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 went through this exact situation about 6 months ago - worked in Portland, lived in Vancouver, got laid off. Everyone's right that you need to file with Oregon, but here's something I wish someone had told me: Oregon's system will ask for your Social Security number AND an Oregon driver's license number during registration. Since you live in WA, you obviously don't have an Oregon license, so just leave that field blank - the system will still accept your application. Also, when you're doing your weekly certifications, make sure you're using Oregon's job search portal (iMatchSkills) for logging your work search activities. I initially tried using Washington's WorkSource system thinking it would be easier, but Oregon requires you to use their specific platform. Cost me a week of benefits when they flagged my certification for not following their process correctly. The good news is once you get through the initial setup hurdle, the weekly certifications are pretty straightforward. Hang in there!

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!

Adding to all the great advice here - I just went through this same situation last month after being laid off from my job in Hillsboro while living in Olympia. Everyone's absolutely right about filing with Oregon, and I want to emphasize a few things that really helped me: 1. The Oregon system definitely works better early morning like others mentioned - I successfully filed at around 6:30 AM on a Tuesday with no timeouts. 2. Have your employer's Federal EIN number ready if possible. Oregon asked for it during my application and I had to call my former HR to get it, which delayed things. 3. When you get to the work search requirements, Oregon lets you count networking activities and job fairs as valid contacts, not just direct applications. This made hitting their 5-per-week requirement much more manageable. 4. One thing that surprised me - Oregon actually processed my interstate claim faster than I expected. Got my first payment about 2.5 weeks after filing, including the waiting week. The cross-border commuter thing is super common in our area, so don't stress too much about the process once you get started. Oregon's system is clunky but it works. Good luck with your filing!

Hey Diego! I'm also a Vancouver resident who worked in Portland and had to navigate this when I got laid off about 8 months ago. Everyone here is giving you solid advice - definitely file with Oregon since that's where your wages were earned. One thing I'd add that I learned the hard way: when you're setting up your Oregon claim, make sure you select "No" when they ask if you have an Oregon Work Permit or Authorization. I initially clicked "Yes" thinking it was asking about general work authorization, but that's specifically for people with work permits in Oregon. It flagged my account and caused a delay while they sorted it out. Also, Oregon's "Restart Your Claim" feature is your friend if you get kicked out during the application process (which happens a lot). Don't start over completely - just use that option and it'll take you back to where you left off. The good news is that once you get through the initial setup, Oregon handles interstate claims pretty smoothly. Their payment system works fine with Washington banks and addresses. The hardest part really is just getting that initial claim filed correctly. You've got this!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been helping folks with interstate unemployment claims in the Vancouver/Portland area for a while. You're getting excellent advice here - definitely file with Oregon since that's where you worked and where your employer paid unemployment taxes into the system. A few additional tips based on what I've seen help people in your situation: 1. When Oregon asks for your "last day worked," make sure you use your actual last day of employment, not the day you were notified of the layoff. This trips up a lot of people. 2. Keep detailed records of every step - screenshot confirmation pages, write down any reference numbers, save emails. Oregon's system can be glitchy and having documentation helps if you need to call later. 3. For the work search requirement, remember that Oregon requires 5 contacts per week but they're pretty flexible about what counts. Attending virtual job fairs, LinkedIn networking, even informational interviews with people in your field can count as valid contacts. 4. Don't panic if your first certification gets held up for manual review - this is common with interstate claims and usually resolves within a week or two. The process seems overwhelming at first, but thousands of Washington residents successfully file Oregon claims every year. Once you get that initial claim submitted, you'll feel a lot better. Good luck!

I went through this exact situation about a year ago - worked in Beaverton, lived in Longview, got laid off unexpectedly. Everyone here is absolutely right about filing with Oregon, and I wanted to add a few things that really helped me get through the process: First, try to file your claim on a weekday morning if possible - I had much better luck with Oregon's system around 7-8 AM on Tuesday/Wednesday versus trying on Mondays or weekends when it seemed more overloaded. Second, when you're gathering documents, don't forget about any severance or vacation payout information. Oregon will ask about any payments you received after your termination date, and having those details ready speeds up the process. One thing that caught me off guard was Oregon's initial interview process - they called me about 10 days after filing to verify my employment details and separation reason. The call came from an Oregon number I didn't recognize, so make sure you're answering calls even if they look like potential spam. The good news is that once you get through the initial hurdles, Oregon's payment system works smoothly for Washington residents. I never had issues with direct deposit, and they were good about recognizing job search activities in the Washington market for their weekly requirements. Hang in there - the first couple weeks are definitely the most stressful part, but you'll get through it!