Can I receive Washington ESD unemployment and disability benefits at the same time?

This is a tricky situation because the requirements for each benefit type conflict with each other. For unemployment, you have to be able and available to work full-time. For disability benefits, you're claiming you can't work due to your medical condition. Washington ESD requires you to be actively seeking work and able to accept suitable employment immediately.

i was in similar spot last year with my knee surgery. had to stop unemployment when i filed for disability through social security. washington esd made me pay back 3 weeks of benefits because i didnt report it fast enough

I had a nightmare trying to reach Washington ESD about this exact question last month. Spent hours on hold just to get disconnected. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual agent in like 15 minutes. They have this demo video that shows exactly how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. The agent explained that you absolutely cannot receive both benefits simultaneously in Washington state.

The key thing to understand is that there are different types of disability benefits. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and unemployment are definitely incompatible. However, if you're talking about temporary state disability or workers compensation, the rules might be different. You need to specify which disability program you're considering.

This whole system is so messed up! You get hurt at work for years, lose your job, and then can't even get the help you need without jumping through hoops. The government makes it impossible to survive.

Has anyone actually tried to receive both without reporting it? Just curious what happens if they find out later.

What about partial disability? Like if you can work limited hours due to your condition?

My brother went through this exact situation. He had to choose between continuing unemployment or applying for disability. He chose disability because his condition was only getting worse and unemployment was temporary anyway. Best decision he made.

There might be other assistance programs you can apply for while waiting for disability approval. Food assistance, housing help, etc. Don't forget about those resources.

Definitely recommend calling Washington ESD to discuss your specific timeline and circumstances. When I used Claimyr to get through, the agent was really helpful in explaining exactly when I needed to stop one benefit before applying for another. They can walk you through the proper way to transition without creating problems.

whatever u do dont try to game the system. they will find out and make ur life hell. trust me on this one

The timing of when you apply for disability matters too. If you apply while still claiming unemployment, it could affect your disability case because you're essentially claiming you can work for one program and can't work for the other.

also dont forget that if u get approved for disability they might look at when ur condition started vs when u were working/claiming unemployment. could affect back pay

I went through something similar but with workers comp instead of regular disability. Had to stop my unemployment immediately when I filed the workers comp claim. Washington ESD doesn't mess around with overlapping benefits.

Just want to add that you should keep detailed records of all your communications with both agencies. Save emails, take notes on phone calls with dates and names. Covers you if there are any disputes later.

One more thing - if you do switch from unemployment to disability, make sure you understand how it affects your health insurance situation. Could be a gap in coverage you need to plan for.

Bottom line is you can't collect both unemployment and disability benefits simultaneously in Washington. The requirements are contradictory - unemployment requires you to be able and available for work, disability means you can't work. Choose the one that best fits your actual situation and apply honestly.