or not. Performance issues usually don't count as misconduct unless they involve willful violation of company policies. The fact that you were raising safety concerns might actually work in your favor.

same thing happened to me got fired for 'attitude problems' but still got my benefits approved. took like 3 weeks though because they had to do some investigation thing

The key thing Washington ESD looks at is whether you were fired for misconduct or not. Misconduct has a specific legal definition - it has to be willful or deliberate violation of company rules. Poor performance, inability to do the job, or personality conflicts usually don't qualify as misconduct. Since you mentioned safety concerns, document everything you can remember about those conversations and any retaliation you experienced.

I was struggling with calling Washington ESD for weeks about my own termination issue - kept getting busy signals and dropped calls. Finally found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually gets you through to a real person at Washington ESD. They have this demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration when I needed to speak with someone about my eligibility.

DEFINITELY apply right away don't wait!! Even if there's a dispute you want to get your claim filed ASAP because there's usually a waiting period anyway. The worst thing that can happen is they deny you and then you can appeal. But if you don't apply at all you get nothing for sure.

Also make sure you understand the difference between being fired and being laid off. If your employer claims you were laid off due to lack of work, that's usually an automatic approval. But if they say you were terminated for cause, that's when Washington ESD has to investigate for misconduct. Based on what you described, it sounds like a termination situation.

Been dealing with Washington ESD for months now and let me tell you the system is BROKEN. Half the time their website doesn't work, you can never get anyone on the phone, and they take forever to make decisions. But yes you should still apply because even a broken system sometimes works in your favor. Just be prepared for a lot of frustration.

Quick question - did you have any warnings or write-ups before they fired you? That can make a big difference in how Washington ESD views your case. If they fired you without any progressive discipline that could actually help your argument.

Whatever you do, don't let your old employer intimidate you out of filing. Some companies try to scare former employees by saying they'll 'fight' the unemployment claim. Most of the time they don't even respond to Washington ESD's requests for information. File your claim and let the system work.

I got fired from my last job too but for totally different reasons (attendance issues were my own fault). Still got benefits because Washington ESD determined it wasn't willful misconduct - I had documented health problems that were causing the absences. Point is they really do look at each case individually.

One thing to keep in mind is that even if you get approved, your employer might appeal the decision. That can drag things out longer but don't let it discourage you from filing. I went through an appeal process last year and still ended up getting my benefits.

Pro tip: when you file your claim, be very detailed about the circumstances of your termination but stick to facts. Don't get emotional or start ranting about how unfair your employer was. Washington ESD wants to hear what actually happened, not how you felt about it.

Just wanted to follow up on my earlier comment about Claimyr - I used them again last week when I needed to check on my benefit year ending and had to speak with someone about reapplying. Still works great for getting through the phone lines. Definitely worth it when you need actual answers from Washington ESD staff.

File ASAP but also start looking for work immediately. Washington ESD requires you to be actively seeking employment and you'll need to report your job search activities when you file your weekly claims. Don't wait until after you're approved to start job hunting.

Document everything about your termination while it's still fresh in your memory. Write down dates, names of people involved, what was said, any witnesses, etc. If this goes to a hearing you'll want to have all those details organized.

The bottom line is yes, you can qualify for unemployment even if you're fired. The system exists to help people who lose their jobs through no fault of their own, and poor performance or raising legitimate workplace concerns doesn't disqualify you. File your claim and let Washington ESD make the determination.