Can I file unemployment in a different state than where I worked?

You generally file in the state where you worked, not where you live now. Since you worked in Oregon, you'd typically need to file through Oregon's unemployment system. However, there are some exceptions for certain situations.

Actually, this gets complicated with interstate claims. You might be able to file in Washington if certain conditions are met. The Department of Labor has interstate agreements that can affect where you file. I'd recommend getting through to someone at Washington ESD to clarify your specific situation.

Wait hold on everyone - if you worked in Oregon you HAVE to file in Oregon, period. There's no way around it. Don't waste time trying to file in Washington.

I went through something similar last year. I worked in Idaho but lived in Washington. Initially tried to file with Washington ESD but they redirected me to Idaho. However, Washington ESD was able to help me understand the process and even assisted with some of the interstate coordination.

this is why i hate the unemployment system so complicated for no reason just let people file where they live

Let me clarify the interstate situation better. The state where you earned wages is typically where you file, but there are exceptions under the Interstate Benefit Payment Plan. Washington and Oregon do have reciprocal agreements for certain situations. You might qualify if you're a Washington resident who worked temporarily in Oregon.

Since you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone, definitely check out that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. I used it last month when I couldn't get through about my adjudication issue. Worth every penny to actually talk to someone who could give me real answers.

Update: I decided to try filing in Oregon first since that seems to be the consensus. Their system let me start an application but it's asking for documentation I don't have readily available. Should I wait to gather everything or can I submit partial information?

I'm in a similar boat but worked in California before moving to Washington. Has anyone dealt with CA to WA interstate claims? Their system is even worse than Oregon's from what I hear.

OK I looked into this more and I was wrong earlier. There ARE some interstate filing options but they're pretty limited. Most people still need to file where they worked but Washington does handle some claims for people who worked in other states under specific circumstances.

Whatever you do, don't try to file in both states! My cousin did that thinking it would increase his chances and it created a huge mess that took months to sort out.

Final recommendation: Start with Oregon since that's where you worked, but if you run into complications or think you might qualify for an interstate exception, use a service like Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD for clarification. Having professional guidance for these cross-state situations can save a lot of headaches.

This thread has been super helpful! I didn't realize interstate unemployment could be so complicated. Bookmarking for future reference.

Thanks everyone for all the advice! I successfully submitted my Oregon claim and it looks like it went through. Still might contact Washington ESD later to double-check if I had any other options, but at least I have something in the system now.

Congratulations on getting your claim filed! Just wanted to add that you made the right choice filing in Oregon first. I work in HR and deal with these interstate situations regularly - the general rule is always file where you earned the wages, but there can be exceptions for military spouses, federal employees, or people who worked in multiple states during their base period. Since you had steady employment in Oregon for two years, that's definitely your liable state. Keep all your documentation from the Oregon filing in case you need it later, and don't worry too much about exploring Washington options unless Oregon runs into issues processing your claim.