Can I get Washington ESD unemployment if I move out of state?

You can continue receiving Washington ESD benefits even if you move to another state, but there are specific requirements you need to follow. You must remain able and available for work, and you'll still need to complete your job search activities as required by Washington state rules.

i moved to california last year while on unemployment and had no issues. just kept filing my weekly claims like normal and doing job searches

The key thing is you need to notify Washington ESD about your address change promptly. You can do this through your eServices account or by calling them. But good luck getting through on the phone - I've been trying to reach them for days about my own claim issue.

Wait, I'm confused about the job search requirement if you move out of state. Do you still have to look for jobs in Washington or can you search in your new state?

THE WASHINGTON ESD SYSTEM IS SO CONFUSING!!! Why can't they just have clear information about this stuff on their website? I had to move last month and spent HOURS trying to figure out what I needed to do.

Just want to add that you should also check if there are any tax implications for receiving Washington unemployment while living in another state. I think it might affect your state tax filing but I'm not 100% sure about that part.

one more thing - make sure you keep getting your mail forwarded or have someone check your old address for any important notices from washington esd. sometimes they send stuff by mail even if you have online access

Update: I tried that Claimyr thing and it actually worked! Finally got through to someone at Washington ESD about my claim. The agent confirmed everything about out-of-state moves that people mentioned here. Definitely worth trying if you need to talk to them directly.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! Sounds like I should be fine as long as I update my address and keep meeting all the requirements. Really appreciate the advice about Claimyr too - might need that if I run into any issues.

I moved from Washington to Texas while on unemployment and it was actually pretty smooth. The main thing is just being honest with ESD about your situation and making sure you're still actively looking for work.

Wait can someone clarify - do you have to be physically available to work in Washington state or just available to work in general? This is confusing me.

Does anyone know if there's a time limit on how long you can be out of state while collecting Washington unemployment? Like do you have to come back at some point?

Pro tip: screenshot or save all your online conversations and confirmations about the address change. I learned the hard way to document everything with Washington ESD just in case there are any questions later.

This thread is super helpful! I'm potentially facing a similar situation and was really worried about losing my benefits. Glad to know it's possible to keep collecting even after moving.

Just wanted to follow up on the Claimyr recommendation - I used it again this week for a different question and it's consistently worked well for getting through to Washington ESD. Really saves time compared to the regular phone system.

One thing to watch out for - make sure your job search activities are legitimate and in fields where you could realistically work. Don't just apply to random jobs in your new state if they don't match your background.

I'm curious - has anyone had issues with their new state's unemployment office getting confused about Washington benefits? Like do you need to tell Oregon that you're not applying for benefits there?

This whole process seems way more complicated than it needs to be. Why can't they just have a simple form that says 'I'm moving but want to keep my benefits' instead of making us figure it out ourselves?

Final thought from someone who's been through this process - just be proactive about communication with Washington ESD. Update your info early, keep good records, and don't wait until there's a problem to reach out. It's much easier to prevent issues than fix them later.