Washington ESD unemployment benefits - can u get unemployment if fired?

Yes, you can potentially get unemployment benefits even if you were fired, but it depends on the reason. Washington ESD will investigate whether the termination was for 'misconduct' or just poor performance. Performance issues alone usually don't disqualify you, but if they determine it was willful misconduct, your claim could be denied.

The key distinction Washington ESD makes is between being fired for misconduct versus being fired for inability to do the job. If you were let go due to lack of skills, poor performance, or not being a good fit (but not due to intentional wrongdoing), you should still qualify for benefits. However, if you were terminated for things like theft, insubordination, or violating company policy, that's considered misconduct and would disqualify you.

I went through this exact situation last year! Got fired for 'performance issues' and was terrified I wouldn't qualify. Filed my claim anyway and it got approved after about 2 weeks of adjudication. The trick is being honest about what happened but also explaining your side of the story when they contact you.

Just be prepared for the adjudication process if they need to investigate. When I got fired (similar situation - they said performance but it was really personality conflicts), my claim went into adjudication for about 3 weeks. I had such a hard time getting through to Washington ESD to check on the status. I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real person at Washington ESD. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really helped me get answers about my adjudication.

Here's what you need to know about the process: File your claim immediately, answer all questions honestly, and be prepared to provide documentation if requested. Washington ESD will send a fact-finding questionnaire to both you and your employer. They'll ask about the circumstances of your termination, your work history, and any disciplinary actions. The decision usually takes 1-3 weeks.

ugh the unemployment system is so confusing!!! i got fired too but for attendance issues and they approved my claim. meanwhile my friend got denied for something way less serious. makes no sense

The good news is that the burden of proof is on your employer to show that you committed misconduct. If they can't provide specific examples of policy violations or intentional wrongdoing, Washington ESD will likely approve your claim. Performance-related terminations are generally not considered disqualifying misconduct.

definitely file asap! even if ur claim gets denied initially u can appeal. i know someone who got denied first but won on appeal because the employer couldnt prove misconduct

I work in HR and see this situation a lot. Unless there was gross misconduct (like theft, violence, etc.), most performance-related terminations don't disqualify you from unemployment benefits. Washington ESD looks at whether the employee's actions were deliberate and against the employer's interests. Poor performance alone usually doesn't meet that standard.

File your claim TODAY! seriously dont wait. worst case they deny it and u appeal. best case u get approved and start getting benefits. theres literally no downside to filing

One more thing to keep in mind - even if your initial claim is approved, your former employer can still protest the decision if they disagree. This could trigger another round of review, but don't let that discourage you from filing. The majority of performance-related termination cases result in approved benefits.

been on unemployment twice after getting fired and both times got approved. key is being honest about what happened and not trying to hide anything. washington esd investigators can usually tell when someone is lying

Quick update on that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier - I actually used it again last month when I had questions about my job search requirements. Super helpful for getting through to Washington ESD when you actually need to talk to someone. Way better than sitting on hold for hours or having calls drop.

my brother got fired for performance and it took like 4 weeks to get approved because of adjudication but he eventually got all his back pay. just gotta be patient with the process

Remember that while your claim is being processed, you still need to file your weekly claims and meet the job search requirements. Even if you're in adjudication, keep doing everything you're supposed to do as if your claim is approved.

WASHINGTON ESD IS THE WORST!! took them 6 weeks to process my claim when i got fired even though it was obvious i should qualify. their phone system is broken and impossible to get through to anyone

For anyone reading this thread later, here's the bottom line: Being fired does NOT automatically disqualify you from unemployment benefits in Washington. The key factors Washington ESD considers are: 1) Was the termination for misconduct? 2) Was the misconduct willful and substantial? 3) Did you violate a known company policy? If the answers are no, you should qualify for benefits regardless of being fired.

just wanted to add that even if ur employer contests ur claim, dont panic. they have to provide specific evidence of misconduct. if they cant prove u did something intentionally wrong, washington esd will side with u

Good luck with your claim! Based on what you've described, it sounds like you have a good chance of getting approved. Just be patient with the process and don't hesitate to follow up if you don't hear anything for several weeks.

One last tip - when you file your claim, make sure to mention if you never received any written warnings or progressive discipline. That strengthens your case that it wasn't misconduct but just a performance issue or personality conflict.