Washington ESD unemployment after being fired - am I eligible?

It depends on the specific reason for termination. Washington ESD looks at whether it was 'misconduct' or just poor performance. Being late repeatedly might be considered misconduct, but you should still file and let them make the determination. The worst they can do is deny you, but sometimes they approve claims even when you think they won't.

I was fired for attendance issues too and still got approved! It took about 3 weeks for adjudication but they said my employer didn't prove it was willful misconduct. File ASAP because even if you get denied initially, you can appeal and it's better to get the process started.

The key thing Washington ESD looks for is whether your actions were 'willful misconduct.' Simple tardiness without malicious intent often doesn't qualify as misconduct, especially if you had legitimate reasons. File your claim immediately - you can always be denied and appeal, but you can't get benefits for weeks you don't claim.

I had such a hard time getting through to Washington ESD when my claim went into adjudication for a termination issue. Spent weeks calling that 833 number and either got busy signals or got hung up on after waiting an hour. Finally found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually got me through to a real person at Washington ESD. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration!

UGH the Washington ESD system is so backwards! They make you jump through hoops even when you legitimately need help. I was fired for 'insubordination' (aka standing up for myself against a toxic manager) and it took MONTHS to get approved. The whole process is designed to discourage people from filing.

File immediately! Even if Washington ESD denies you initially, you have appeal rights. I was terminated for 'poor performance' and got approved after explaining that I never received proper training. The employer has to prove misconduct, not just that they fired you.

Update: I filed my claim online this morning. It was actually pretty straightforward. Now I'm just waiting to see if it goes into adjudication or gets approved automatically. Fingers crossed!

been there done that. got fired for missing too much work when my kid was sick. took forever to get through to anyone at washington esd but eventually got approved. just be honest about everything

Just to clarify the legal standard: Washington ESD considers termination misconduct if it's a willful violation of company policy that shows disregard for the employer's interests. Chronic tardiness can qualify, but they also look at whether you made efforts to correct the behavior and if there were extenuating circumstances.

My brother got fired for the same thing last year - chronic lateness. Washington ESD approved his claim because he could prove his tardiness was due to his car breaking down repeatedly and he couldn't afford to fix it right away. They said it wasn't willful misconduct since he wasn't late on purpose.

Another thing to consider - even if you get denied initially, the appeals process is pretty fair if you have documentation. I've seen people win appeals for termination cases when they can show the firing wasn't justified misconduct.

If your claim does go into adjudication, definitely consider using that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. When I was dealing with my termination case, I needed to talk to someone at Washington ESD to explain my situation, but their phone lines are impossible. Claimyr got me connected to an actual adjudicator who could review my case properly.

omg yes file!! i got fired for attendance and still got unemployment. washington esd approved me after like 2 weeks. dont listen to your old boss if they try to tell you not to bother filing

The bottom line is that Washington ESD looks at each case individually. Being fired doesn't automatically disqualify you - it depends on the specific circumstances. Since you filed already, just be prepared to explain your side if they contact you during adjudication.

Thanks everyone for all the advice and encouragement. I'm feeling much more confident about my claim now. I'll update this thread once I hear back from Washington ESD about whether I'm approved or if it goes to adjudication.

I had a friend who used that Claimyr thing too when her claim got stuck. She said it was super easy to use and got her talking to Washington ESD way faster than calling the regular number. Might be worth bookmarking in case you need it.

just remember that even if you get approved you still have to do job searches and all that stuff. dont think getting fired means you get to skip the requirements

Washington ESD has been pretty reasonable with termination cases in my experience. They know employers sometimes fire people for reasons that aren't really misconduct. As long as you weren't stealing or doing something really bad, you've got a decent chance.

One more tip - if your claim gets approved, make sure you understand the weekly certification process. You'll need to report any work you do and income you earn each week, even if it's just a few hours here and there.

i was in almost the exact same situation - fired for being late because of bus problems. took about 3 weeks but washington esd approved me. the key was explaining that i was actively trying to solve my transportation issues