Washington ESD unemployment benefits if fired - do you get unemployment if you're fired?
My manager terminated me last Friday for what they called 'performance issues' but I think it was really because I complained about unsafe working conditions at our warehouse. I've been paying into unemployment for 8 years and never filed a claim before. Can I still get Washington ESD benefits if I was fired? I'm worried they'll deny me because it wasn't a layoff. Has anyone dealt with this situation?
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Esmeralda Gómez
Yes, you can potentially get benefits even if fired! Washington ESD looks at whether you were terminated for 'misconduct.' Performance issues usually don't count as misconduct unless it was willful or deliberate. You should definitely file your claim and let them investigate.
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Yuki Tanaka
•That's reassuring! Should I mention the safety complaint in my application or wait to see if they ask?
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Esmeralda Gómez
•Be honest about everything when you file. Washington ESD will contact your employer anyway, so it's better they hear your side first.
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Klaus Schmidt
I got fired from a retail job for being late too many times and still qualified for benefits. The key is whether it was misconduct connected to your work. Poor performance alone usually isn't enough for Washington ESD to disqualify you.
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Aisha Patel
•Really? I always thought getting fired meant no unemployment. This is good to know.
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Klaus Schmidt
•Nope, that's a common misconception. Even some firings qualify as long as it wasn't for stealing, violence, or other serious misconduct.
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LilMama23
I had to call Washington ESD multiple times to check on my claim status when I was in a similar situation. The phone lines are absolutely brutal - busy signals, getting disconnected after waiting 2 hours, it's insane. I finally found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to an agent in like 10 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration trying to reach someone at Washington ESD.
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Dmitri Volkov
•How much does that cost though? I'm already broke from being unemployed.
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LilMama23
•It was worth it for me since I was spending hours every day trying to get through. Check out claimyr.com - they focus on helping people reach Washington ESD agents when you actually need to talk to someone.
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Yuki Tanaka
•I might need this if my claim gets complicated. Thanks for the tip!
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Gabrielle Dubois
Washington ESD will investigate the reason for termination. They'll ask both you and your employer for details. If your employer can't prove misconduct, you'll likely get approved. Document everything about the safety issues you reported!
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Yuki Tanaka
•I have emails about the safety concerns I sent to HR. Should I keep those ready?
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Gabrielle Dubois
•Absolutely! Any documentation showing you were acting responsibly could help your case if they try to claim misconduct.
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Tyrone Johnson
this happened to my brother last year and he got his benefits no problem. washington esd approved him even though he was technically fired for attendance. took like 3 weeks to process though
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Yuki Tanaka
•That gives me hope. Did he have to appeal or did they approve it right away?
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Tyrone Johnson
•they approved it initially but it went to adjudication for a few weeks while they reviewed everything
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Esmeralda Gómez
Just to clarify the misconduct standard - Washington ESD defines it as a willful disregard of the employer's interests, or deliberate violation of workplace rules. Poor performance, inability to do the job, or good faith errors typically don't qualify as misconduct.
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Ingrid Larsson
•What about if you're fired for violating a company policy you didn't know about?
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Esmeralda Gómez
•That could go either way depending on whether the policy was clearly communicated and if the violation was intentional. Washington ESD looks at the specific circumstances.
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Klaus Schmidt
•Yeah they really dig into the details. I had to provide a written statement explaining my side of what happened.
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Carlos Mendoza
THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST WORKERS! I got fired for 'attitude problems' which was really just me standing up for myself and other employees. Took me 6 weeks and an appeal to get my benefits because my scumbag employer lied to Washington ESD about what happened.
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Yuki Tanaka
•That's awful! Did you have any documentation to prove they were lying?
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Carlos Mendoza
•I had witness statements from coworkers and emails showing the real reason. Eventually won the appeal but it was a nightmare dealing with Washington ESD bureaucracy.
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Zainab Mahmoud
File your claim immediately! Don't wait even if you're unsure about eligibility. The worst they can do is deny it, but you might be surprised. I know several people who got benefits after being fired for non-misconduct reasons.
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Yuki Tanaka
•Good point. I'll file this weekend when I have time to gather all my employment info.
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Ava Williams
•You can file online 24/7 through SecureAccess Washington. The application isn't too complicated if you have your employer info ready.
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Raj Gupta
I'm dealing with something similar right now - got fired for 'not being a good fit' after 6 months. My claim is still in adjudication and it's been 3 weeks. The waiting is killing me financially.
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LilMama23
•Have you tried calling to check on the status? If you can't get through, that Claimyr service I mentioned really works for reaching Washington ESD agents quickly.
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Raj Gupta
•I've tried calling but always get busy signals. Might have to check out that service if this drags on much longer.
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Gabrielle Dubois
•Adjudication for firing cases often takes 3-4 weeks since they have to investigate both sides. Hang in there.
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Lena Müller
depends on your state but in washington they're pretty fair about this stuff. my cousin got fired for being 'too slow' at her cashier job and still got unemployment. performance issues usually don't count as misconduct
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Yuki Tanaka
•That's encouraging. I feel like my firing was more about retaliation than actual performance problems.
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Lena Müller
•yeah if you have any evidence of retaliation definitely include that in your claim
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TechNinja
Be prepared for your employer to fight it. Some companies automatically contest every unemployment claim to try to keep their rates low. Don't let that discourage you - most workers win these disputes if they weren't fired for actual misconduct.
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Yuki Tanaka
•What happens if they contest it? Do I need a lawyer?
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TechNinja
•You don't need a lawyer for the initial appeal process. Washington ESD will schedule a phone hearing where both sides present their case. It's pretty informal.
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Esmeralda Gómez
•Exactly. The hearing officer just wants to understand what really happened and whether it meets the legal definition of misconduct.
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Keisha Thompson
I got fired for being 5 minutes late one time after 2 years of perfect attendance. Still got my benefits because Washington ESD said it was an isolated incident and not a pattern of misconduct. Sometimes employers overreach.
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Paolo Bianchi
•Wow, that seems really harsh of your employer. Glad Washington ESD saw through that.
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Keisha Thompson
•Yeah they were just looking for an excuse to get rid of me I think. At least the unemployment system worked correctly.
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Yara Assad
Whatever you do, don't quit before they fire you thinking it will look better. Quitting makes it much harder to get benefits. If you're going to be terminated anyway, let them terminate you.
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Yuki Tanaka
•Good to know! I did consider quitting when I saw the writing on the wall but I'm glad I didn't.
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Olivia Clark
•This is such important advice. So many people make this mistake and then can't get unemployment.
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Javier Morales
Make sure you apply for jobs and keep your job search log updated while your claim is processing. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week even during adjudication periods.
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Yuki Tanaka
•I haven't started the job search yet since I just got fired Friday. When do I need to start logging activities?
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Javier Morales
•Start immediately when you file your first weekly claim. You can use WorkSourceWA.com to search and track applications.
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Esmeralda Gómez
•The job search requirement starts with your first week of claimed benefits, so get started ASAP.
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Natasha Petrov
I used Claimyr twice when my claim got stuck in adjudication limbo. First time was to check status, second time was when I needed to provide additional documentation. Way better than spending entire days trying to reach Washington ESD on your own.
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Connor O'Brien
•Did they actually help resolve your issues or just get you through to someone?
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Natasha Petrov
•They get you connected to a real Washington ESD agent who can actually access your claim and make changes. Much more effective than the general customer service number.
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Amina Diallo
Documentation is key! Keep records of your work performance reviews, any disciplinary actions, emails about the safety issues, anything that shows the real reason for termination. Washington ESD investigators are pretty thorough.
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Yuki Tanaka
•I have my last performance review from 6 months ago that was actually pretty positive. Should I include that?
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Amina Diallo
•Absolutely! Positive reviews followed by sudden termination for 'performance' can actually strengthen your case.
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GamerGirl99
honestly the whole system is confusing but from what i understand getting fired doesnt automatically disqualify you. they look at why you got fired not just that you got fired
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Yuki Tanaka
•That makes sense. I feel better about my chances now after reading everyone's responses.
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Hiroshi Nakamura
•yeah just be honest when you file and let washington esd sort it out. they deal with this stuff all the time
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Isabella Costa
File your claim this week! There's a waiting period anyway so the sooner you get the process started the better. Even if it goes to adjudication you'll get back pay for the weeks you were eligible once it's approved.
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Yuki Tanaka
•Thanks everyone for all the advice. I'm feeling much more confident about filing now. I'll get my claim submitted this weekend and start job searching Monday.
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Esmeralda Gómez
•Good luck! Remember to file your weekly claims even during adjudication to preserve your benefit weeks.
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LilMama23
•And if you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about your case, don't waste hours on hold - check out that Claimyr service. Really made a difference for me.
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