When can you get unemployment if fired - Washington ESD eligibility rules?

You can absolutely get unemployment benefits even if you were fired, but it depends on the reason. Washington ESD looks at whether you were terminated for 'misconduct' or not. Performance issues usually don't count as misconduct unless they involve willful negligence or refusing to follow reasonable job instructions.

File your claim ASAP! Don't wait thinking you won't qualify. I was fired from my retail job for 'attitude problems' (really just standing up for myself) and got approved after adjudication. The key is being honest about why you were terminated when you file.

I've been through this whole mess with Washington ESD when I got canned last year. Trying to reach them on the phone was absolutely impossible - spent hours on hold just to get disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr that actually gets you through to ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me weeks of frustration.

washington esd usually approves claims unless its for serious stuff like stealing or violence. performance issues are tricky - they have to prove you were deliberately doing bad work not just struggling with the job

The fact that you mentioned safety complaints is actually important here. Washington has whistleblower protections, and if you were fired for reporting safety issues, that could strengthen your unemployment claim significantly. Make sure to mention this during your adjudication interview.

I'm in a similar situation - got fired for 'insubordination' but really I just questioned why we had to work mandatory overtime without notice. Been afraid to file for unemployment because I thought getting fired meant automatic denial. This thread is giving me hope!

The Washington ESD adjudication process is actually pretty fair from what I've seen. They interview both sides and look at all the evidence. Just because your employer says you were fired for cause doesn't mean ESD will automatically believe them.

btw make sure you file your weekly claims even while your in adjudication or you'll lose those weeks

I work in HR and see these cases all the time. Employers often claim 'poor performance' when they really just want to avoid paying unemployment taxes. Unless there's documented progressive discipline and clear misconduct, most of these claims get approved.

One more thing - when you do your adjudication interview, be prepared with specific examples and dates if possible. Don't just say 'they treated me unfairly' but give concrete details about what happened.

The whole system is rigged against workers anyway. Companies fire people for BS reasons all the time and then fight the unemployment claims to save money. At least Washington ESD is better than some states about actually investigating these cases.

Update on the Claimyr thing I mentioned earlier - I used them again last month when I had questions about my job search requirements. Super easy to use and got connected to an ESD agent in like 10 minutes instead of spending all day on hold. Definitely recommend if you need to actually talk to someone there.

Just wanted to add that even if your claim gets denied initially, you can appeal. I had to go through the whole appeals process but eventually won. Don't give up if you get a denial letter - lots of people win on appeal.

To summarize for the OP: File your claim immediately, be honest about the termination reason, keep filing weekly claims during adjudication, gather any documentation about the safety complaints and your work performance, and don't be discouraged if there's an initial delay. Performance-based terminations often get approved for benefits.

The key thing to remember is that Washington ESD has to prove misconduct, not just that you were fired. Being fired for inability to do the job or personality conflicts usually isn't enough to deny benefits.

also make sure you start your job search right away even while waiting for adjudication. esd requires you to be actively looking for work

I got fired for 'attitude' problems too and they approved my claim. Turns out questioning your boss's decisions isn't misconduct according to ESD. File your claim and don't let them intimidate you.

Final tip: if you do get an adjudication interview scheduled, don't miss it! They usually only give you one chance and if you miss it, your claim gets denied. Mark it on your calendar and set multiple reminders.

This whole conversation has been super helpful. I'm dealing with a similar situation and was scared to even try filing. Nice to know there are people who actually got through the system successfully.

For anyone still struggling to reach Washington ESD by phone, seriously check out that Claimyr service I mentioned. I know I sound like a broken record but it actually works when you need to talk to someone there about your claim status or ask questions about adjudication.