Washington ESD - if i get fired am i eligible for unemployment benefits?

What counts as misconduct exactly? I was maybe 10-15 minutes late like 3 times in the past 2 months, nothing major.

Washington ESD looks at whether you willfully violated company policy. A few instances of tardiness usually won't disqualify you unless it was part of a pattern of deliberate misconduct.

Good point, I'll file as soon as they let me go. How long does it usually take to get approved?

Usually 2-3 weeks if there are no issues, but if your employer contests it could take longer for adjudication.

Thanks for the tip! How long did your appeal take to get resolved?

About 6 weeks total, but it was worth it. I got all my back benefits once they approved it.

Never heard of Claimyr before, is it legit? I hate trying to call Washington ESD.

Yeah it's real, saved me hours of redialing. Just helps you get through the phone queue.

I don't have copies of the write-ups they gave me, think I can get them from HR?

You can request them but they might not give them to you once you're terminated. Try to get them before you're fired if possible.

That's because illness-related absences usually aren't considered misconduct, especially if she had legitimate medical reasons.

oh ok that makes sense, she was actually sick not just skipping work

That's not really fair - most claims get processed without major issues. The problems usually happen when there are eligibility questions that need investigation.

Tell that to my cousin who's been waiting 8 weeks for his claim to get approved while Washington ESD 'investigates' whether he quit or was fired.

Nothing like that, just stuff like not being friendly enough or not following up on returns properly. Customer service type issues.

Those sound like performance issues rather than misconduct. Washington ESD usually doesn't disqualify for poor performance unless it was willful.

Do I need pay stubs or will they get that info from my employer?

They'll get it from your employer but having your own records helps if there are any discrepancies.

That's encouraging! Did your employer try to fight it?

They contested it initially but Washington ESD sided with me during the phone interview. Having documentation of my overall good performance helped.

How much does it cost though? I'm already going to be broke if I lose my job.

I don't remember the exact cost but it was way cheaper than taking unpaid time off work to sit on hold all day.

Can I file online or do I have to call?

You can do it online through the Washington ESD website. Much easier than trying to get through on the phone initially.

Tell me about it, I'm already losing sleep over this whole situation.

hang in there, at least you're being proactive about figuring out your options

How long do you have to file an appeal?

I think it's 30 days from when you get the denial notice, but don't quote me on that. Check your denial letter for the exact deadline.

Yeah I figured I should know my options before it happens. Thanks everyone for all the advice!

How many jobs do you have to apply for each week?

I think it's 3 job search activities per week, but it doesn't have to be just applications. Networking, training, and other activities count too.

That's correct - 3 job search activities per week and you need to keep records of everything you do.

True, I'd rather know one way or the other so I can plan accordingly.

Good idea, I've been putting off updating my resume but I should probably do that this weekend.

Exactly! Better to be prepared than scrambling later.

Better is relative - they're still a bureaucratic nightmare half the time.

Fair point, but most straightforward claims do get processed without major issues these days.

Will do, thanks again everyone. This thread has been super helpful!

I might have to try that myself, I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for a week about my own claim issue.

Definitely worth it if you're stuck in phone hell. Way better than spending your whole day redialing.