Washington ESD unemployment benefits after termination - can I still qualify?

Yes, you can still get unemployment benefits even if you were terminated! Washington ESD doesn't automatically deny benefits just because you were fired. The key question is whether you were terminated for 'misconduct' or just poor performance. Performance issues usually don't count as misconduct unless you were willfully negligent or violated company policies. You should definitely file your claim right away since there's a waiting period.

That's such a relief to hear! What exactly counts as misconduct then? I was never written up for anything serious, just told my work wasn't meeting expectations.

Misconduct would be things like theft, harassment, repeatedly showing up late after warnings, or deliberately violating safety rules. Poor performance or not being a good fit for the job usually doesn't qualify as misconduct in Washington ESD's eyes.

Definitely file your claim ASAP! I was terminated last year for similar reasons and got approved. Washington ESD will contact your former employer to get their side of the story, but unless they can prove you did something deliberately wrong, you should be fine. The worst that happens is they deny it and you can appeal.

How long did it take for your claim to get approved? I'm worried about the bills piling up while they investigate.

Mine took about 3 weeks because they had to do an adjudication to review the termination. It was nerve-wracking but worth it when the benefits started coming through.

I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for days about my own claim issues but their phone lines are always busy. Has anyone found a way to actually get through to talk to someone? I keep getting disconnected after waiting on hold for hours.

I discovered this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. They basically call for you and stay on hold until someone picks up, then connect you. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration trying to get my adjudication sorted out.

That sounds too good to be true but I'm desperate at this point. Is it legit? I can't afford to get scammed on top of everything else.

Yeah it's totally legit, I was skeptical too. They just handle the calling part - you still talk directly to the Washington ESD agent yourself once they connect you. Way better than wasting entire days on hold.

The unemployment system is so confusing! I thought if you got fired you couldn't get benefits at all. This gives me hope because I might be facing the same situation soon - my boss has been really critical of my work lately.

It's a common misconception! Washington ESD looks at the reason for termination, not just the fact that you were terminated. Start documenting everything at work just in case - save emails, write down conversations about your performance.

Good advice, I'll start keeping better records. Should I be looking for another job while all this is happening?

Yes, Washington ESD requires you to actively search for work once you start receiving benefits. You'll need to log your job search activities each week when you file your weekly claim.

Got fired three months ago for 'attitude problems' - total BS if you ask me. Took forever to get through the adjudication process but eventually got approved. The whole system is designed to make you give up, but stick with it!

How did you handle the stress during the waiting period? I'm already losing sleep over this.

Honestly it sucked, I had to borrow money from family. But once the benefits kicked in I got backpay for the whole waiting period, which helped catch up on bills.

File online at secure.esd.wa.gov as soon as possible! Don't wait because there's a one-week waiting period before benefits start, plus processing time. Even if you're not sure you qualify, it's better to apply and find out than to wait and miss out on potential benefits.

I'll do that today. Do I need any special documents when I file?

You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the last 18 months. Also helpful to have your last pay stub and any termination paperwork if you have it.

same thing happened to me but with a retail job. they said I wasn't fast enough at stocking but I was doing my best. got unemployment no problem because it wasnt misconduct just not being good at the job

That makes me feel better about my situation. Did they contact your employer during the process?

yeah they called my manager but since I wasnt written up for anything serious they approved my claim pretty quickly

One thing to keep in mind - if your employer contests your claim, Washington ESD will do a thorough investigation. They'll want to hear both sides of the story. Be honest about what happened but emphasize that you were trying to do your job and any issues were performance-related, not intentional misconduct.

What if my employer lies about what happened? I'm worried they'll make it sound worse than it was.

That's why it's important to keep your own records and be prepared to explain your side clearly. Washington ESD adjudicators are used to sorting through conflicting stories.

The whole process gave me anxiety attacks! But I'm glad I stuck with it because I really needed those benefits. Don't let your former employer intimidate you - if you weren't doing anything deliberately wrong, you have a good chance of getting approved.

Thanks for the encouragement! I keep second-guessing myself about whether I should even bother applying.

You should definitely apply! The worst they can say is no, but you might be surprised and get approved. I thought for sure I'd be denied but here we are.

Just to add some technical detail - Washington ESD uses what's called a 'misconduct standard' to evaluate terminations. They look at whether your actions were willful, deliberate, or showed a disregard for your employer's interests. Simple incompetence or inability to meet performance standards typically doesn't meet this threshold.

This is really helpful information. Where can I find more details about how they make these decisions?

Check the Washington ESD website - they have detailed information about eligibility requirements and the appeals process if you need it later.

Whatever you do, don't wait! I made the mistake of waiting two weeks before filing because I was embarrassed about being fired. Those two weeks of benefits are just gone - you can't get them back even if you're approved later.

Oh no, I didn't realize there was a time limit like that. I'll file today for sure.

Yeah, benefits start from when you file the claim, not when you actually lost your job. Learned that the hard way!

I work in HR and deal with unemployment claims regularly. Most terminations for performance issues don't result in benefit denials unless there's clear documentation of policy violations or refusal to follow instructions. Your employer will need to provide specific evidence of misconduct, not just general performance complaints.

That's reassuring coming from someone who knows the system. I was never formally disciplined, just told I needed to improve.

That sounds like a pretty standard performance termination to me. As long as you weren't violating company policies or being insubordinate, you should be fine.

Been through this whole mess twice now unfortunately. First time I got denied because I was fired for being late too many times, but second time got approved when they laid me off due to 'performance issues' that were really just them cutting costs. Washington ESD does look at each case individually.

What was the difference between the two situations that made one get approved and the other denied?

First time I had written warnings for tardiness and kept showing up late anyway - that was misconduct. Second time I was just struggling to meet sales targets, which is performance but not misconduct.

If you do need to talk to Washington ESD about your claim status or have questions during the process, I'd recommend using Claimyr again. I mentioned it earlier but it really does work - they handle all the hold time and connect you directly to an agent. Super helpful when you're dealing with adjudication questions or appeals.

How much does something like that cost? Seems like it would be expensive.

It's worth checking their website for current pricing, but honestly after spending days trying to get through on my own, it was worth it for the time and stress saved.

File the claim online and answer all the questions honestly. They'll ask about the circumstances of your termination. Just explain what happened without being defensive - they're used to hearing these situations and know how to evaluate them fairly.

Should I mention that I think they were looking for reasons to fire me, or just stick to the facts?

Stick to facts about what they told you and what happened. Let Washington ESD draw their own conclusions about the employer's motivations.

ugh the whole unemployment system is such a nightmare. took me months to get through all the red tape when I got fired last year. but hang in there because you probably qualify if it was just performance stuff

Months?! That sounds terrible. How did you survive financially during that time?

had to move back in with my parents temporarily but eventually got all the back payments once everything was sorted out

Good luck with your claim! I was in a similar situation and ended up getting approved after about a month of back and forth. The key is being persistent and not giving up even if the process seems overwhelming.

Thank you for the encouragement! I'm feeling more confident about applying now after reading everyone's experiences.

You've got this! And remember that even if something goes wrong initially, you can always appeal the decision if needed.

Make sure you keep applying for jobs and documenting your job search once you start receiving benefits. Washington ESD takes the work search requirement seriously and you'll need to report your activities each week when you file your weekly claim.

How many jobs do I need to apply for each week? I want to make sure I'm doing everything correctly.

The requirement varies but generally it's at least 3 job search activities per week. Check the Washington ESD website for the current requirements as they can change.

Just wanted to add that if your employer tries to fight your claim, don't panic. I've seen lots of cases where employers contest unemployment claims just as a matter of policy, but Washington ESD still approves them because the termination didn't actually involve misconduct.

That's good to know. I was worried that if they contest it, I'd automatically lose.

Nope, Washington ESD makes their own independent determination based on the facts. They don't just take the employer's word for it.

Hope everything works out for you! Based on what you've described, it sounds like you have a solid case for getting benefits. The fact that you weren't written up for serious misconduct works in your favor.

Thanks everyone for all the advice and support! I'm going to file my claim today and see what happens.

Great decision! Remember to file your weekly claims on time once you're approved, and keep track of your job search activities. Good luck!

You should definitely file your claim right away! I went through a similar situation last year where I was terminated for "performance issues" after 6 months at my job. I was terrified I wouldn't qualify, but Washington ESD approved my claim because poor performance isn't the same as misconduct. The key is that you weren't doing anything willfully wrong or violating company policies - you were just struggling to meet their expectations, which happens to lots of people. Don't let the stress eat you alive while you wait - I know it's scary, but most performance-based terminations get approved. Make sure you have all your employment documents ready when you file online at secure.esd.wa.gov, and be completely honest about what happened. You've got this!