Washington ESD unemployment benefits after being fired - how can I get unemployment if I was fired?

You can definitely still apply for unemployment benefits even if you were fired. Washington ESD looks at the reason for termination - if it was for misconduct they might deny your claim, but performance issues are usually different. You should file your claim right away since there's a waiting period anyway.

I was in a similar situation last year - got fired for 'not meeting expectations' but Washington ESD approved my claim after about 3 weeks of adjudication. The key is that it wasn't willful misconduct on my part.

The process can be frustrating though, especially if you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD. I spent weeks trying to get through on the phone when my claim went into adjudication. Eventually found claimyr.com which helped me actually reach an agent. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

File immediately! Even if there's a chance they might deny it, you want to get the process started. The worst thing that happens is they say no and you appeal. But honestly performance issues usually don't rise to the level of disqualifying misconduct.

ugh the whole system is so confusing. i got fired too but for attendance and they denied my claim. now i'm trying to figure out if i should appeal or just give up

Whatever you do, don't lie on your application. Washington ESD will find out the truth anyway and lying can get you disqualified permanently. Just be honest about what happened.

The adjudication process is where they really dig into whether your termination disqualifies you. They'll contact your employer and possibly you for more details. It can take several weeks but don't panic if it goes into adjudication - that's normal for termination cases.

I was denied initially when I got fired but won on appeal. The hearing officer actually understood that my employer never gave me clear performance standards. Sometimes you have to fight for it.

Make sure you document everything about your termination while it's fresh in your memory. Dates, conversations, who was present, etc. You might need those details later.

The Washington ESD website has good info about what constitutes misconduct vs. performance issues. Might be worth reading through their guidelines before you file.

just my 2 cents but performance issues are usually not considered misconduct unless you were willfully not doing your job. sounds like you were trying but they didnt give you proper support

I had to use that Claimyr service too after waiting weeks to talk to someone about my adjudication. It actually worked and I got through within a couple hours instead of spending all day redialing.

Remember that even if you get approved, there's usually a one week waiting period before you start receiving benefits. Plan accordingly for that gap in income.

Start looking for work immediately too. Washington ESD requires you to be actively job searching and you'll need to log your job search activities for your weekly claims.

Don't get discouraged if it takes a while. The system is overwhelmed and everything moves slowly. Just keep filing your weekly claims even during adjudication.

If you do get denied and need to appeal, don't wait. You only have 30 days from the date of the determination letter to file your appeal.

honestly these days getting through to Washington ESD by phone is nearly impossible without some kind of help. that claimyr thing mentioned earlier might be your best bet if you need to actually talk to someone

Keep copies of everything - your termination paperwork, any emails about performance, your unemployment application, etc. You never know what you might need later.

The bottom line is that being fired doesn't automatically disqualify you. Performance issues are very different from misconduct in Washington ESD's eyes. File your claim and let them make the determination.