Washington ESD - how long after being fired can you collect unemployment benefits?

You can file immediately after being terminated. There's no waiting period to apply for unemployment benefits in Washington. However, being fired for cause (like attendance issues) might make you ineligible depending on the circumstances. Washington ESD will investigate during adjudication to determine if your termination was for misconduct.

I was in a similar situation last year - got fired for being late too many times. Filed the same week I got terminated and they approved my claim after about 3 weeks of adjudication. Just be honest about why you were fired when you fill out the application.

Actually had a friend who used Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD when his claim was stuck in adjudication after being fired. The service helped him reach an actual agent to check on his claim status. 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 run into issues getting through.

File NOW. Don't wait even one day because your benefit year starts from when you file, not when you were terminated. Even if they investigate your firing, you want to get the process started immediately.

ugh the whole system is messed up anyway. i got fired for stupid reason and they made me wait months for benefits. good luck dealing with washington esd bureaucracy

The attendance thing might actually work in your favor if you were genuinely sick. Washington ESD distinguishes between absences due to illness versus just not showing up. Make sure you emphasize that you called in sick rather than just being a no-show.

Just want to add that you have to file your weekly claims even while your initial claim is under review. Don't skip filing weekly claims thinking you'll start later - you could lose benefits for those weeks.

I tried calling Washington ESD for weeks after I got fired and could never get through. The phone lines are constantly busy. That Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier might actually be worth looking into if you need to talk to someone quickly.

Were you fired or laid off? There's a big difference in how Washington ESD handles each situation. Laid off is usually automatic approval, fired requires investigation.

Three sick days in two months doesn't sound excessive to me. Were these consecutive days or spread out? If you were actually sick and called in properly, you might have a good case.

My brother got fired for attendance and still got unemployment. The key was that he could prove he was sick and followed company policy for calling in. Don't assume you're automatically disqualified.

Make sure you have all your documentation ready - doctor's notes, text messages showing you called in sick, anything that proves you weren't just skipping work. Washington ESD will want to see evidence.

Another option if you need to reach Washington ESD quickly is trying Claimyr during off-peak hours. I used it around 2 PM on a Wednesday and got through to an agent in about 30 minutes. Way better than the hours I wasted calling directly.

Don't let your employer intimidate you either. Some employers will try to discourage you from filing by saying you won't qualify. File anyway and let Washington ESD make the determination.

The worst they can do is deny you, and even then you can appeal. Since you were actually sick and have documentation, you've got a fighting chance. File today and don't look back.

One more tip - when they interview you during adjudication, be prepared to explain each absence in detail. Date, reason, how you notified your employer, whether you had medical documentation, etc.

Also make sure you understand Washington ESD's job search requirements. Even if your claim is under review, you'll need to be actively looking for work and logging your search activities.

Hope it works out for you! Being fired doesn't automatically disqualify you, especially if you have legitimate reasons for the absences that led to termination.

Update us on how it goes! There are probably other people in similar situations who could benefit from hearing about your experience with the process.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through a similar situation last year. I was fired from my retail job for missing too many shifts due to childcare issues when my babysitter kept canceling last minute. I was terrified I wouldn't qualify since it was technically attendance-related, but I filed immediately anyway. Washington ESD approved my claim after about 5 weeks of review because I could show I was trying to find alternative childcare and had legitimate reasons for the absences. The key is having documentation and being completely honest during the adjudication interview. Don't give up hope - even attendance-related terminations can qualify if the circumstances show you weren't being willfully negligent. Good luck with your claim!