Washington ESD unemployment benefits after termination - am I eligible?

Yes, you can definitely apply for unemployment benefits after being terminated as long as it wasn't for misconduct. Washington ESD looks at the reason for termination, not just the fact that you were terminated. If it was due to restructuring like you said, that should qualify you for benefits.

File your claim as soon as possible! Don't wait because your benefit year starts from when you file, not when you were terminated. The sooner you get your Washington ESD claim in, the sooner you can start receiving benefits if approved.

The key thing Washington ESD looks at is whether the termination was for 'misconduct connected with work.' Things like poor performance, attendance issues due to illness, or company restructuring usually don't count as misconduct. But if you were fired for stealing, violating company policy willfully, or insubordination, that could disqualify you.

I was in a similar situation last year and had trouble getting through to Washington ESD to check on my claim status. Kept getting busy signals or hung up on after waiting forever. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual person at Washington ESD. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Made the whole process way less stressful.

Just make sure you keep documenting your job search once you start filing weekly claims. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week and they do audit people randomly.

ugh the washington esd system is such a pain. took me 6 weeks to get my first payment after filing because they had to do some investigation or whatever. hope yours goes smoother

When you file your initial claim, be completely honest about the circumstances of your termination. Don't try to make it sound better or worse than it was. Washington ESD will find out the truth anyway when they contact your employer.

Also make sure you have your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment information for the last 18 months ready when you file. Washington ESD's online system will ask for all that stuff and it's easier if you have it organized beforehand.

The Washington ESD system has gotten better over the past couple years but it's still glitchy sometimes. If you run into technical issues filing your claim online, don't panic - just try again later or early in the morning when there's less traffic.

One thing to remember is that even if your employer contests your claim, you can still appeal if Washington ESD denies you initially. Don't give up if you get a denial letter - you have rights in this process.

I got fired from my last job for being late too many times (my fault, not disputing that) and still qualified for benefits because Washington ESD said it wasn't willful misconduct since I had legitimate transportation issues. So even if there were some performance issues, you might still qualify depending on the circumstances.

Just want to second the recommendation for Claimyr if you need to talk to Washington ESD. I used them when I had questions about my weekly claim requirements and it saved me so much frustration. Way better than trying to get through on your own.

Make sure you understand the difference between 'fired' and 'laid off' when you're filling out your claim. If it was truly restructuring like you said, that's more like a layoff even if they called it a termination. The terminology matters to Washington ESD.

Another heads up - your former employer will get a notice about your unemployment claim and they have the right to contest it if they think you shouldn't get benefits. Most employers don't bother unless it was a termination for serious misconduct, but just be aware it could happen.

Don't forget that you'll need to file weekly claims every week once your initial claim is processed, even if you're still waiting for a determination. Missing a weekly claim can delay your benefits.