Washington ESD unemployment after being fired - can I still get benefits?

That's a relief to hear. They never said I was being insubordinate or anything like that, just that my numbers weren't meeting targets.

Definitely file anyway. The worst they can do is say no, but you might be surprised.

So if they fired me for not hitting sales targets, that wouldn't be considered misconduct?

Correct, as long as you were trying to do your job. If you were deliberately underperforming or refusing to work, that would be different.

What about attendance issues? I was late a few times but nothing crazy.

How did the adjudication process work? Do they interview you and your former employer?

Yeah, they called me first to get my side of the story, then contacted my employer. Make sure you keep any documentation about your termination.

Try calling right when they open at 8am. That's usually the best time to get through.

I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to an Washington ESD agent in like 20 minutes. They handle all the calling and waiting for you. Check out claimyr.com - they even have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

Seriously? That sounds too good to be true. How much does it cost?

Good point. I was worried about filing if I might not qualify but I guess there's no harm in trying.

Exactly! And if you wait too long you might miss out on benefits you're entitled to.

Termination letter, any emails about your performance, your employee handbook, timesheets, anything that shows what happened and why.

Damn, I didn't save any of that stuff. Think it'll hurt my case?

Not necessarily. Washington ESD will still investigate and get information from your employer directly.

That sucks but don't discourage people from applying. Lots of us do get approved even after being fired.

If you're having trouble reaching them about your disqualification, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier might help you get through to explain your situation to an actual person.

That gives me hope. My situation seems way less serious than chronic tardiness.

Were you in a probationary period? I heard that makes a difference.

Nope, had been there for over a year. Washington ESD looks at the specific reason for termination, not how long you worked there.

Yes, you still need to file your weekly claims and do job searches while your claim is being adjudicated. Don't skip that part.

Thanks, wasn't sure about that part. Don't want to mess up my claim over something like that.

How long did the appeal process take? And did you need a lawyer?

About 6 weeks total. No lawyer needed - it was just a phone hearing where I explained my side. Much less scary than I thought it would be.

Same experience here. Appeals aren't as complicated as they sound.

That's encouraging. Sounds like Washington ESD really does look at each case individually.

Yeah they're pretty fair about it as long as you weren't stealing or anything obvious like that.

Several people have mentioned that service now. Might be worth looking into if I run into problems.

Same here, worked great for me when I needed to ask about my job search requirements.

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I'm going to file my claim today. Feeling much more confident about it now.

Good luck! Hope it works out for you.

Keep us updated on how it goes. Always helpful to hear success stories.