Yes, it is legal for the employer to do anything you have described. As for delaying the claim, that is already a foregone conclusion, as you were not laid off due to lack of work, but were either fired, as you say, or voluntarily quit, as they say. In either case, the delay would be the same, as an investigation has to be done, and an initial decision has to be made either approving or denying benefits.
Be sure to certify for each week as it passes, whether or not you are approved. If the claim is approved, you will be back paid for weeks for which you have certified. No certification, no back pay.
If you were called in and told you were terminated, you will tell the ajudicator this, trying to state exactly what was said, when it was said, and by whom. If you ever uttered the words, "Ill just quit!" or "You can't fire me you s.o.b. cause I quit!" or something similar, that isn't very good for your side. But if it was done as an option to "we're going to fire you, you should just go ahead and quit so we won't have to put it on your record you were fired" that's another issue.
In other words, did you have the choice to stay at the job, and you elected to leave? Or were you told your job was over, that you could quit or be fired?
If you were fired, were there warnings, was their a clear cut disciplinary process before the termination, such as write ups for absenteeism or performance or something specific like that? Were you given any opportunity to change your behavior and not be fired? Be sure you tell the person who questions you with the unemployment office this very clearly.
But is it legal for them to protest the claim, say something different than you say is the reason you no longer work there...yeah.
