Washington ESD unemployment if you get fired - eligibility questions
So I got terminated from my job last week and I'm wondering if I can still file for unemployment benefits with Washington ESD. It wasn't for anything criminal or really bad, just some performance issues that built up over time. My supervisor said it was due to not meeting productivity standards. I've been working there for almost 2 years and this is my first time dealing with unemployment. Can you still get benefits if you were fired rather than laid off? I'm really stressed about this because I have bills to pay and I don't know what my options are.
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CyberSamurai
Yes, you can potentially get unemployment even if you were fired, but it depends on the reason. Washington ESD looks at whether you were terminated for 'misconduct' or just performance/inability to do the job. Performance issues usually don't disqualify you from benefits.
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Andre Dubois
•That's a relief to hear. How do I know if what I was fired for counts as misconduct? They said it was productivity but I'm worried they might claim something else to ESD.
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CyberSamurai
•Misconduct has to be willful or deliberate violation of company rules. Not being able to keep up with productivity standards generally isn't considered misconduct unless you were deliberately slacking off.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
File your claim right away! Even if your employer contests it, you might still get approved. I got fired for attendance issues and still got my benefits after they reviewed my case.
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Andre Dubois
•How long did the review process take? I'm worried about how I'll pay rent if this drags on for weeks.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
•It took about 3 weeks for them to make a decision. You should file immediately though because benefits start from when you file, not when you were terminated.
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Jamal Carter
You definitely need to apply as soon as possible. The worst thing that can happen is they deny you, but if you don't apply at all you get nothing. When I had trouble reaching Washington ESD to ask questions about my eligibility, I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling.
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Andre Dubois
•I'll check that out, thanks. I tried calling Washington ESD yesterday and couldn't get through after waiting on hold for over an hour.
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Mei Liu
•Never heard of Claimyr but honestly anything that helps with getting through to Washington ESD sounds worth trying. Their phone system is a nightmare.
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Liam O'Donnell
Been there done that! Got fired from my retail job for being late too many times and still got approved for unemployment. The key is being honest on your application about why you were terminated.
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Andre Dubois
•Should I mention the performance issues specifically or just say I was terminated?
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Liam O'Donnell
•Be specific about the performance issues. Don't lie because your employer will probably give their side of the story anyway. Better to be upfront.
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Amara Nwosu
DONT GET YOUR HOPES UP TOO HIGH. I got fired and they denied me initially. Had to go through the whole appeal process which took forever. Washington ESD sides with employers most of the time in my experience.
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CyberSamurai
•That's not necessarily true. It really depends on the circumstances of the termination. Performance issues are different from misconduct.
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Amara Nwosu
•Maybe, but I'm just saying be prepared for them to deny you first. The system is set up to make it hard on people who actually need help.
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AstroExplorer
File online at esd.wa.gov as soon as you can. You'll need your social security number, employment history, and details about why you were terminated. The sooner you file the better.
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Andre Dubois
•Do I need any documentation from my employer or just the information about why I was fired?
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AstroExplorer
•Just the basic info for now. If they contest your claim later, then you might need documentation. But for the initial filing you just need dates and reason for separation.
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Mei Liu
Same thing happened to my brother last year. He got fired for not hitting his sales quotas and still got unemployment. As long as you weren't stealing or doing something obviously wrong you should be fine.
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Andre Dubois
•That makes me feel better. I wasn't doing anything dishonest, just couldn't keep up with the workload they expected.
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Giovanni Moretti
I would definitely apply but also start looking for work immediately. Even if you get approved, unemployment doesn't pay as much as your regular job and you have to meet job search requirements anyway.
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Andre Dubois
•What are the job search requirements? Do I have to apply to a certain number of jobs each week?
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Giovanni Moretti
•Yes, you have to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep a log of your job search activities. Washington ESD can audit this so keep good records.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
One thing to remember - if your employer contests your claim, don't panic. They often do it automatically even when they don't have a strong case. I've seen people get approved even after the employer contested it.
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Andre Dubois
•How will I know if they contest it? Will Washington ESD notify me?
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Zoe Alexopoulos
•Yeah they'll send you a notice if there's a dispute. Then you might have to provide more information or even do a phone interview to explain your side.
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CyberSamurai
Another thing - make sure you file your weekly claims even if your initial claim is under review. You don't want to miss out on benefits for weeks you were eligible just because you forgot to file.
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Andre Dubois
•Good point. I'll make sure to do that. Is there a deadline for filing the weekly claims?
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CyberSamurai
•You have to file by the deadline shown in your account, usually Sunday night by midnight. Don't miss it or you might lose that week's benefits.
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Jamal Carter
If you run into issues with adjudication taking forever, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really helped me get answers. Sometimes these cases get stuck in the system and a quick call to the right person can get things moving again.
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Andre Dubois
•I'll keep that in mind if my claim gets stuck. Right now I'm just focused on getting the application submitted.
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Fatima Al-Farsi
Just wanted to say good luck! Being fired is stressful enough without worrying about money. Most people don't realize you can get unemployment even when you're terminated as long as it wasn't for serious misconduct.
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Andre Dubois
•Thanks for the encouragement. I'm feeling more confident about applying now after reading everyone's responses.
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