Can I get Washington ESD unemployment while on workers comp - denied claim need help

Unfortunately Washington state doesn't allow you to collect both workers comp and unemployment benefits at the same time. The 'able and available' requirement means you have to be available for ALL types of work in your field, not just light duty. If you have medical restrictions that limit what jobs you can accept, Washington ESD considers you not fully available for work.

There might be some exceptions depending on your specific situation. If your workers comp benefits have ended or if you've been released to full duty but your employer still won't take you back, you could potentially qualify. You'd need to appeal the denial and provide medical documentation showing you're cleared for all work activities. The key is proving you meet the 'able and available' standard.

I went through something similar last year. The Washington ESD phone system is impossible to get through to ask about these complicated situations. I spent weeks trying to call and either got busy signals or got disconnected after waiting on hold for hours. Finally found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually got me through to a real Washington ESD agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. The agent was able to explain exactly why my claim was denied and what I needed to do.

This whole system is ridiculous! You pay into unemployment insurance for years and then when you actually need it they find every excuse to deny you. Workers comp barely covers your bills and now you can't even get unemployment to make up the difference. Meanwhile people who quit their jobs for no reason can sometimes get benefits.

Have you looked into other assistance programs while you're on workers comp? There might be disability benefits, food assistance, or housing help available that could bridge the gap until your workers comp case is resolved.

One thing to consider - if your workers comp case gets settled and you're still unable to return to your original job, you might qualify for retraining benefits through Labor & Industries. That could open up new career paths that work with your physical limitations.

Same thing happened to my brother in law. He was on workers comp for a shoulder injury and tried to get unemployment when his temp benefits ran out. Washington ESD denied him immediately. He had to wait until his workers comp case was completely closed before he could apply for UI benefits.

If you decide to appeal the unemployment denial, make sure you understand the timeline. You have 30 days from the denial date to file an appeal. Even if you don't think you'll win, sometimes it's worth appealing to get a hearing where you can present your case more thoroughly.

I used to work for Washington ESD and can confirm that concurrent benefits (workers comp + unemployment) are not allowed. The only exception might be if you're working part-time at a different job while on workers comp and then lose that part-time job. But even then it gets complicated with the medical restrictions issue.

Have you considered consulting with a workers comp attorney? They might be able to help you understand your options better and possibly speed up your case resolution. Many work on contingency so you don't pay unless you win.

This is exactly why I tell everyone to have an emergency fund. You never know when you'll get injured or laid off and have to deal with bureaucratic nonsense like this. The government systems aren't designed to actually help people quickly.

Another option - if you haven't already, make sure you're getting the maximum workers comp benefits you're entitled to. Sometimes there are additional benefits like mileage reimbursement for medical appointments or vocational counseling that people don't know about.

I tried the Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier when I had issues with my unemployment claim last year. It actually worked - got me through to a Washington ESD agent in like 20 minutes instead of spending days trying to call. The agent was able to look at my specific case and explain exactly what was holding up my benefits. Might be worth trying if you want to talk to someone directly about your situation.

The whole able and available requirement is so strict in Washington. I know someone who was denied unemployment because they could only work day shifts due to childcare issues. They consider any limitation on your availability as not meeting the requirement.

Just want to say hang in there. I went through a similar situation with a work injury and it eventually got resolved. Focus on your recovery and work with your medical team and case manager to get the best outcome possible.

Look into whether your employer offers any disability insurance through their benefits package. Sometimes there are short-term or long-term disability benefits that could supplement your workers comp payments.

Has anyone successfully gotten unemployment after their workers comp case ended? I'm in a similar situation and wondering what to expect when my case closes.

The timing of when you can apply for unemployment after workers comp ends depends on your specific medical release and whether you have a job to return to. If your employer can't accommodate your permanent restrictions, that's when unemployment becomes an option.

I've been following this thread and just wanted to add - if you do end up needing to call Washington ESD about this, I had good luck with that Claimyr service too. I was skeptical at first but it really did get me through to an agent quickly. Sometimes talking to a real person helps clarify these confusing situations better than trying to figure it out from websites and letters.

Bottom line - focus on your workers comp case first since that's your primary source of income right now. Once that's resolved you'll have a clearer picture of your employment options and whether unemployment benefits make sense. Don't stress too much about unemployment until you know your final medical status.