Can I claim WA unemployment if quitting to move out-of-state for family caregiving?

Generally, voluntarily quitting your job without "good cause" disqualifies you from receiving unemployment in Washington. Moving out of state to accompany a spouse can sometimes qualify as good cause, but there are specific requirements. Your situation is complicated because your wife doesn't have the job yet, just a pending arrangement. Check out ESD's handbook section on "good cause to quit" - I think there's something about family obligations, but it's really case-by-case.

I quit my job last year to move with my husband to Oregon and applied for WA unemployment. ESD denied my claim initially because I quit "voluntarily" but I appealed and won because I proved it was to accompany my spouse. BUT (and this is important) my husband already had a job offer in writing before we moved. Since your wife doesn't have the actual job yet, just a pending application, ESD might deny your claim. The exact rule is that quitting to relocate for a spouse's employment can be good cause, but timing matters!

u should talk to esd before quiting. my freind got denied bcuz he quit without talking to his boss about tranfer options first. esd is super picky about this stuff

This is a tricky situation. From my experience working with unemployment cases, you might want to consider these points: 1. Washington considers quitting to relocate with a spouse who has secured employment elsewhere as "good cause" - but the key is *secured* employment. 2. Since your wife's employment is pending approval and not guaranteed yet, there's a significant risk your claim would be denied. 3. If possible, wait until your wife actually has the official employment offer/approval before you quit. 4. Be prepared for the possibility of having to appeal an initial denial. 5. Document EVERYTHING related to your wife's caregiver application and approval process - you'll need it if you have to appeal. Also, be aware that even if you do qualify, you'll need to be actively seeking work in Montana to maintain eligibility for benefits.

Honestly, trying to reach ESD to get a clear answer before you quit is your best bet. I've been trying to get through to them for weeks about my own claim issue and it's impossible - always busy signals or disconnects after hours on hold. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual ESD agent. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Since your situation is so specific, talking directly to an agent who can look at the guidelines would be worth it rather than guessing and potentially losing benefits.

I think everyone is missing a KEY POINT here!!! You're moving to MONTANA but applying for WASHINGTON unemployment?? That's two different states! You need to look into how interstate claims work. When I moved from WA to Idaho, I had to file an interstate claim and it was a NIGHTMARE of paperwork!!! Also be ready for delays because ESD will have to verify everything with your employer, and then coordinate with Montana's system.

When my daughter had to quit her job to take care of me after my surgery, ESD denied her claim at first. She had to go through the whole appeal process. Do you have any medical documentation for your mother-in-law's condition? That might help your case. My daughter had to get letters from my doctor explaining why she needed to quit to care for me.

To answer your question about waiting - I would strongly recommend waiting until your wife has received the official employment confirmation before you quit. This gives you the strongest case. If you quit before she has secured the position, ESD will likely view it as quitting without good cause. Also, remember you'll need to be able and available for work and actively seeking employment in Montana to qualify for benefits. Be prepared to document your job search activities there according to Washington's requirements.

I went through something similar when my husband got a job offer in Colorado. One thing that really helped my case was getting a letter from HR at my company stating that they had no remote work options or transfer opportunities available. ESD wants to see that you explored all reasonable alternatives before quitting. Since your situation involves family caregiving, you might also want to get documentation from Montana's caregiver program showing that your wife is in the approval process - even if she doesn't have the job yet, it demonstrates this isn't just a casual move. Also, keep in mind that Montana has a lower cost of living than Washington, so if you do get approved, your benefit amount might go further there than it would here.

I've been following this thread and wanted to add something that might help. I work in HR and have dealt with several employees who needed to quit for family caregiving situations. From what I've seen with ESD cases, the timing of your wife's employment status is crucial, but don't overlook the caregiving aspect itself. Washington does recognize family caregiving responsibilities as potential "good cause" for quitting, especially when it involves relocating to care for an elderly parent or in-law who needs assistance. My suggestion would be to gather documentation on multiple fronts: 1) Medical documentation of your mother-in-law's need for care, 2) Official correspondence from Montana's caregiver program showing your wife is in the approval process, 3) A letter from your current employer confirming no remote work or transfer options, and 4) Any timeline information from the Montana program about when approval is expected. Even if your wife doesn't have the job "secured" yet, if you can demonstrate this is a legitimate family caregiving situation with a high likelihood of employment (not just speculation), you might have a stronger case than initially thought. The key is showing ESD this isn't just a voluntary move but a necessary one for family care responsibilities.