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One more resource - the Washington State Labor Council sometimes has advocates who can help with these kinds of situations. Might be worth reaching out to them too.
This thread has been really helpful. I'm in a similar situation with a different type of injury and wasn't sure about the unemployment/disability overlap either.
Just to summarize the key steps: 1) Gather all your employment and personal info, 2) Create your ESD account at esd.wa.gov, 3) Complete the initial claim application, 4) File weekly claims every week, 5) Keep a job search log, 6) Be patient with processing times. You've got this!
One practical tip - if you do end up filing a claim after quitting, be very thorough in your application. Washington ESD will ask detailed questions about why you left and what steps you took to resolve the issues. The more complete your initial application, the smoother the process tends to go.
Make sure you save or print confirmation pages during the application process. It's always good to have records of what you submitted and when.
One last piece of advice - if you start working again even part-time while receiving benefits, make sure you report those earnings on your weekly claim. They'll adjust your benefits accordingly but you need to be upfront about it.
Miguel Castro
The key thing about unemployment insurance is that it's temporary and conditional. You're not just getting free money - you have ongoing obligations like filing weekly claims, conducting job searches, and being available for work. Washington ESD monitors compliance pretty strictly.
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Ethan Davis
•How do they monitor the job search part?
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Miguel Castro
•You have to keep a log of your job search activities and they can audit it. Plus you're registered with WorkSource so they can see some of your activity there.
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Zainab Ibrahim
Bottom line - unemployment insurance is earned income replacement for people who lose jobs through no fault of their own. In Washington, ESD administers it but the federal government sets some of the rules. You pay into it while working, then can draw from it when unemployed and actively job searching.
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Ethan Davis
•Thanks everyone! This has been really helpful. I feel much more confident about applying now.
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Connor O'Neill
•Good luck with your claim! Don't hesitate to ask more questions as you go through the process.
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