Can I file for Washington ESD unemployment if I moved to another state?
I've been working in Washington for 2 years but just moved to Oregon last month for family reasons. I got laid off from my Seattle job right before the move and I'm wondering if I can still file for unemployment through Washington ESD since that's where I was working? Or do I need to file in Oregon now? I'm really confused about how this works when you move between states. My last employer was definitely in Washington and all my wages were earned there.
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Malik Thomas
Yes, you file where you earned your wages, not where you currently live. Since you worked in Washington, you need to file with Washington ESD. Your current address in Oregon doesn't matter for determining which state handles your claim.
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Emma Wilson
•That's a relief! I was worried I'd have to start over with Oregon's system. Thanks for clarifying.
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Isabella Oliveira
•Same situation happened to me when I moved to Idaho. Washington ESD handled everything just fine even though I wasn't living there anymore.
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Ravi Kapoor
You definitely file with Washington ESD. The rule is simple - file in the state where you earned your wages during your base period. Since your Seattle job was your most recent employment, Washington has all your wage records and will process your claim.
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Freya Larsen
•What if they worked in both states during the base period? Does that complicate things?
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Ravi Kapoor
•If you worked in multiple states, you usually file in the state where you earned the most wages during your base period. But in this case, it sounds like all the recent work was in Washington.
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GalacticGladiator
I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD when I was dealing with this same issue. Kept getting busy signals and long hold times. Finally used Claimyr to get connected - they have this system that calls repeatedly until you get through. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made the whole process so much easier.
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Emma Wilson
•How does that work exactly? Do they just keep calling for you?
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GalacticGladiator
•Yeah, you put in your info on claimyr.com and they handle all the calling and waiting. When they get you connected to an actual person, they conference you in. Saved me hours of frustration.
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Omar Zaki
•That actually sounds really helpful. I hate sitting on hold for hours.
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Chloe Taylor
Just make sure you update your address with Washington ESD so they can mail any important documents to your Oregon address. You can do this through your SecureAccess Washington account.
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Emma Wilson
•Good point! I need to make sure they have my new address. Can I do that before I even file my claim?
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Chloe Taylor
•Yes, definitely update your address first. It'll make everything smoother when they need to send you documents or your debit card.
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Freya Larsen
I'm confused about this whole thing. If you live in Oregon now, don't you have to follow Oregon's job search requirements? How does that work with Washington ESD?
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Ravi Kapoor
•No, you follow Washington's job search requirements since that's who's paying your benefits. You'll need to register with WorkSourceWA and do your job searches according to Washington ESD rules.
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Freya Larsen
•That seems weird but okay. So even though I'm not in Washington anymore, I still have to use their job search system?
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Malik Thomas
•Exactly. The state paying your benefits sets the rules you have to follow, regardless of where you live now.
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Omar Zaki
Wait, I thought if you moved out of state you had to report that and it could affect your benefits?
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Ravi Kapoor
•You do need to report address changes, but moving to another state doesn't automatically disqualify you from Washington ESD benefits. You just need to remain available for work.
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Emma Wilson
•So I should mention the move when I file? I don't want to hide anything that might cause problems later.
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Ravi Kapoor
•Yes, be honest about your current address. Washington ESD allows out-of-state claims as long as you meet all other requirements.
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Isabella Oliveira
The tricky part is job searching from another state. You'll need to show you're actively looking for work and available, even though you're not physically in Washington anymore.
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Emma Wilson
•Can I search for jobs in Oregon or do they have to be Washington jobs?
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Isabella Oliveira
•Good question - I think as long as you're genuinely available for work and searching appropriately, the location shouldn't matter. But you should probably ask Washington ESD directly about this.
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Diego Flores
I moved from Washington to California last year and had no issues with my unemployment claim. Washington ESD was actually easier to deal with than I expected.
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Emma Wilson
•That's encouraging! Did you have any problems with the weekly claims or anything?
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Diego Flores
•Nope, filed my weekly claims online just like normal. The only difference was updating my address and making sure my job search activities were documented properly.
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Anastasia Ivanova
This is actually pretty common. Lots of people work in one state but live in another, especially around border areas. Washington ESD deals with this all the time.
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Sean Murphy
•True, I work in Washington but live in Idaho and several of my coworkers are in the same situation.
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Emma Wilson
•That makes me feel better about the whole situation. I was worried it would be some complicated mess.
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StarStrider
Make sure you file as soon as possible though. There are time limits and you don't want to miss out on benefits you're entitled to.
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Emma Wilson
•How long do I have to file? I was laid off about 2 weeks ago.
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StarStrider
•You should file immediately. Benefits generally start from when you file, not when you were laid off, so every week you wait is money you're potentially losing.
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Ravi Kapoor
•Exactly right. File your claim this week if possible. You can always call Washington ESD if you have questions about the process.
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Zara Malik
The Washington ESD website has information about filing from out of state. Check their FAQ section - it covers this exact situation.
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Emma Wilson
•I'll look for that. Thanks for the tip!
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Luca Marino
•Their website is actually pretty helpful once you know where to look. Much better than trying to call and get through.
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Nia Davis
I hate dealing with government websites and phone systems. So confusing and time consuming. At least unemployment is straightforward once you know the rules.
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Mateo Perez
•I know what you mean. I spent hours trying to get through to them last month before someone told me about that Claimyr service. Wish I'd known about it sooner.
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Nia Davis
•What's Claimyr? Is that some kind of calling service?
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Mateo Perez
•Yeah, they basically handle the calling and waiting for you. When they get through to a real person at Washington ESD, they conference you in. Really saved my sanity.
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Aisha Rahman
Just remember you still need to be able and available for work. Moving to another state doesn't change that basic requirement.
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Emma Wilson
•Right, I'm definitely looking for work. That shouldn't be an issue.
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CosmicCrusader
•Good luck with your claim! The interstate thing seems scary at first but it's really not that complicated.
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Ethan Brown
One thing to watch out for - make sure your Oregon address doesn't mess up your direct deposit or debit card delivery. Update everything at the same time.
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Emma Wilson
•Good thinking. I'll make sure all my contact info is current before I submit the application.
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Yuki Yamamoto
•Yeah, nothing worse than having payment issues because of an address mixup.
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Carmen Ortiz
The bottom line is don't overthink it. You worked in Washington, you file with Washington ESD. Living in Oregon now doesn't change that basic fact.
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Emma Wilson
•You're absolutely right. I was making this way more complicated than it needed to be. Thanks everyone for the help!
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Andre Rousseau
•No problem! Hope your claim goes smoothly.
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GalacticGladiator
•And remember, if you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD and can't get through, that Claimyr thing really works. Check out claimyr.com if the phone lines are giving you trouble.
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