Can I collect unemployment and disability at the same time in Washington?

That's what I was worried about. My disability is temporary and I can still do desk work, just not physical labor. Would that count as 'able to work' for Washington ESD purposes?

Yes, if you can perform some types of work and are actively searching for those positions, you should still qualify for unemployment. Just make sure you're only applying to jobs within your physical limitations.

Did you have any issues with Washington ESD questioning your disability payments? I'm worried they'll think I'm trying to double-dip or something.

No issues at all. I reported my temporary disability income when I filed my weekly claims, and Washington ESD just deducted it from my unemployment benefits accordingly. They don't care about the source as long as you report it honestly.

Wait, they reduce it dollar for dollar? So if I get $800 in disability and my unemployment is $600, I wouldn't get any unemployment at all?

Exactly. If your disability payment exceeds your weekly unemployment benefit amount, you wouldn't receive any UI for that week. But if your disability is less than your UI amount, you'd get the difference.

This is helpful to know. My disability is only about $400 per week and my UI is around $520, so I'd still get something from unemployment.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already stretched thin financially and can't afford expensive services right now.

It's totally worth it compared to the hours I was wasting on hold. The peace of mind from talking to an actual Washington ESD rep about my specific situation was huge.

What kind of trouble did he get into? I definitely want to do everything by the book here.

They hit him with an overpayment notice for like $3000 because he didn't report some of his disability payments correctly. Had to go through a whole appeal process and everything.

That's why it's so important to be completely transparent about all income sources when filing weekly claims. Better to over-report than under-report.

Mine is temporary disability through my employer's insurance plan, not SSDI. I think that makes it different but I'm not sure how.

Private temporary disability insurance is treated differently than SSDI by Washington ESD. Generally speaking, temporary disability from private insurance is just considered income that gets deducted from your UI benefits.

I wasn't planning to hide anything, just wanted to understand the rules before I potentially mess something up. Thanks for the warning though.

Good! I've seen too many people get themselves in hot water by trying to be sneaky about income reporting. Washington ESD takes fraud pretty seriously.

They do have guidelines, but they're spread across different sections of their website and written in government speak that's hard to understand. The handbook has some info about concurrent benefits.

I looked at that handbook and it might as well be written in ancient Greek. Way too confusing for normal people to understand.

Did you have to provide any documentation about your work restrictions to Washington ESD? Like a doctor's note or something?

I didn't proactively send anything, but I kept all my medical documentation just in case they asked for it during adjudication. Never hurts to be prepared.

That makes sense. I've been applying to office jobs and remote work positions that don't require lifting or standing for long periods.

Perfect! Keep documenting those job search activities in your work search log. Washington ESD likes to see that you're actively looking for suitable work.

How long were you on both? Did Washington ESD ever question your continued eligibility?

About 3 months while I recovered. No issues with Washington ESD as long as I kept reporting everything accurately and maintained my job search activities.

Good point, I hadn't thought about that angle. I'll check with my insurance company to see if there are any conflicts on their end.

I'll dig around on their site more. Sometimes the information is there but just hard to find in all the bureaucratic language.

Exactly! They have the info but it's not organized in a user-friendly way at all. Takes some digging to find what you need.

My disability is supposed to be temporary, probably 2-3 months max. I'll make sure to report when it ends and I'm cleared for all types of work again.

How quickly were you able to get through with that service? The regular phone lines are impossible.

Way faster than trying to call directly. Got connected to an actual Washington ESD agent within a reasonable time instead of sitting on hold for hours just to get disconnected.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I feel much more confident about handling this situation properly now.

Glad we could help! Remember to keep good records of everything in case Washington ESD ever has questions later.

Will do! Better to spend time understanding the rules upfront than dealing with problems later.

That's reassuring to hear. I was worried they'd automatically disqualify me just for having any kind of medical restriction.

Nope, they understand that people can have temporary limitations and still be able to work in appropriate positions. Just document everything properly.

Is there a specific category for disability income or do I just list it as 'other income'?

There should be a specific option for disability payments. If not, use 'other income' and be prepared to explain the source if they ask for clarification.

You're right, I tend to worry too much about these things. Thanks for the perspective!

Good to know there's a backup option if I can't figure things out through the normal channels. Hopefully I won't need it but nice to have as a safety net.

Exactly! Better to have the option and not need it than need it and not know about it. The peace of mind is worth it when dealing with Washington ESD bureaucracy.