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Thanks everyone for all the advice! I feel much more confident about the move now. I'm going to try to get through to Washington ESD to confirm everything, and if I can't reach them I'll try that Claimyr service. Really appreciate all the help!
I went through this exact situation when I moved from Seattle to Portland in 2023 while collecting benefits. Here's what I learned: You absolutely can continue collecting Washington unemployment after moving out of state, but you need to be proactive about it. First, update your address in eServices immediately - don't wait. Second, make sure you understand that your job search requirements don't change just because you moved. You still need to complete 3 job search activities per week, but now they should be for positions in your new location where you can actually accept work. The key thing Washington ESD cares about is whether you're "able and available" for work. Moving to Oregon actually worked in my favor because there were more opportunities in my field than where I was living in Washington. I never had any issues with my benefits, but I was very careful to document everything and kept detailed records of all my job applications. One tip: if you do need to speak with someone at ESD about your specific situation, don't waste time trying to call during peak hours. The phone system is brutal, but getting clarity on your situation before you move is definitely worth the effort.
This is such valuable first-hand experience! I'm actually in almost the exact same situation - currently collecting Washington unemployment and considering a move to Portland to be closer to family. Your point about the "able and available" requirement makes total sense. I've been worried that ESD might see moving out of state as somehow being less committed to finding work, but it sounds like as long as you're genuinely job searching in your new location, it shouldn't be an issue. Did you notice any difference in how quickly your weekly claims processed after you moved, or was it pretty much business as usual once you updated your address?
This is really helpful to hear from someone who's been through it! I'm a newcomer to this whole unemployment system and honestly feeling pretty overwhelmed by all the rules and requirements. Your experience gives me hope that moving out of state while collecting benefits is actually doable if you're careful about it. I'm curious about one thing though - when you say you kept detailed records beyond what ESD requires, what exactly did that look like? Did you create your own spreadsheet or just save confirmation emails from job applications? I want to make sure I'm protecting myself but don't want to go overboard with documentation if it's not necessary. Also, did you give ESD any advance notice about your move, or did you just update your address after you relocated?
Welcome to the community @Ella Lewis! I'm glad this thread has been helpful for you. Day 12 is still early in the process, so try not to stress too much yet. One thing I learned during my own adjudication wait is to screenshot your weekly claim confirmations and keep a backup record of your job search activities - just in case there are any system glitches or if you need to reference them later. The ESD system can be unpredictable sometimes. Also, if you haven't already, make sure your direct deposit info is set up correctly so when your claim does get approved, the payments can go through smoothly. Wishing you a quick resolution!
Thanks @Julian Paolo for the warm welcome and great advice! I hadn t'thought about screenshotting my weekly claim confirmations - that s'really smart. I ll'start doing that right away. My direct deposit is already set up from when I first applied, but I ll'double-check to make sure everything looks correct. It s'so reassuring to have experienced people like you sharing practical tips. This waiting game is tough but at least I feel more prepared now thanks to everyone s'guidance!
I'm new to this community and currently dealing with my first unemployment claim experience. Reading through this entire conversation has been incredibly helpful and reassuring! I've been in adjudication for 8 days now and was starting to panic, but seeing @Gianni Serpent's successful resolution after 24 days and hearing from others like @ApolloJackson and @Ella Lewis who are going through the same thing makes me feel so much better. The advice about keeping up with weekly claims, documenting job searches, and taking screenshots is invaluable. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space where people can share real experiences and practical tips during what is honestly one of the most stressful times. It's amazing how much anxiety gets reduced just by understanding that this waiting period is normal and that claims do eventually get processed!
Update us on what happens! If you do manage to get through by phone, ask the agent to check if there are any flags or issues on your account causing the pending status. Sometimes there's a simple verification step needed that isn't obvious in the online portal.
I finally got through to ESD this morning! Called exactly at 8:00am like someone suggested. Turns out there was an employer response they were waiting on that was delaying everything. The agent pushed it through manually and said my payments should process within 48 hours. So much better than waiting for a message response that might never come. Thanks everyone for the advice!
That's awesome news Diego! So glad you got it resolved. This is exactly why I always tell people to call for payment issues - the messaging system just isn't built for time-sensitive problems like pending payments. The fact that there was an employer response holding things up shows how these issues often need immediate attention that only a phone agent can provide. Hopefully this helps other people in similar situations realize that sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and spend the morning trying to get through by phone.
Final thought - even if your claim gets approved, remember that partial unemployment benefits are usually much less than full unemployment. But every little bit helps when your hours are inconsistent.
I work PRN at a surgical center and went through this exact process about 6 months ago when my hours dropped to almost nothing. One thing that really helped was keeping a detailed log of when I was available for shifts vs when shifts were actually offered. Washington ESD asked me about this during my phone interview - they wanted to make sure I wasn't turning down available work. Also, don't be discouraged if your first application gets flagged for review. PRN status can be confusing for the initial processing system, but once you talk to an actual person they usually understand the situation better. The partial benefits I received weren't huge but definitely helped bridge the gap during the really slow months.
This is really helpful advice! I hadn't thought about keeping a log of availability vs actual shifts offered. That's a smart way to document that you're not turning down work. Did you have to provide that log during your phone interview, or was it just helpful to have for reference when answering their questions?
Omar Fawaz
The system is actually pretty straightforward for seasonal workers once you understand it. The confusion usually comes from people not knowing about the base period earnings requirements.
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Chloe Martin
•Agreed! A lot of seasonal workers think they can't get benefits because they only worked a few months, but as long as you earned enough in the right quarters you qualify.
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Connor O'Neill
•That was exactly my confusion - I thought seasonal work somehow didn't count the same way. Good to know it's treated like any other job for UI purposes.
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Diego Rojas
One last tip - if your seasonal job was through a temp agency make sure you understand who your 'employer' was for Washington ESD purposes. Sometimes it's the agency, sometimes it's the actual worksite.
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Anastasia Sokolov
•Good point though - temp agency situations can definitely complicate the wage reporting aspect of seasonal claims.
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Dananyl Lear
•I had a temp agency situation with my seasonal warehouse job last year and it was such a headache! The agency wasn't reporting wages correctly to Washington ESD and I had to get them to fix their records before my claim could be processed. Make sure to keep all your paystubs if you're working through an agency.
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