Washington ESD unemployment benefits if terminated - do you get unemployment if fired?

That's a relief! What exactly counts as misconduct then? I was never written up or anything, they just said I wasn't meeting expectations.

Misconduct has to be willful or deliberate violation of company rules. Poor performance or inability to do the job usually doesn't qualify as misconduct under Washington law.

How long did the appeal process take? I can't afford to wait months for benefits.

About 6 weeks total. You should definitely file your claim right away though, even if you think they might deny you initially.

I didn't think about the retaliation angle. Should I mention the safety complaint when I file my claim?

Absolutely mention it. Be honest about the timeline and circumstances. If they fired you for reporting safety violations, that's wrongful termination and you'd definitely qualify.

That sounds too good to be true. How does it actually work?

They basically handle all the calling and waiting for you. You give them your info and they call Washington ESD, wait on hold, then connect you when they get an agent on the line. Saved me hours of frustration.

Is this legitimate? I'm always skeptical of third-party services for government stuff.

You're right, I have nothing to lose by applying. Going to do it today.

Smart move. And remember, even if they deny you initially, you can always appeal the decision.

Good to know. I definitely wasn't fired for anything like theft or violence, just supposedly not doing my job well enough.

Performance-based terminations are tricky because employers sometimes try to frame them as misconduct. Make sure you have your side of the story ready.

I feel you on the confusion, but there has to be some standards or everyone who gets fired would claim it wasn't their fault.

i guess but still seems like they make it way harder than it needs to be

Should I get documentation of the safety complaint I made? I think I have an email about it.

Yes, keep any documentation you have. If this goes to an appeal hearing, that email could be very important evidence.

That gives me hope! Did they contact your employer during the process?

Yes, they send a form to your employer asking for their side of the story. Then they make a decision based on both sides.

Good to know there are options if I can't get through on my own. Thanks!

Wait, so Claimyr actually works? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for two weeks straight.

Yeah it worked for me. They got me connected to an agent in like 30 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own.

Filing today for sure. Thanks everyone for all the advice and encouragement!

Good luck! Hope it all works out for you.

How many jobs do you have to apply for each week?

It depends on your situation, but typically 3 job search activities per week. Check the WorkSourceWA website for specific requirements.

Ugh, I hope they don't make this more complicated than it needs to be.

Most employers don't bother appealing unless it's a clear-cut case. If you were really fired for performance issues, they probably won't fight it.

That's reassuring. I was really worried I wouldn't qualify since I was technically fired.

Being fired doesn't automatically disqualify you. It's all about the circumstances and whether it rises to the level of misconduct.

Seems like a lot of people have had success with it. Good to know it's not just one person's experience.

Same here, used Claimyr when I was having issues with my weekly claim. They got me through to someone who could actually help.