Apply for ESD unemployment in WA or OR if you worked in Oregon but live in Washington?

You should file with Oregon since that's where you worked and where your employer paid unemployment taxes. It doesn't matter where you live - what matters is where the work was performed. This is called an "interstate claim" and is pretty common in border areas like Vancouver/Portland. Make sure you have all your employment information ready when you file.

i had this EXACT issue last yr. lived in camas worked in portland. trust me File with OR!!! thats where ur employer paid the taxes. WA will just reject u and waste ur time

Actually, this is a bit more complicated than the other responses suggest. You need to file your initial claim with the state where you worked (Oregon), but if you've worked in multiple states during your base year, you might be eligible to combine wages. If you've only worked in Oregon for the past 18 months, then yes, file with Oregon. Their system is designed to handle out-of-state residents. You'll just need to make sure you're following Oregon's work search requirements, not Washington's, which can be a bit confusing sometimes.

I had to file an interstate claim with Oregon while living in Washington a few months ago. Getting through their phone system was IMPOSSIBLE - I spent three weeks trying several hours each day and couldn't reach anyone to help with questions I had. I finally found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to a live person at Oregon UI within about 15 minutes. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 It was worth it for me because I needed to resolve issues with my Oregon claim immediately and couldn't wait weeks trying to get through. Just sharing since you mentioned having trouble with their phone line.

Wait i thought u could choose?? My neighbor works in portland too but got laid off and filed w/ washington no problem. did i misunderstnad him?

When I was laid off from my job in Oregon (while living in Battle Ground), I tried to file with Washington first because I didn't know better. WA rejected my claim and told me I had to file with Oregon. Huge headache and wasted almost 3 weeks figuring it out. Oregon's system is terrible compared to WA's in my experience - totally antiquated and confusing. Just make sure when you report your job searches that you're following OREGON'S rules, not Washington's! Oregon requires 5 job contacts per week vs Washington's 3. I messed that up and it delayed my payments.

You can do everything remotely. They never made me go to an Oregon WorkSource office in person. But be prepared - their online system is much clunkier than Washington's. Make sure you screenshot EVERYTHING as proof just in case.

Just to add to what everyone else is saying - I know someone who tried to be clever and filed in both states thinking they'd get whichever approved first... ended up getting flagged for potential fraud and had to deal with investigations in both states. DON'T DO THAT lol. Stick with Oregon since that's where you worked.

One more thing I forgot to mention - make sure you're looking at Oregon's rules for their waiting week. When I filed my interstate claim, I had to serve a waiting week in Oregon before benefits started. Just something to budget for if you're tight on cash right now.

Hey Diego! I'm in a similar situation - just got laid off from my job in Beaverton while living in Longview. From what I've researched and heard from others in border communities, you definitely need to file with Oregon since that's where your wages were earned and where your employer paid into their unemployment system. A few tips that might help: Try filing your Oregon claim early in the morning (like 6-7 AM) when their system is less congested. Also, gather all your employment documents beforehand - pay stubs, your final termination letter, etc. The Oregon system can be slow but it does work. One thing that caught me off guard was that Oregon requires you to register with their WorkSource system separately from your UI claim, so make sure you do both. Good luck getting through to them!

I just went through this same situation a couple months ago - worked in Tigard, lived in Kelso. Definitely file with Oregon! I made the mistake of trying Washington first and wasted two weeks before they told me I had to file with Oregon instead. Pro tip: Oregon's website works much better on desktop than mobile. I kept getting kicked out when trying to file on my phone, but had no issues once I switched to my laptop. Also, make sure you have your last 18 months of pay stubs ready - Oregon asked for way more employment history details than I expected. The interstate thing isn't as complicated as it sounds once you get started. Oregon handles Washington residents pretty regularly since so many people cross the river for work. You got this!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who's been through this recently. I worked in downtown Portland while living in Battle Ground and got laid off in January. Filed with Oregon as everyone's suggesting - it's definitely the right move. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that Oregon will mail your benefit debit card to your Washington address no problem, but it can take 7-10 business days to arrive. If you're tight on cash like I was, you might want to set up direct deposit instead during your initial application - it's faster once your claim is approved. Also, Oregon's customer service is rough, but if you absolutely need to speak with someone, try calling right at 8 AM when they open. I had better luck getting through then versus trying later in the day. The Claimyr service that @Zara Ahmed mentioned is legit too - I used it once when I had a payment hold and couldn't wait weeks to get through. Hang in there Diego, the initial setup is the hardest part but once you're in the system it gets easier!