Washington ESD unemployment after getting fired - am I eligible?

Yes, you can definitely apply for unemployment even if you were fired. Washington ESD will review your case to determine if the termination was for 'misconduct' or not. Simple attendance issues often don't qualify as misconduct unless you were deliberately skipping work without valid reasons. The key is whether your actions were willful and substantial. File your claim right away - the worst they can do is deny it, but you might be surprised.

I got fired from my retail job last year for being late too many times and still got approved for unemployment. Washington ESD said it wasn't misconduct because I wasn't deliberately trying to harm the company. Just make sure you're honest on your application about why you were terminated.

The tricky part is getting through to Washington ESD if you have questions during the process. I spent weeks trying to call them about my adjudication status. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Made the whole process so much less stressful.

DEFINITELY apply!! I thought I couldn't get unemployment when I got fired but I was wrong. Washington ESD approved my claim even though I was terminated. The key difference is misconduct vs. just not being a good fit or performance issues.

Wait I'm confused about this whole misconduct thing. What exactly counts as misconduct? I got written up a few times for being on my phone during work hours before they fired me. Would that disqualify me?

Just want to add that even if you're denied initially, you can appeal the decision. I was denied at first because my employer lied about why they fired me, but I won my appeal hearing. Don't give up if the first decision goes against you.

This whole system is so confusing. Why can't they just have clear guidelines about what qualifies and what doesn't? I'm going through something similar and have no idea if I should even bother applying.

Apply apply apply! I know someone who got fired for supposedly stealing (which they didn't do) and still got unemployment because the employer couldn't prove it was actually theft. Washington ESD errs on the side of the worker if there's any doubt.

One thing to keep in mind is that your employer will probably contest your claim if they think you were fired for cause. Be prepared for that and make sure you have documentation of any legitimate reasons for your attendance issues (doctor's notes, family emergencies, etc.).

How long do you have to file after getting fired? I got terminated last week but haven't applied yet because I wasn't sure if I'd qualify.

I'm dealing with Washington ESD right now and it's such a nightmare trying to get answers about my adjudication. Been calling for days and can't get through. Might have to try that Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier.

Just to add another perspective - I was fired for performance issues and got denied for benefits. Sometimes it really depends on how your employer presents the case to Washington ESD.

The whole adjudication process is so slow. I filed 6 weeks ago and still waiting for a decision. Meanwhile I'm running out of savings.

For what it's worth, I know people who got unemployment after being fired for all sorts of reasons. As long as it wasn't theft, violence, or something really serious, you probably have a good shot at getting approved.

Does anyone know if they check with previous employers too or just the job you got fired from?

I tried using one of those callback services when I couldn't reach Washington ESD and it actually worked. Got connected to an agent within an hour instead of calling all day. There are a few different ones out there but they all seem to work pretty well.

The most important thing is to be completely honest on your application. If you lie or leave things out and they find out later, that's automatic disqualification and you might have to pay back any benefits you received.

Update us on how it goes! I'm curious to hear if you get approved since our situations sound similar.

Good luck with your claim! The unemployment process can be stressful but at least Washington ESD is generally fair about these things if you follow the rules.

One last tip - make sure you start looking for work right away even while your claim is being processed. Washington ESD requires job search activities and it's better to get started early.