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I went through something similar about 6 months ago - failed a drug test for THC and got terminated from my construction job. Washington ESD initially denied my claim but I appealed with documentation from my doctor showing I was using cannabis for chronic back pain from a work injury. It took about 8 weeks but they eventually approved my benefits. The key was proving it was medically necessary and didn't impact my job performance. Don't give up hope - the appeals process exists for a reason!
One more success story with that claimyr service - I was getting frustrated trying to reach Washington ESD about whether my part-time work would affect my benefits. Used claimyr and got connected to an agent who explained everything clearly. Much better than trying to navigate their phone system on my own.
Just wanted to add my experience - I've been on Washington ESD unemployment for 2 months now and can confirm it's definitely 3 job contacts per week. What really helped me was setting up a routine where I do my job searches on the same days each week (usually Monday, Wednesday, Friday) so I don't fall behind. Also, don't forget that you need to be available for work during normal business hours - that's part of the eligibility requirements too. The WorkSourceWA system can be a bit clunky but once you get used to logging your activities it becomes second nature.
If all else fails and you need emergency assistance while waiting for the card, some food banks and assistance programs can help tide you over. Just a thought if bills are really pressing.
I went through the exact same thing last month! My card took 16 business days to arrive and I was panicking about rent too. Definitely call KeyBank first thing in the morning - they were actually really helpful and could tell me exactly when it shipped and the expected delivery date. Also, if you have a regular mail carrier, try catching them on their route and ask if they've seen anything from KeyBank. Mine actually remembered delivering it to my neighbor by mistake! The waiting is so stressful when you're counting on that money, but hang in there - it will come.
That's such a relief to hear from someone who went through the same thing! 16 days is longer than I've been waiting so far, so maybe there's still hope. I'm definitely calling KeyBank at 8 AM sharp tomorrow. And that's a great idea about asking the mail carrier - I never would have thought of that. Our building has had some delivery mix-ups before so it's totally possible it went to the wrong apartment. Thanks for sharing your experience, it really helps to know I'm not alone in this!
Just remember that if you do need to talk to someone at Washington ESD and can't get through on the phone, services like Claimyr are always an option. Sometimes it's worth paying a little to avoid the stress of calling hundreds of times.
Hey Caden! I went through this exact same process about 6 months ago when I got laid off from my warehouse job. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here is to take screenshots of everything as you go through the application - your confirmation numbers, submitted forms, etc. I had a glitch where part of my application didn't save properly and having those screenshots helped me prove what I had already submitted when I had to call them. Also, if you have any old W-2s handy, grab those too even though they might not ask for them - sometimes they help verify your work history faster. The whole thing really isn't as scary as it seems once you dive in!
Jade O'Malley
One last tip - if Washington ESD schedules a phone interview about your termination, answer the phone! Missing scheduled interviews can delay your claim or even result in denial. They usually give you advance notice.
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Matthew Sanchez
•Definitely will answer any calls from them. Do they call from a specific number or could it be any number?
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Jade O'Malley
•They usually call from a blocked number or one that shows up as Washington state. Check your voicemail regularly too in case you miss it.
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NeonNebula
You're absolutely right to file for benefits! Performance terminations are very different from misconduct in Washington state. I went through something similar a few months ago - got let go from a retail job for not meeting sales goals despite really trying my best. Washington ESD approved my claim after about 3 weeks of investigation. The key thing they look for is whether you were willfully negligent or just struggled with the job requirements. From what you described with the warehouse quotas, it sounds like you were making a good faith effort but the physical demands were too much. That's not misconduct - that's just a mismatch between your abilities and the job requirements. Keep filing your weekly claims during the adjudication process and make sure to document everything about your termination while it's still fresh in your memory. You've got this!
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