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Don't let them intimidate you into not applying. Some employers will try to scare you by saying you won't qualify, but that's not their decision to make - it's Washington ESD's job to determine eligibility.
I went through almost the exact same situation about 6 months ago - got let go from my job for "performance reasons" after working there for over a year with no prior warnings. I was really stressed about whether I'd qualify for benefits, but I applied anyway and got approved after about 3 weeks of adjudication. The key thing that helped me was being completely honest in my application about what my employer told me when they fired me. Don't try to spin it or make it sound better than it was - just state the facts. Washington ESD is pretty good at distinguishing between actual misconduct and employers just wanting to cut costs. Good luck with your application!
The whole misconduct determination process can be stressful but try not to panic. Washington ESD sees these cases all the time and they're generally pretty good at sorting out legitimate misconduct from employer retaliation or policy disputes. Your situation with the shared registers and small shortages doesn't sound like the type of willful misconduct they typically use to deny benefits.
I went through something similar with a "misconduct" termination about 6 months ago. The key thing to remember is that Washington ESD looks at the actual facts, not just what your employer claims. From what you've described - shared registers, small shortages that could have multiple causes, and no clear proof you were responsible - this sounds like you have a strong case. Make sure to emphasize in your claim that multiple employees used the same register and that the shortages were minor and could have been honest mistakes or system errors. I'd also suggest writing down a detailed timeline of events while everything is still fresh in your memory. The adjudication process can take a few weeks, but don't let that discourage you from filing immediately. Even if there's an initial denial, the appeal process gives you another chance to present your case. Stay positive and document everything!
This is exactly the kind of detailed advice I needed to hear! Writing down the timeline is a great idea - I'm already starting to forget some of the specifics about which days the shortages supposedly happened. It's encouraging to know that someone with a similar situation made it through the process successfully. I'm definitely going to emphasize the shared register issue since that seems to be my strongest point. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience!
Thanks for posting this question OP! I'm in the exact same boat - just got hired and was stressed about how to properly end my claim. This thread has been super informative and now I feel confident about filing my final weekly claim correctly.
Just wanted to add one more important tip - make sure to keep all your documentation from your job search and final claim filing for at least a year after you close your claim. I had Washington ESD audit my claim 8 months after I ended it (they do random audits) and I was so glad I had kept all my records. Screenshots of your final weekly claim, copies of job search logs, documentation of your start date, etc. It only took them a few days to clear the audit because I had everything organized, but without those records it could have been a nightmare.
One additional tip: When searching, try both acronyms and full terms. For example, search for both "ESD" and "Employment Security Department" or both "UI" and "unemployment insurance." Different users use different terminology, and you'll get more comprehensive results this way. Also, if your issue is time-sensitive (like most unemployment matters are), don't spend too long searching if you can't find an answer. It's better to ask a potentially duplicate question than to miss important deadlines for your claim.
I've found that using multiple search terms at once can be really helpful too. Like if you're dealing with adjudication, try searching "adjudication stuck" or "adjudication timeline" - those phrases tend to pull up the most relevant recent discussions. Also, don't forget to check the pinned posts at the top of the forum! The moderators usually pin the most common issues and their solutions there, which might save you time before diving into search results.
Clay blendedgen
I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier when I couldn't get through to Washington ESD about my adjudication. Definitely helped me get the answers I needed instead of waiting weeks for a callback that never came.
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Khalid Howes
•I'll keep that in mind if I run into issues with my claim. Hopefully the online filing process goes smoothly.
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Clay blendedgen
•The online filing is pretty straightforward. It's getting help when you have questions that's the hard part.
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Keisha Jackson
I went through something similar last year - got terminated for "performance issues" but it was really just a way for them to downsize without calling it layoffs. I filed for unemployment right away and was approved after about 3 weeks of review. The key is being honest about what happened and providing any documentation that shows you were making a good faith effort to do your job. Washington ESD really does look at whether you were willfully negligent or just unable to meet unrealistic expectations. Don't let your employer scare you into not filing - they often make it sound worse than it is to discourage claims.
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