Washington ESD unemployment after being fired - can I still collect benefits?
So I got terminated from my job last week and I'm wondering if I can still file for unemployment with Washington ESD. My supervisor said it was due to attendance issues but I had legitimate reasons for most of my absences (sick kid, car trouble, etc). I've been working there for 2 years and this is my first time dealing with unemployment. Do I even have a chance of getting approved or will Washington ESD automatically deny me since I was fired? I really need these benefits to pay rent while I look for another job.
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Xan Dae
You can definitely apply! Being fired doesn't automatically disqualify you from Washington ESD benefits. The key is whether the termination was for 'misconduct' or not. Attendance issues can be tricky - if you had legitimate reasons and followed company policy for reporting absences, you might still qualify. File your claim immediately since there's a waiting period anyway.
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Isaiah Sanders
•Thanks, that gives me some hope. I did follow the call-in procedures most of the time. How long does Washington ESD usually take to make a decision on these cases?
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Xan Dae
•Usually takes 2-4 weeks for adjudication if there's a misconduct question. They'll contact both you and your former employer to get both sides of the story.
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Fiona Gallagher
File ASAP! I was in a similar situation last year - fired for what they called 'performance issues' but I still got approved for UI benefits. Washington ESD looks at the specific circumstances, not just the fact that you were terminated.
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Isaiah Sanders
•That's encouraging! Did you have to provide any documentation to support your case?
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Fiona Gallagher
•I gathered all my performance reviews, emails about my attendance, medical notes for sick days, etc. Better to have too much documentation than not enough.
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Thais Soares
I'm dealing with something similar right now but Washington ESD is taking forever to get back to me about my claim. Been trying to call them for weeks but their phone system is impossible! Anyone know a better way to reach them?
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Nalani Liu
•Have you tried calling right at 8am when they open? That's usually the best time to get through to Washington ESD.
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Axel Bourke
•I actually found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to Washington ESD when I couldn't reach them myself. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Basically they handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent picks up. Check out claimyr.com if you're interested.
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Aidan Percy
The whole system is rigged against workers anyway. Employers can fire you for anything and then fight your unemployment claim just to be spiteful. Washington ESD almost always sides with the employer from what I've seen.
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Xan Dae
•That's not really accurate. Washington ESD has to follow specific guidelines about misconduct vs. other reasons for termination. They can't just automatically side with employers.
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Aidan Percy
•Maybe in theory but in practice they make it as difficult as possible to get benefits. The whole adjudication process is designed to wear you down.
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Isaiah Sanders
Update: I filed my claim online yesterday and it went through the initial process. Now it says 'pending adjudication' on my account. Should I be worried about this status?
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Xan Dae
•Pending adjudication is normal when there are questions about your separation from employment. It just means they need to investigate the circumstances of your termination before approving benefits.
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Fernanda Marquez
•same thing happened to me, took about 3 weeks before they made a decision
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Norman Fraser
Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even while it's in adjudication! A lot of people make the mistake of not filing weekly claims during this period and then lose out on back pay if they get approved.
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Isaiah Sanders
•Good point, I wasn't sure about that. I'll make sure to keep filing every week.
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Kendrick Webb
•Yeah definitely keep filing! I learned this the hard way and missed out on 2 weeks of benefits because I stopped filing during adjudication.
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Hattie Carson
What exactly constitutes 'misconduct' according to Washington ESD? I see this term thrown around but nobody ever explains what it actually means in practice.
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Xan Dae
•Misconduct generally means willful disregard of the employer's interests, like theft, violence, or deliberately violating company policies. Simple tardiness or poor performance usually doesn't qualify as misconduct unless it's really egregious.
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Destiny Bryant
•I think attendance issues can be misconduct if you just don't show up without calling in repeatedly. But if you're following procedures and have legitimate reasons, that's different.
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Dyllan Nantx
Been there! Got fired from my retail job for supposedly being late too often (even though other people were late way more than me). Still got my unemployment approved after about a month of back and forth with Washington ESD. Don't give up!
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Isaiah Sanders
•That's exactly what I'm hoping for. Did Washington ESD contact your former employer during the process?
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Dyllan Nantx
•Yes, they interviewed both me and my manager separately. Make sure you have your facts straight about dates, policies, etc. when they call you.
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TillyCombatwarrior
If you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about your adjudication, I'd recommend trying that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. I used it last month when my claim got stuck and couldn't get through on my own. Worth checking out their site claimyr.com if you're having phone issues.
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Anna Xian
•How much does something like that cost? Seems like it might be expensive.
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TillyCombatwarrior
•It's way cheaper than missing out on weeks of benefits because you can't reach Washington ESD. The peace of mind alone was worth it for me.
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Jungleboo Soletrain
Whatever you do, be completely honest in your application and any interviews with Washington ESD. They can verify everything with your employer anyway, so lying will just hurt your case.
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Isaiah Sanders
•Absolutely, I'm planning to be completely upfront about everything. I have documentation for most of my absences anyway.
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Rajan Walker
The job market is tough right now so definitely pursue every avenue for benefits you're entitled to. Even if your former employer contests the claim, you might still win on appeal if their case is weak.
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Nadia Zaldivar
•Appeals take forever though. I had to wait like 6 months for my appeal hearing when I got denied initially.
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Rajan Walker
•True, but if you win on appeal you get all the back pay from when you first filed. Better than getting nothing at all.
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Lukas Fitzgerald
I got fired for attendance issues too and was denied initially, but won on appeal. The key was proving that my absences were due to circumstances beyond my control (medical issues). Document everything!
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Isaiah Sanders
•Did you need an attorney for the appeal or did you represent yourself?
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Lukas Fitzgerald
•I represented myself. The hearing was actually pretty informal - just me, the employer's representative, and the administrative law judge on a conference call.
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Ev Luca
Just want to add that if Washington ESD approves your claim but your employer appeals, you'll still get benefits while the appeal is pending. Don't let them scare you into thinking you won't get anything.
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Avery Davis
•That's good to know! I was worried about what happens if the employer fights it.
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Collins Angel
Make sure you're also doing your job search requirements even during adjudication. Washington ESD expects you to be actively looking for work from day one, regardless of your claim status.
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Isaiah Sanders
•Good reminder - I've been so focused on the adjudication issue that I almost forgot about the job search requirements.
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Marcelle Drum
•Yeah you need to be doing at least 3 job search activities per week and logging them in WorkSourceWA. Don't let that slide or it could affect your benefits.
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Tate Jensen
One more thing - if you had any union representation at your job, they might be able to help with information about your termination or even representation during the Washington ESD process.
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Isaiah Sanders
•Unfortunately it wasn't a union job, but that's good advice for others in similar situations.
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Adaline Wong
Final update from OP: Just wanted to thank everyone for the advice. My adjudication is still pending but I feel much more confident about my chances now. I've been keeping up with my weekly claims and job search activities. Will update when I hear back from Washington ESD!
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Gabriel Ruiz
•Good luck! Hope it works out in your favor.
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Misterclamation Skyblue
•Definitely keep us posted - these kinds of updates help other people in similar situations.
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Peyton Clarke
•If you need to contact Washington ESD for any updates on your case, remember that Claimyr option people mentioned. Saved me a lot of frustration when I was in a similar spot.
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