Washington ESD unemployment when fired - will I qualify for benefits?
Got terminated from my warehouse job last Friday and I'm not sure if I can even apply for unemployment since I was fired. My supervisor said it was for 'performance issues' but honestly I think they just wanted to get rid of people before the busy season ends. I've been working there for 8 months and never had any written warnings or anything official. Does anyone know if Washington ESD will approve unemployment when fired like this? I really need the benefits to cover rent while I look for something new.
43 comments
Join the conversation
Olivia Clark
You can definitely apply for unemployment even when fired! Washington ESD looks at whether you were fired for 'misconduct' or just general performance/business reasons. If there were no formal warnings or if it was just performance related, you'll likely qualify. File your claim ASAP since there's a waiting period.
0 coins
Yara Assad
•Thanks! That's reassuring. Should I mention the performance issues they cited or just say I was terminated?
0 coins
Olivia Clark
•Be honest about what they told you but don't elaborate too much. Just state the facts - terminated for performance, no prior warnings, etc.
0 coins
Javier Morales
same thing happened to me last year, filed anyway and got approved after like 3 weeks of adjudication
0 coins
Yara Assad
•Did your employer fight it at all? I'm worried they might contest my claim.
0 coins
Javier Morales
•they didn't respond to Washington ESD so my claim went through automatically
0 coins
Natasha Petrov
The key thing Washington ESD looks for is willful misconduct vs. inability to perform. Performance issues usually don't disqualify you unless you were deliberately not doing your job or violating company policy. Since you had no warnings, you should be fine. Make sure to file your weekly claims even during adjudication.
0 coins
Connor O'Brien
•What if they claim I was late too much? I was probably late 4-5 times in 8 months but nothing major.
0 coins
Natasha Petrov
•Being late occasionally isn't usually considered misconduct unless it was excessive and you were warned. Document everything you remember about your employment.
0 coins
Amina Diallo
I had such a hard time getting through to Washington ESD when my claim went into adjudication after being fired. Spent hours calling every day with no luck. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to an agent. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Really helped me get my questions answered about the adjudication process.
0 coins
GamerGirl99
•How much does that cost? I'm already broke from being fired lol
0 coins
Amina Diallo
•Way cheaper than losing weeks of benefits while trying to reach them. The peace of mind was worth it for me.
0 coins
Yara Assad
•I might try this if I can't get through. The phone system is already driving me crazy.
0 coins
Hiroshi Nakamura
WASHINGTON ESD IS A NIGHTMARE TO DEAL WITH!!! They make it so hard to get benefits even when you deserve them. Took me 6 weeks to get my claim approved after being wrongfully terminated. The whole system is designed to deny people.
0 coins
Olivia Clark
•I understand the frustration but the adjudication process exists to verify eligibility. Most claims do get approved if you have a valid case.
0 coins
Hiroshi Nakamura
•Maybe but they could make it way easier to actually talk to someone about your case
0 coins
Isabella Costa
Quick question - do you have to do the job search requirements right away or can you wait until your claim is approved?
0 coins
Natasha Petrov
•You need to start job searching immediately after filing. Keep a log of your activities because Washington ESD can ask for it during adjudication or later.
0 coins
Isabella Costa
•Got it, thanks. Wasn't sure about the timing.
0 coins
Malik Jenkins
I was fired from a retail job 2 years ago for similar reasons and got unemployment no problem. As long as you weren't stealing or doing drugs or something serious, performance issues usually don't disqualify you. The burden is on the employer to prove misconduct.
0 coins
Yara Assad
•That's good to know. Did you have to provide any documentation during the process?
0 coins
Malik Jenkins
•Just had to fill out a form explaining my side of the story. Keep it simple and factual.
0 coins
Freya Andersen
make sure you file within like 4 weeks or something or you lose benefits
0 coins
Olivia Clark
•Actually you can backdate your claim but it's better to file as soon as possible. There's no strict deadline but earlier is always better.
0 coins
Eduardo Silva
This is exactly why I never trust employers when they say performance issues. Half the time they're just looking for an excuse to cut costs. File your claim and let Washington ESD sort it out. You paid into the system, you deserve to use it.
0 coins
Yara Assad
•Yeah I feel like they were just clearing house before things slow down. Thanks for the encouragement.
0 coins
Leila Haddad
•Companies do this all the time, especially in warehouse and retail. Don't let them intimidate you out of filing.
0 coins
Emma Johnson
When I was dealing with a similar situation, I couldn't get through to Washington ESD for weeks to ask about my adjudication status. Someone on here recommended Claimyr and it was a game changer. Got connected to an actual person who explained exactly what was happening with my claim. Definitely worth checking out if you run into phone issues.
0 coins
Ravi Patel
•Is it legit? Sounds too good to be true
0 coins
Emma Johnson
•Yeah it's real. They basically call for you and conference you in when they get an agent. Saved me so much frustration.
0 coins
Astrid Bergström
File ASAP and be prepared for adjudication. When they contact your employer, make sure you respond to any requests for information quickly. The faster you provide what they need, the faster your claim gets processed.
0 coins
Yara Assad
•How will I know if they need information from me? Email or mail?
0 coins
Astrid Bergström
•Check your eServices account regularly and watch for mail. They usually send correspondence both ways.
0 coins
PixelPrincess
been there, it sucks but you'll probably be fine. just don't give up if it takes a while
0 coins
Yara Assad
•Thanks, trying to stay positive about it all
0 coins
Omar Farouk
One thing to remember is that even if your employer contests it, Washington ESD makes the final decision based on their own investigation. I've seen plenty of people get approved even when their former employer tried to fight it. Don't let their threats scare you off from filing.
0 coins
Chloe Martin
•This is so true. Employers often make threats but don't follow through with the paperwork to contest claims.
0 coins
Yara Assad
•That makes me feel better. I was worried they'd automatically side with the employer.
0 coins
Diego Fernández
I went through the same thing at a call center job. Got fired for 'not meeting metrics' but really they were just downsizing. Filed for unemployment and got approved after about a month. The adjudication process was stressful but worth it. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even while it's pending!
0 coins
Yara Assad
•Good reminder about the weekly claims. I almost forgot about that part.
0 coins
Diego Fernández
•Yeah don't skip those or you'll lose benefits for those weeks even if you get approved later.
0 coins
Anastasia Kuznetsov
The waiting is the worst part honestly. Try to stay busy with job applications and remember that most people in your situation do get approved eventually.
0 coins
Yara Assad
•Thanks everyone for all the advice and support. Feeling much more confident about filing now.
0 coins