Washington ESD unemployment benefits if fired - need advice on eligibility

Yes, you can absolutely apply for unemployment benefits even if you were fired! Washington ESD will review your case to determine if the termination was for misconduct or not. Performance issues alone usually don't disqualify you unless there was willful misconduct involved.

File immediately! Don't wait. Even if Washington ESD denies your initial claim, you can appeal the decision. I was fired for 'attendance issues' but got approved because they couldn't prove it was willful misconduct.

I had such a hard time getting through to Washington ESD when I was going through something similar. Spent hours on hold trying to check my claim status. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to an actual agent. They have this video demo that shows exactly how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Saved me so much frustration!

The key thing Washington ESD looks for is whether you were fired for misconduct connected to your work. Performance issues, skill deficiencies, or good faith errors usually don't count as misconduct. But willful violations of company policy or insubordination can disqualify you.

ugh the washington esd system is so confusing... i got fired from my retail job 2 months ago and still dont know if im eligible or not. they keep asking for more paperwork

I was in a similar boat - got canned for supposedly being late too many times but it was really because my boss didn't like me. Filed anyway and got approved after they reviewed everything. Don't let them intimidate you into not applying.

The Washington ESD adjudication process is actually pretty fair if you're honest about what happened. They'll interview both you and your employer separately to get the full story.

Whatever you do, be completely honest on your application. If Washington ESD finds out you lied about anything, that's automatic disqualification. But being fired for performance isn't necessarily disqualifying.

Just went through this whole mess myself... got terminated in December and was convinced I wouldn't qualify. Turns out Washington ESD approved my claim because my employer couldn't prove I did anything wrong on purpose. Don't assume you're not eligible!

The whole system is rigged against workers anyway. They make it as hard as possible to get benefits even when you deserve them. But you should still try - you paid into the system through your paychecks.

File your claim online through the Washington ESD website as soon as possible. Even if there's an issue with your eligibility, you want to get your claim date established early.

I was so worried when I got fired last year but it ended up being fine. Washington ESD approved my claim and I got benefits for 4 months while I looked for a new job. The process isn't as scary as it seems.

Make sure you understand the difference between being fired for cause vs. being laid off. Washington ESD treats them very differently in terms of eligibility. Sounds like your situation might not be 'for cause' if it was really about the safety complaints.

BTW if you do need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about your claim, I had luck with that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. The regular phone lines are impossible but they got me through to an agent pretty quickly.

been there done that... got fired for 'attitude problems' which was code for standing up for myself. washington esd approved my claim after like 3 weeks of back and forth. dont give up

The most important thing is to file right away and then be patient with the adjudication process. Washington ESD has to investigate both sides fairly, which takes time but usually works out if you're telling the truth.

Good luck with your claim! Remember that even if they deny it initially, you have the right to appeal. Don't give up if the first answer isn't what you want to hear.

One more thing - make sure you're actively looking for work and keeping a job search log. Washington ESD requires that even while your claim is being adjudicated. Don't want to get tripped up on the work search requirements.

Honestly the worst part was the waiting and not knowing. Once Washington ESD made their decision and I started getting benefits, the stress went way down. Hope it works out for you!