When are you entitled to unemployment benefits in Washington state?

The basic requirements are pretty straightforward - you need to have worked enough hours in your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters), be unemployed through no fault of your own, be able and available for work, and actively seeking employment. Since you worked 18 months, you should meet the work requirement. The key question is whether your termination was for misconduct.

You should definitely apply even if you're unsure about qualifying. Washington ESD will review your case and make the determination. If they deny you initially, you can always appeal. I was denied first but won on appeal when I provided more documentation about my termination.

I had a similar situation where I was terminated but wasn't sure if I qualified. Trying to get through to Washington ESD by phone was impossible - kept getting busy signals or hung up on after waiting hours. Finally found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Was able to get my questions answered about eligibility without the usual phone nightmare.

For Washington state, you're entitled if you meet the monetary requirements (earned at least $5,265 in your base period with earnings in at least two quarters), were separated from work through no fault of your own, and meet the ongoing requirements like job search. Your situation sounds like it could go either way depending on the specifics of your termination.

honestly the whole system is rigged against workers anyway. they make you jump through hoops and then deny claims for ridiculous reasons. i got denied because apparently missing one day of work due to a family emergency was 'misconduct' even though i called in. had to fight it for months.

The key thing about entitlement is that you have to be unemployed through no fault of your own. This includes being laid off, fired for reasons other than misconduct, or quitting for good cause. Performance issues usually don't count as misconduct unless the employer can prove it was willful or you ignored repeated warnings. Safety retaliation definitely isn't misconduct on your part.

Don't overthink it - just apply! The worst thing that happens is they deny you and you appeal. I was convinced I wouldn't qualify because I was fired but it turned out my employer couldn't prove misconduct. Got approved after the initial review. You have nothing to lose by applying.

Make sure you understand the ongoing requirements too. You'll need to file weekly claims, register with WorkSourceWA, conduct job search activities, and report any work or income. The entitlement isn't just about initial eligibility - you have to maintain it every week.

Been through this process twice and the biggest thing is having your documentation ready. Employment letters, pay stubs, anything that shows your work history and the circumstances of your separation. Washington ESD will request information from your employer too, so they'll get both sides of the story.

I was in almost the exact same situation last year. Fired for 'performance' but really it was because I filed a complaint with L&I about safety violations. Applied for unemployment and was initially denied, but appealed with all my documentation about the safety complaints. Won the appeal and got back pay for the weeks I was denied. Don't give up if you get an initial denial.

Just a heads up that even if you qualify, there's usually a one-week waiting period before you can receive benefits. So don't expect payment right away even if approved immediately. Also make sure to file your weekly claims on time every week or you could lose benefits for those weeks.

Another option if you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD is using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. I used it last month when I had questions about my claim status and couldn't get through on the phone. Worth checking out their demo video to see if it might help with your situation.

The bottom line is you're entitled to unemployment if you meet the work requirements, lost your job through no fault of your own, and can work. Based on what you described, you have a decent chance of qualifying, especially with the safety complaint angle. File the claim and let Washington ESD make the determination.

One more thing - if you do get approved, make sure you understand your benefit amount and duration. In Washington, you can receive up to 26 weeks of benefits, and the amount is based on your earnings during the base period. There's a calculator on the Washington ESD website to estimate your weekly benefit amount.

Pro tip: when you file your initial claim, be completely honest about the circumstances of your termination. Don't try to hide anything or sugarcoat it. Washington ESD will find out the truth anyway when they contact your employer, and being dishonest could hurt your credibility.

Also remember that while you're waiting for your claim to be processed, you should still be actively job searching and keeping records. If you get approved, they might ask for your job search log going back to when you first filed. Don't wait until you're approved to start looking for work.