Can I collect unemployment out of state while living in Washington - need help with Washington ESD rules
I'm really confused about the rules for collecting unemployment when you live in a different state than where you worked. I've been living in Washington for the past 6 months but my last job was in another state. Can I still file for unemployment benefits here in Washington, or do I need to file with the other state? I tried calling Washington ESD but couldn't get through to anyone who could explain this clearly. Has anyone dealt with this situation before?
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Jessica Suarez
You generally file unemployment claims in the state where you worked, not where you currently live. So if your last job was in another state, you'd typically need to file with that state's unemployment office, not Washington ESD. However, there are some exceptions depending on your specific situation.
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Jay Lincoln
•That's what I was afraid of. The other state's system seems so much more complicated than Washington's. Is there any way to transfer my claim to Washington ESD?
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Jessica Suarez
•Unfortunately, you can't transfer claims between states. You have to file where you earned your wages. But you can usually receive benefits from any state while living anywhere in the US.
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Marcus Williams
I had the exact same problem last year! Lived in Washington but worked in Oregon. Had to file with Oregon's unemployment office even though I'm a Washington resident. It was a pain but it worked out.
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Jay Lincoln
•How long did it take to get approved? I'm worried about the delay since I don't know their system as well.
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Marcus Williams
•Took about 3 weeks, which is pretty normal. The hardest part was just figuring out their online system since it's different from Washington ESD.
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Lily Young
If you're having trouble getting through to get clarification on your specific situation, I recently discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) which helps you actually reach unemployment agents by phone. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Might be worth checking out since these interstate rules can be tricky.
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Jay Lincoln
•Thanks for the suggestion! I've been trying to call for days with no luck. Does this actually work for reaching people at other states' unemployment offices too?
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Lily Young
•Yeah, it works for different state unemployment offices. Really helpful when you need to talk to a real person about complex situations like yours.
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Kennedy Morrison
Wait, I'm confused. I thought you could file in Washington if you live here now? I've been living here for 2 years but worked in California before moving. Should I have filed with California instead of Washington ESD??
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Jessica Suarez
•Yes, you should have filed with California if that's where you earned your wages. Living in Washington doesn't matter for where you file your initial claim.
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Kennedy Morrison
•Oh no, I already filed with Washington ESD and got approved. Am I in trouble now?
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Jessica Suarez
•You should contact Washington ESD immediately to clarify your situation. They may need to transfer your case or adjust your claim.
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Wesley Hallow
This whole interstate thing is so confusing! Why can't they just make it simple and let you file wherever you live?
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Justin Chang
•Because unemployment is funded by employer taxes paid in each state. If you worked in State A, State A's employers paid into the system for you.
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Wesley Hallow
•That actually makes sense when you explain it that way. Still annoying though!
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Grace Thomas
The key thing to remember is that it's based on where you earned your wages in what's called your 'base period' - usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. If all those wages were earned outside Washington, then you file with that state, not Washington ESD.
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Jay Lincoln
•This is really helpful. So even though I live in Washington now, since I earned all my wages in the other state during my base period, I have to file there?
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Grace Thomas
•Exactly right. You file where you earned the wages, but you can receive the benefits while living in Washington with no problem.
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Hunter Brighton
Been there! Make sure you understand the other state's work search requirements too - they might be different from Washington's. Some states require more job contacts per week.
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Jay Lincoln
•Good point. Do you know if I have to look for work in that state, or can I search for jobs here in Washington where I live?
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Hunter Brighton
•You can search for work anywhere, including Washington. The requirement is just that you're actively looking, not that it has to be in the state where you file.
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Dylan Baskin
I made this mistake too when I first moved to Washington. Tried to file here but Washington ESD told me I had to file with my previous state. It was actually pretty straightforward once I figured it out.
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Jay Lincoln
•Did Washington ESD help you figure out the process, or did you have to research it all yourself?
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Dylan Baskin
•They were helpful in explaining why I couldn't file here, but I had to figure out the other state's process on my own.
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Lauren Wood
Pro tip: even though you file with the other state, make sure to report your Washington address correctly for tax purposes. You'll still owe taxes to Washington on your unemployment benefits if you're a resident here.
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Jay Lincoln
•Oh wow, I hadn't even thought about the tax implications. So I file with the other state but pay Washington state taxes?
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Lauren Wood
•Exactly. You pay taxes based on where you live, not where you file your unemployment claim.
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Ellie Lopez
Just a heads up - some states have reciprocal agreements that can affect your situation. Might be worth checking if Washington has any agreements with the state where you worked.
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Jay Lincoln
•How would I find out about reciprocal agreements? Is that something Washington ESD would know about?
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Ellie Lopez
•You'd need to check with both states' unemployment offices. It's not super common but worth asking about.
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Chad Winthrope
The timing can be tricky too. Make sure you file as soon as possible with the correct state because there are strict deadlines for when you can backdate your claim.
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Jay Lincoln
•I've been unemployed for about 2 weeks already. Am I going to lose those weeks if I file now with the other state?
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Chad Winthrope
•Most states allow you to backdate to when you became unemployed, but every day you wait makes it more complicated. File ASAP.
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Paige Cantoni
I used Claimyr to get through to someone about a similar interstate question. Really saved me time instead of trying to call for hours. The system worked great for reaching an actual person who could explain my specific situation.
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Jay Lincoln
•I think I'm going to try that. I've been calling for days and either get busy signals or get hung up on after waiting forever.
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Paige Cantoni
•Yeah, that's exactly why I used it. Much less frustrating than the regular phone system.
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Kylo Ren
Don't forget that you might also be eligible for extended benefits or other programs in the state where you file, even though you live in Washington. Each state has different programs available.
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Jay Lincoln
•That's good to know. I hadn't thought about there being different programs available.
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Kylo Ren
•Yeah, some states have better job training programs or additional benefits. Worth exploring what's available.
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Nina Fitzgerald
One thing to watch out for - make sure your mailing address is correct in their system so you don't miss any important notices. Mail forwarding doesn't always work for government correspondence.
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Jay Lincoln
•Good advice. I'll make sure to update my address right away when I file.
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Nina Fitzgerald
•Yeah, and keep checking their online portal regularly too. Sometimes important updates only show up there.
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Jason Brewer
Been through this exact situation. The hardest part is navigating a different state's website and procedures when you're used to Washington ESD's system. But once you get through the initial setup, it's pretty much the same process.
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Jay Lincoln
•That's reassuring. Washington ESD's system seems pretty user-friendly, so I was worried about dealing with something completely different.
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Jason Brewer
•Most states have modernized their systems in recent years, so it shouldn't be too bad. Just different layout and terminology.
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Kiara Fisherman
Make sure you understand their weekly certification process too. Some states call it 'weekly claims' like Washington does, others call it 'weekly certification' or 'continued claims.' Same thing, different names.
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Jay Lincoln
•Thanks for the heads up. I'm familiar with Washington's weekly claim process, so hopefully it's similar.
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Kiara Fisherman
•Yeah, the questions are basically the same - did you work, did you look for work, are you able and available. Just might be worded differently.
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Liam Cortez
If you worked in multiple states during your base period, it gets even more complicated. You might need to file what's called an 'interstate claim' or 'combined wage claim.' Definitely worth using a service like Claimyr to talk through your specific situation with someone who knows the rules.
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Jay Lincoln
•Fortunately I only worked in one other state, so hopefully my situation is straightforward.
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Liam Cortez
•That should make it much simpler. Just file with that state and you should be good to go.
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Savannah Vin
Bottom line: file where you worked, receive benefits where you live, pay taxes where you live. It's confusing at first but once you understand the basic principle, it makes sense.
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Jay Lincoln
•That's a great way to summarize it. Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice!
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Jessica Suarez
•Good luck with your claim! Don't hesitate to ask if you run into any other issues with the process.
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Mason Stone
Just remember to keep good records of everything - your application, correspondence, job search activities. Interstate claims can sometimes take longer to process, so documentation is key.
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Jay Lincoln
•Great advice. I'll start a folder with all my unemployment documents right away.
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Mason Stone
•Smart move. Better to have too much documentation than not enough if any questions come up later.
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