Can I collect Washington ESD unemployment after workers comp settlement ends?

That's what I was hoping to hear! Do I need to wait a certain amount of time after the settlement or can I file right away?

You can file as soon as your employment ends. Just make sure you report the settlement when you file your initial claim - Washington ESD needs to know about any income you received.

That's a relief to hear! Do I need to mention the workers' comp settlement when I file my claim or just focus on the job separation?

Be honest about everything when filing. Washington ESD will want to know about the work injury and settlement, but it won't automatically disqualify you. The key is that you're able and available for work within your restrictions.

How long did it take for your claim to get approved? I'm worried about the adjudication process taking forever.

Mine took about 3 weeks but they had to verify everything with L&I first. Be patient but keep filing your weekly claims.

What kind of questions did they ask you about your restrictions? I can do most office work but no heavy lifting.

They asked about what types of work I could perform and if I was actively looking for jobs within my limitations. As long as you can show you're genuinely seeking work you can physically do, you should be fine.

I have all the medical paperwork from L&I showing my work restrictions. Should be enough right?

That should help, but Washington ESD might want their own medical verification. Be prepared to provide additional documentation if they request it during adjudication.

I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr (claimyr.com). They actually get you connected to a real Washington ESD agent without the endless hold times. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved my sanity when I needed to resolve my adjudication issues.

Never heard of that before but anything beats trying to call myself. Does it actually work?

Worked for me twice now. Much better than wasting entire days trying to get through on your own.

Workers' comp settlements are typically lump sum payments for medical expenses and disability, not ongoing income replacement. Once the case is closed, there's no more weekly benefits. Unemployment is for people who lose their jobs through no fault of their own - which applies here.

Exactly - the settlement was mostly for medical bills and some pain/suffering. It's not like I'm getting weekly payments anymore. I still need income while looking for a new job.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already strapped for cash.

I focused more on the fact that it actually worked to get me connected rather than the cost. When you're dealing with potential benefit issues, sometimes it's worth it to get real answers from ESD directly.

I have the termination letter stating they couldn't accommodate my lifting restrictions. Should I upload that when filing my claim?

Definitely include that with your initial filing. The more documentation you provide upfront, the smoother your adjudication process should go.

Oh no, I didn't think about that! The settlement was a one-time payment. How do they calculate how many weeks to spread it over?

They typically divide the settlement amount by your average weekly wage to determine how many weeks it covers. But every case is different - that's why you need to talk to them directly about your specific situation.

Did Washington ESD ask you a lot of questions about the workers' comp case during the interview?

They asked basic questions about the injury, settlement amount, and work restrictions during my fact-finding interview. Nothing too invasive. Just be straightforward.

This is so confusing. What's the actual difference between able and available?

' Able means'you re physically and mentally capable of 'working.' Available means'you re ready to accept suitable work and actively looking. With work restrictions, you can still meet both requirements as long as'you re seeking appropriatejobs.

What kind of problems? Like would they make me pay benefits back?

Yes, if they find out you didn't report income, they can create an overpayment and you'd have to pay back benefits plus penalties. Always better to be upfront.

That's exactly why services like Claimyr are helpful for complex cases like this. You can actually talk to a Washington ESD representative who understands these nuanced situations instead of guessing. Much better than filing blind and hoping for the best.

Good point. My restrictions aren't that severe - just no heavy lifting. I can still do most office work or light warehouse duties.

Workers' comp settlements typically aren't counted as wages for unemployment purposes since they're compensation for injury/medical expenses, not employment income. But every case is different.

The settlement was specifically for past medical bills and some disability compensation, not lost wages. Hopefully that makes a difference.

Good point. Should I ask HR for a letter explaining the termination reason?

Yes, get something official that states you were terminated due to the company's inability to accommodate your medical restrictions. That protects you from any misconduct or voluntary quit issues.

Already started the online application. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything important before submitting.

Good call. Make sure you mention both the work injury and the accommodation issue in your separation reason. Be thorough but concise.

Dude chill out. Workers comp is for getting injured at work - nobody wants to get hurt just to get a settlement. And if your employer fires you because of injury restrictions, that's still losing your job through no fault of your own.

I didn't choose to get injured. The settlement barely covered my medical bills and lost time. I just want to get back to work but need income while job searching with new limitations.

A month isn't too bad considering how complex the situation is. Did he have any trouble with the job search requirements?

He had to be creative about finding jobs within his restrictions but Washington ESD was reasonable about it. As long as you're genuinely looking and documenting your efforts, you should be fine.

That makes sense. I've already started looking at office jobs and light duty positions. Should I keep a log of where I apply?

Absolutely keep detailed records. Washington ESD can audit your job search activities at any time. Better to over-document than get caught unprepared.

That's what I was hoping. The termination letter is pretty clear that they tried to find me suitable work but couldn't given my restrictions.

Perfect. Keep that letter safe and make copies. That documentation could be the difference between approval and denial if your claim goes to adjudication.

That's reassuring. I'm definitely planning to be completely honest about everything.

That's the right approach. They'd rather work with you than catch you hiding something later.

How many jobs do I need to apply for each week?

I believe it's 3 job search activities per week in Washington, but check the current requirements when you file. Activities can include applications, networking, interviews, job fairs, etc.

I might need to look into that too. I've been trying to call ESD for weeks about my adjudication issue with no luck.

Yeah, the regular phone lines are brutal. This actually got me connected to someone who could pull up my claim and give me real answers instead of generic information.

It was through L&I. Does that change anything?

I'm not sure but I think L&I and ESD might have some coordination between agencies. Probably worth mentioning when you file your claim.

Good to know. How long do you usually have to appeal if they deny the claim?

Usually 30 days from when they mail the decision, but sometimes the mail is slow. Check your online account regularly and don't rely on just postal mail.

Thanks! I'll update the thread once I hear back from Washington ESD about my claim status.

Please do! I'll probably be filing my own claim in a few months so your experience will help me prepare.

That's a great suggestion. I hadn't thought about retraining but it might be necessary given my limitations.

Definitely worth exploring. Some programs can help with both income support and career transition when you can't return to your previous work.

I'm mostly done with treatment now, just occasional check-ups. Should I mention that in my weekly claims?

Only if it actually prevents you from working or looking for work during specific days. Routine medical appointments shouldn't be an issue as long as you're still available most of the time.

That's the second mention of Claimyr in this thread. Might be worth checking out if I run into problems.

It's especially helpful for complex cases like yours where there might be questions about how different benefit systems interact. Regular Washington ESD phone support isn't equipped to handle these nuanced situations.

Thanks for the reassurance. I was really worried I might not qualify and end up with no income while job hunting.

You should be fine. The key is showing Washington ESD that you're genuinely available for suitable work within your physical limitations. Good luck!

This is really helpful. I think I meet all those criteria so I'll go ahead and file my claim once my employment officially ends.

Good luck with your claim! Just remember to document everything and be completely transparent with Washington ESD about your situation.

I was working full-time for over a year before my injury so hopefully that won't be an issue.

That should work in your favor. They'll look at your earnings during the base period, which would include your time working before the injury.

This is so true. I know someone who got caught not reporting workers comp income and it was a nightmare to sort out.

Exactly. The temporary benefit of hiding income is never worth the long-term consequences of getting caught.

Thank you so much for all the advice everyone! I feel much more confident about moving forward with my unemployment claim now.

You're welcome! Don't hesitate to ask if you run into any issues during the filing process.

I'll definitely keep that in mind if I run into any complications. Thanks for the tip!

I used something similar when I had issues with my claim after a workplace injury. Sometimes you really need to talk to someone who can look at your specific case details.

Thank you! I'm feeling much more optimistic after getting all this great advice.

Got it. I'm going to make sure I have all my paperwork organized before I file.

That's smart. Having everything documented upfront makes the whole process smoother.

Thanks! It's been a tough situation but this forum has been incredibly helpful.