Washington ESD unemployment - if I got fired can I apply for unemployment benefits?

Yes, you can definitely apply for unemployment benefits in Washington even if you were fired! The key is WHY you were fired. If it was for misconduct (like stealing, fighting, or willfully violating company policy), then you probably won't qualify. But if it was for performance issues, inability to do the job, or other non-misconduct reasons, you should be eligible. Washington ESD will investigate during the adjudication process to determine if your termination was for misconduct or not.

I got fired for attendance issues last year and still got approved for UI benefits. The key is being honest on your application about why you were terminated. Washington ESD will do their investigation anyway, so don't try to hide anything.

I had so much trouble getting through to anyone at Washington ESD when I had questions about my claim after being fired. The phone lines are constantly busy and their online system doesn't always have clear answers. If you run into issues getting information about your claim status, I recently discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually gets you through to ESD agents. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. It was a lifesaver when I needed to check on my adjudication status.

JUST APPLY ALREADY! Stop overthinking it. Even if you're not sure about eligibility, let Washington ESD make that determination. The worst they can do is deny your claim, but at least you'll know for sure. You can always appeal if you disagree with their decision.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Got fired three weeks ago for not meeting sales targets and filed for unemployment immediately. My claim is still under adjudication but I'm hoping it gets approved since it wasn't misconduct, just performance issues. The waiting is killing me though.

Washington ESD has pretty clear guidelines about this. Generally, you're eligible for UI if you lose your job through no fault of your own. Being fired for poor performance usually qualifies, but being fired for misconduct doesn't. The burden is on your employer to prove misconduct occurred.

One thing to keep in mind is that even if you get approved, there might be some delay in payments while they sort everything out. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even during adjudication, otherwise you could miss out on benefits for those weeks.

The whole system is such a mess. I've been trying to get answers about my own claim for weeks and can never get through to anyone at Washington ESD. Their website isn't helpful either when you have specific questions.

Whatever you do, be completely honest on your application. Don't try to sugarcoat why you were fired or make it sound better than it was. Washington ESD will find out the truth anyway when they contact your employer.

I got fired from my last job for attendance (medical issues) and was worried I wouldn't qualify but Washington ESD approved my claim after adjudication. They determined that my attendance issues were due to legitimate medical reasons, not misconduct. Every case is different but don't assume you won't qualify just because you were terminated.

File immediately! Don't wait. Even if there's adjudication, you want to get your claim started as soon as possible. The sooner you file, the sooner you can potentially start receiving benefits.

Just remember you'll also need to start doing your job search activities once you file. Washington ESD requires you to apply for jobs and log your job search efforts every week to keep getting benefits.

The Washington ESD website has a good FAQ section about eligibility after termination. Might be worth reading through that before you file so you know what to expect during the process.

Been through this process twice unfortunately. First time I was denied because they said my termination was for misconduct, but I appealed and won. Second time I was approved right away. Don't give up if you get denied initially - you can always appeal the decision.