Washington ESD unemployment eligibility after being fired - can I still qualify?

You can definitely still apply! Getting fired doesn't automatically disqualify you from Washington ESD benefits. It depends on WHY you were fired. If it was for misconduct (like stealing, fighting, etc.) then you'd be disqualified. But if it was for performance issues or just general 'not a good fit' reasons, you should be eligible. The key is that it has to be misconduct that's connected to your work.

Apply as soon as possible. Washington ESD will investigate your separation and make a determination. Your employer will have a chance to provide their side of the story, but if it's truly just performance-related, you should be approved. The worst that can happen is they deny it and you can appeal if you disagree with their decision.

I was in a similar situation last year - got let go for 'not meeting expectations' at a call center job. Washington ESD approved my claim after about 2 weeks of adjudication. The key thing is being honest about what happened when you file. Don't try to sugarcoat it or make yourself look perfect, just state the facts about why they said you were terminated.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD to ask questions about your specific situation, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you actually get through to speak with someone. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. I used it when I was confused about my claim status and finally got to talk to an actual person instead of getting hung up on.

The Washington ESD system is such a joke. They make it so hard to get benefits even when you're legitimately entitled to them. I got fired from my warehouse job for 'attendance issues' (I was 5 minutes late twice in 6 months) and they still made me jump through hoops for weeks before approving my claim.

Wait, so if you get fired for being bad at your job you can still get unemployment? That doesn't seem right. What's to stop people from just not trying at work if they know they'll get benefits anyway?

def apply right away, worst case they say no and you appeal. I know someone who got fired for failing a drug test and even they got benefits because it was marijuana and they had a medical card lol

Thanks everyone for the advice! I'm going to apply online tonight. One more question - do I need to wait until my last day of work or can I apply immediately after getting fired?

Just make sure you're actively looking for work once you start receiving benefits. Washington ESD requires you to make job search contacts each week and keep a log. Don't skip that part or you could lose your benefits.

I'm going through something similar right now - got terminated 3 weeks ago and my claim is still in adjudication. It's nerve-wracking waiting to hear back but at least I know I'm not alone in this situation.

That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier - the phone situation with Washington ESD is impossible. At least with their service you don't have to sit there redialing all day trying to get through to someone.

Been there! Got fired from my restaurant job during COVID and was so worried I wouldn't qualify. Turned out the adjudication process was pretty straightforward. They just wanted to confirm I wasn't fired for something serious like stealing tips or showing up drunk.

The whole system needs an overhaul. Why should people have to worry about whether they can get benefits when they lose their job through no fault of their own? It's supposed to be insurance that we all pay into.

honestly the retail industry is notorious for firing people right before they'd qualify for raises or benefits. sounds like you got screwed over but at least you have UI as a safety net while you find something better

Make sure you document everything about why you were fired. Save any emails, performance reviews, etc. If your employer tries to claim it was misconduct later, you'll want evidence to support your side of the story.

I work in HR and see these situations all the time. As long as it wasn't gross misconduct (violence, theft, harassment, etc.) you should be fine. Performance issues rarely disqualify someone from UI benefits.

File ASAP! I waited a week after getting fired and always regretted not starting the process immediately. Every day you wait is potentially money lost.

Quick question - do you have to be actively looking for work while your claim is being adjudicated? Or only after it's approved?

Had a friend who got fired from Boeing for performance issues and had no trouble getting UI. It's really about whether you did something intentionally wrong or just weren't a good fit for the job.

Don't let them intimidate you into not applying. Some employers will try to scare you by saying you won't qualify, but that's not their decision to make - it's Washington ESD's job to determine eligibility.

I went through almost the exact same situation about 6 months ago - got let go from my job for "performance reasons" after working there for over a year with no prior warnings. I was really stressed about whether I'd qualify for benefits, but I applied anyway and got approved after about 3 weeks of adjudication. The key thing that helped me was being completely honest in my application about what my employer told me when they fired me. Don't try to spin it or make it sound better than it was - just state the facts. Washington ESD is pretty good at distinguishing between actual misconduct and employers just wanting to cut costs. Good luck with your application!