Can I get Washington ESD unemployment while waiting for disability decision?

Yes, you can potentially receive unemployment benefits while your disability claim is pending, but there are specific requirements you must meet. The key is that you have to be able and available for work - even if it's different work than what you did before. Since you mentioned you might be able to do lighter work, that could qualify you. You'll need to register with WorkSourceWA and actively search for jobs that accommodate your limitations.

I was in almost the exact same situation last year. Applied for disability in early 2024 and it took forever. I was able to get unemployment for about 5 months while waiting. The trick is being genuinely available for work that you CAN do, not just saying you are.

This is actually more common than people think. The main requirement is that you're able and available for SOME type of work, even if you have restrictions. You'll need medical documentation of your limitations and you have to be actively seeking jobs within those restrictions. If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD to discuss your specific situation, I'd recommend checking out Claimyr.com - they have a service that helps people get through to ESD agents quickly. There's even a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

wait this doesn't make sense... if you're applying for disability saying you can't work, how can you also say you're available for work for unemployment?? seems like you're trying to game the system

You definitely need to be careful about how you answer the weekly claim questions. Make sure you're being consistent about your availability for work. If you say you're not able to work on your unemployment claim, you'll get disqualified.

I know someone who did this successfully. The key thing is documenting everything - keep records of your job searches, medical restrictions, and any communications with both agencies. You might need to provide evidence later.

This whole system is so confusing! I'm dealing with something similar and every person I talk to gives me different information. How are we supposed to navigate all these different rules and requirements?

Make sure you understand the job search requirements too. You'll need to log your job search activities and they have to be for jobs you can actually perform given your restrictions.

One thing to consider is timing. If your disability gets approved and they backdate it, there could be an overlap period to sort out. But that's a good problem to have compared to having no income at all while waiting.

I went through this exact situation in 2023. Filed for unemployment while waiting on disability approval. Had to do phone interviews with ESD to explain my situation but they approved my claim. The adjudication took about 3 weeks but once it was resolved, I got benefits for 4 months until my disability came through.

Just remember that you have to report any income from work while receiving unemployment. And if you do get a job during this period, it might affect your disability claim depending on the type of work.

The whole 'able and available' thing is really the crux of it. You have to genuinely be able to perform some type of work and be actively looking. It's not just about needing money - you have to meet the work availability requirements.

Have you considered vocational rehabilitation services? They might be able to help you find work that accommodates your restrictions while you're waiting for the disability decision.

Whatever you do, don't try to hide the disability application from ESD. Being upfront about your situation is always better than them finding out later and thinking you were being deceptive.

I was worried about this same thing but found out there's actually nothing preventing you from applying for both. The worst they can say is no to the unemployment, but at least you'll know for sure.

If your claim goes into adjudication because of the disability situation, don't panic. It just means they need to review your case more carefully. That's normal for situations like this.

Make sure you keep all your medical documentation organized. If ESD needs proof of your work restrictions, you'll want to have everything ready to submit quickly.

One final thought - even if you get approved for unemployment, keep pushing on the disability claim too. Having both processes moving forward gives you the best chance of maintaining some income during this difficult period.

Best of luck with everything! This situation is stressful enough without worrying about having no income. Hope both your claims work out soon.