Can I file Washington ESD unemployment if I moved here from another state?

You'll likely need to file an interstate claim. Washington ESD can process claims for wages earned in other states, but there's specific paperwork involved. You should be able to start the process online through SecureAccess Washington.

omg yes this happened to me when i moved here from oregon last year! such a headache trying to figure out

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone, I recently discovered a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a system that calls repeatedly until they connect you with someone. Check out claimyr.com - there's even a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of redial frustration.

The interstate claim process is pretty straightforward once you get started. Washington ESD will coordinate with your previous state to get your wage information. Just make sure you file in Washington since that's where you're currently residing and looking for work.

This is exactly why the unemployment system is so broken! Moving between states shouldn't be this complicated. You work, you pay into the system, you should get benefits no matter where you are.

Wait, I'm confused. If you just moved here 6 weeks ago, do you meet Washington's residency requirements for unemployment? I thought there was some kind of waiting period?

UPDATE: I tried that Claimyr service someone mentioned and actually got through to Washington ESD! The rep confirmed I can file an interstate claim and helped me understand what documents I need. Definitely worth it if you're struggling to get through on the phone.

For anyone else in this situation, make sure you have your Social Security card and ID ready when you apply. The interstate wage request can take 1-2 weeks, so file as soon as possible to minimize delays in your benefit payments.

I still can't believe how hard it is to get through to Washington ESD on the phone. Shouldn't basic customer service be easier than this?

One thing to keep in mind - your benefit amount will be based on wages from your previous state, not Washington wages. So don't be surprised if the calculation looks different than what you might expect based on Washington's wage requirements.

just wanted to add that when i did my interstate claim i had to wait longer for the first payment but once everything was set up the weekly claims were processed normally

This thread has been super helpful! I'm in a similar situation and didn't know interstate claims were even possible. Definitely going to look into this.

For what it's worth, that Claimyr service also helped me later when I had questions about my job search log requirements. Sometimes you just need to talk to a human instead of trying to figure everything out from the website.

Still think it's crazy that we have to jump through all these hoops just to get benefits we've earned. The system should be simpler, especially for people already dealing with job loss stress.

Final update: I filed my interstate claim yesterday and it went through! Now I just need to wait for the wage verification. Thanks everyone for the help and advice. This forum saved me a lot of confusion and stress.