Washington ESD unemployment if i get fired from a job - can i still get benefits?

What counts as misconduct exactly? Being late because of childcare issues doesn't seem like stealing or anything serious like that.

Attendance issues can be tricky. If it's due to circumstances beyond your control (like lack of childcare), that's different from just oversleeping or not showing up without reason. Washington ESD will look at whether you made reasonable efforts to address the problem and whether your employer provided adequate warnings.

How long did the adjudication process take for you? I'm worried about how I'll pay bills while they're investigating.

Mine took about 3 weeks, but I've heard it can be longer depending on how busy they are. You should file your claim as soon as possible after you're terminated - don't wait!

Never heard of that service before. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?

It's legit - they basically handle the phone tree nightmare for you and get you connected to a real person at Washington ESD. I was skeptical too but it saved me so much time and frustration.

Did you have any documentation about the policy or lack of training? That can be important evidence in an appeal hearing.

thats the thing - they never gave me a handbook or anything. just said I should have known better. so frustrating dealing with all this bureaucracy

Good point about the waiting period. I didn't know about that. So even if I'm approved, I won't get paid for the first week?

Correct - the first week is unpaid regardless. It's just how the system works in Washington.

That's interesting! My supervisor never gave me any written warnings, just verbal ones. Would that help my case?

Potentially yes. If they didn't follow proper progressive discipline (verbal warning, written warning, final warning, termination), that can work in your favor during the adjudication process.

This is why companies need to document everything properly. Can't just fire people without following procedure.

Definitely worth it if you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD. The regular phone system is basically impossible to get through on.

Yeah I've been trying to call for days with no luck. Might give it a shot.

Really? I was actually thinking about quitting before they fire me. Why is getting fired better?

because if you quit you have to prove you had 'good cause' which is a high bar. if youre fired they have to prove it was misconduct. easier to defend against misconduct than prove good cause

Good advice. I do have some emails where I told my supervisor about my childcare problems ahead of time.

Perfect! That shows you were communicating about the issue and trying to be responsible about it. That's exactly the kind of thing that can help your case.

This is so true. My friend got denied for something minor while I got approved for something that seemed worse. It really depends on who reviews your case.

That's why it's important to present your case clearly and provide good documentation. Some adjudicators are more thorough than others in reviewing the evidence.

How does the appeal process work? Is it complicated?

You file an appeal within 30 days of the disqualification decision, then you get a hearing scheduled. It's pretty formal but you can represent yourself. The judge will listen to both sides and make a decision.

Wait, I have to look for work even before my claim is approved? That seems weird.

Yep, the job search requirement starts immediately. If your claim gets approved later, they'll check that you were meeting the requirements the whole time.

How much does something like that cost though? Money's tight if you're unemployed.

It was worth it for me to get my issues resolved quickly rather than stress about it for weeks. Sometimes you gotta spend a little to save a lot of time and worry.

That's encouraging to hear. My babysitter kept canceling last minute and I couldn't find backup care on short notice.

Exactly - that's a documented external circumstance beyond your control. Make sure to explain that clearly when you file your claim.

I don't think I'll get any severance since I'm being fired, but good to know about vacation pay.

Yeah, they have to pay out accrued vacation in Washington, so just make sure to report it when you file your weekly claims.

Thanks everyone for all the advice. Feeling a lot less panicked about this whole situation now. Will definitely file right away if/when it happens.

Good luck! The system can be frustrating but it does work most of the time for legitimate claims.