Washington ESD unemployment if fired - can you still get benefits?

That's a relief to hear. What counts as misconduct exactly? I was never written up or anything like that.

Misconduct usually involves things like theft, violating safety rules, insubordination, or willfully refusing to do your job. Poor performance alone typically doesn't count as misconduct.

How long did it take for them to decide? I'm worried about the waiting period.

Took about 3 weeks for them to make a decision. They called both me and my former employer to get both sides of the story.

Have you tried using Claimyr? I found out about it from someone here and it actually got me through to a Washington ESD agent. They have a demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Way better than spending hours trying to call.

Never heard of that but I'll check it out. Anything is better than listening to that busy signal all day.

That's not really true. Washington ESD has specific guidelines they have to follow. If you were fired without misconduct, you should be eligible for benefits.

maybe on paper but in reality they make it as difficult as possible

Yes, that's completely normal. You'll need to file weekly claims even while your initial claim is being processed. Make sure you're looking for work and keeping track of your job search activities.

Good to know, thanks. I wasn't sure if I should be doing the weekly claims yet.

What was the appeal process like? Was it complicated?

Not too bad. Had to fill out some forms and they scheduled a phone hearing. Just be honest and stick to the facts about what happened.

I saved all my work emails to my personal account before I left. Should I print them out or something?

Keep digital copies but printing them might be good too. You never know what format they'll want if they need to review your case.

That's great! How much did the Claimyr thing cost? Might be worth it if I run into problems.

Check out their website at claimyr.com - they explain everything there. Honestly worth it just to avoid the frustration of trying to call normally.

Two months seems excessive. Have you tried contacting them directly? Your claim might be stuck somewhere in the system.

tried calling hundreds of times, never get through. might try that claimyr thing people are talking about

That makes me feel better about my situation. My boss never said I was doing anything wrong on purpose, just that I wasn't fast enough.

Exactly. There's a big difference between inability to do the job and unwillingness to do the job.

Do you think my employer will contest my claim? They seemed pretty mad when they fired me.

They might, but being mad doesn't give them grounds to successfully contest it. They need to prove misconduct, which is harder than people think.

The rules can vary between states, but most follow similar principles when it comes to misconduct vs. poor performance.

Don't panic. This is normal when employers contest claims. Just be honest during the interview and explain your side of what happened. Bring any documentation you have.

I had to do one of those interviews too. The Washington ESD person was fair and asked both sides questions. Just stick to the facts.

What's your situation? Sometimes there are specific things that can help move your claim along.

got fired for supposedly violating company policy but they never told me what policy. been in adjudication forever

Good point. I've been filing every week even though I haven't gotten any money yet. Wasn't sure if I should keep doing it.

Definitely keep filing. That's how you preserve your right to those benefit weeks.

three different jobs? maybe the problem isn't just the employers lol

hey, stuff happens. not everyone is perfect at every job they try

How long do you have to file an appeal if they deny you?

You have 30 days from the date on the determination letter to file an appeal. Don't wait - file as soon as possible.

Sounds like you handled it well. Most fact-finding interviews are pretty straightforward - they just want to get the facts from both sides.

Hope it works out for you! Keep us posted on what happens.

Thanks everyone for all the advice and support. This forum has been really helpful during a stressful time.

I keep seeing people mention this service. Is it legitimate? Seems too good to be true.

Totally legitimate. They basically call Washington ESD for you and get you connected to an actual person. Check out their demo video if you're curious about how it works.

Congratulations! Glad everything worked out for you.

Awesome news! Shows that the system does work when you present your case honestly.

Great to hear! Your thread will probably help other people in similar situations.