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

That's a relief to hear. How do I prove it wasn't misconduct? I don't have any documentation from HR about warnings or anything.

When you file your claim, you'll explain your side of the story. If your employer contests it, Washington ESD will investigate both sides. Keep any emails or documents you have about your job performance.

How long did it take for them to make a decision on your claim?

Mine took about 3 weeks because my employer initially contested it. They had to do an adjudication review to determine if I was eligible.

Never heard of that service before. Is it legit? I'm desperate to talk to someone at Washington ESD about my situation.

Yeah it's real, they basically help you get through the phone queue. I was skeptical at first but it worked and I finally got to speak with someone who could explain my claim status.

Interesting, might have to check that out. I've been calling Washington ESD for weeks with no luck getting through.

That makes sense. I definitely wasn't stealing or fighting, just couldn't seem to meet their productivity standards despite trying my best.

Same here - got fired for 'low sales numbers' but still qualified for UI. Performance issues aren't the same as willful misconduct.

Two months is a long time for adjudication. Have you checked your online account to see if there are any issues that need to be resolved?

yeah checked it like 100 times, just says 'under review' with no other info. So frustrating!

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr - was in the same boat with no updates on my claim status. Finally got through and found out what was holding things up.

Good point about framing it properly. I do think the training was inadequate and the goals they set were unrealistic for someone new to that type of work.

Exactly - emphasize any factors outside your control that contributed to the performance issues.

Do most employers contest these claims? I'm worried my old boss will try to fight it just to be spiteful.

Some do, some don't. Depends on the company and whether they think they have a strong case for misconduct.

My employer contested mine initially but dropped it once Washington ESD started asking for documentation they couldn't provide.

Exactly! The job loss is bad enough without worrying about whether I'll have any income while job hunting.

tell me about it, been living off savings for 2 months waiting for this claim to get resolved

How does the appeal process work? Is it complicated?

You file the appeal online or by mail within 30 days. Then there's usually a phone hearing where you can present your case to an administrative law judge.

I had to go through the appeal process and won. The key is having your documentation organized and being able to clearly explain what happened.

You're right, I should stop overthinking it and just file. Thanks for the encouragement!

Agreed - I wasted two weeks debating whether to file after I got terminated. Should have just done it right away.

That's interesting. I don't have medical issues but there were definitely circumstances at work that made it harder to succeed.

Yeah document everything you can remember about lack of support, unclear expectations, anything that shows it wasn't willful poor performance.

I understand the frustration, but Washington ESD does investigate both sides. Employers can't just make baseless claims without evidence.

Maybe in theory but in practice it feels like they always side with the employer first and make you fight to prove your innocence

I had the opposite experience - they were pretty fair in reviewing the facts of my termination.

That gives me hope. I really was trying my best at the job, just couldn't seem to hit their targets consistently.

Same situation for me - kept trying but the metrics they wanted were honestly unrealistic for most people.

Did you end up getting your benefits approved? Still thinking about trying that service myself.

Yeah, once I was able to speak with an agent and explain my situation properly, they cleared up the issue holding up my claim.

might have to try this, getting desperate to talk to someone about my claim that's been stuck for months

Oh wow, I didn't know that. So I should file weekly claims even before I know if I'm approved?

Yes, exactly! The weekly claims establish your benefit weeks. If you're approved later, you'll get paid for those weeks retroactively.

This is correct - always file your weekly claims to preserve your benefit weeks, even during adjudication.

What kind of documentation helped you the most in proving your case?

emails showing lack of clear guidance, witness statements from coworkers, anything showing you were trying to improve performance

Good reminder - I've been applying to jobs anyway but should start keeping better records of my applications.

Yeah you need to log into WorkSourceWA and track your job search activities. It's required to maintain eligibility.

That's exactly how I'm feeling right now. The uncertainty is almost worse than losing the job itself.

yep, the waiting and not knowing is killing me. wish they would just make decisions faster

hang in there, it does get resolved eventually. just try to stay on top of the process and don't let it consume your thoughts

Thank you so much for all the helpful advice! I'm going to file my claim tonight and start the process. Feeling much more confident now.

You've got this! The process seems scary at first but it's manageable once you get started.

And remember, if you need to speak with Washington ESD directly about your claim, services like Claimyr can help you get through faster than calling repeatedly.