Washington ESD unemployment after termination - if i am terminated can i get unemployment?

You can definitely apply for unemployment even after being terminated. Washington ESD will investigate the circumstances to determine if you're eligible. The key question is whether you were fired for 'misconduct' versus performance issues. Performance problems usually don't disqualify you unless there was willful misconduct involved.

I got fired from my last job for attendance issues and still qualified for UI benefits. It really depends on the specific circumstances. Washington ESD will contact your employer to get their side of the story during the adjudication process.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to check on your claim status or ask questions about the adjudication process, there's a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps people connect with ESD agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. I used it when my claim got stuck and it saved me hours of calling.

The Washington ESD system is so messed up. They'll probably deny you first just to see if you appeal. That's what they did to me even though I was clearly wrongfully terminated.

You should apply as soon as possible because there's a waiting period anyway. Even if Washington ESD needs to investigate, you want to get your application in the system. Make sure you have all your employment dates and wage information ready.

I'm in a similar situation - got terminated 2 weeks ago and still waiting to hear back from Washington ESD. The anxiety is killing me! Does anyone know how to check the status of adjudication online?

Important to know that 'performance issues' and 'misconduct' are totally different things in Washington ESD's eyes. Performance issues are usually things like not meeting productivity standards, making mistakes, or inability to do the job. Misconduct is more like theft, harassment, or willfully violating company policies.

whatever you do dont lie on the application about why you were terminated. Washington ESD will find out anyway when they contact your employer and lying will definitely disqualify you

Been through this exact scenario. Got fired from my sales job for not hitting targets. Washington ESD approved my claim because missing sales goals isn't misconduct - it's just not being good at the job. The key is whether you were trying to do your job properly.

One thing to prepare for is that your employer might fight your claim. Companies often contest unemployment to keep their rates down. Don't let that discourage you if you know you weren't guilty of misconduct.

Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even during adjudication! I made the mistake of not filing because I thought I had to wait for approval. Lost out on 3 weeks of backpay because of that.

The whole process is stressful but try not to panic. Most people who get fired for performance issues do qualify for unemployment. Just be patient with the system and honest about everything.

UPDATE: I've been seeing more people mention Claimyr lately and decided to try it myself when my claim had issues. Really impressed with how quickly I got connected to a Washington ESD representative. Worth checking out if you run into problems reaching them directly.

Don't forget about the job search requirements once you start receiving benefits. You'll need to log your job search activities and be able and available for work.

just wanted to follow up that my termination claim was approved after about 4 weeks. They determined that attendance issues without willful misconduct didn't disqualify me. Hang in there!

Quick tip - when you do your phone interview with Washington ESD (if they schedule one), be prepared to explain your side of the story clearly and calmly. They want to understand what really happened.

Final thought - even if your initial claim gets denied, don't give up. The appeal process exists for a reason and many people win on appeal, especially in termination cases where the employer can't prove actual misconduct occurred.