Can I receive disability and unemployment at the same time - Washington ESD guidance needed

This is actually a really complex situation that depends on what type of disability benefits you're receiving. If it's Social Security Disability (SSDI), there are different rules than if it's state disability insurance. The key question Washington ESD will ask is whether you're able and available for work, which is required for unemployment benefits.

I tried to do this last year and Washington ESD denied my claim. They said if I'm disabled enough to get disability payments, then I can't claim I'm able and available for work. It's like a catch-22 situation.

You might want to try using Claimyr to actually get through to a Washington ESD representative about this. I used their service at claimyr.com when I had questions about my claim eligibility and they helped me get connected to an actual person who could explain the specific rules. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. This is exactly the kind of complex situation where you need to talk to someone who knows the current policies.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO SCREW PEOPLE OVER! They want you to work but then punish you for trying to work. Make it make sense!!!

Here's what I understand about the Washington state rules: You can potentially receive both if you can prove you're able to work with reasonable accommodations AND actively seeking employment. The challenge is that Social Security disability requires you to prove you can't work, while unemployment requires proving you can and will work.

My sister went through this exact situation. She was getting disability but wanted to try working again. Washington ESD initially denied her but she appealed with help from a disability advocate and won. The key was showing she was genuinely looking for work within her limitations.

Wait, I'm confused. If you're on disability, why would you want unemployment too? Wouldn't that just complicate things?

I really think contacting Washington ESD directly through Claimyr would be your best bet here. This is too complex for forum advice and you need official guidance on your specific situation. The rules change and what worked for someone else might not apply to your case.

Just be really careful about how you answer the questions on your unemployment application. They'll ask if you have any conditions that limit your ability to work, and you have to be honest but strategic about how you explain it.

I work for a disability rights organization and see this question a lot. The short answer is yes, it's legally possible under certain circumstances, but Washington ESD makes it very difficult in practice. You need to demonstrate that you're genuinely seeking work despite your disability.

Have you looked into Ticket to Work program? It's specifically designed to help people on disability transition back to employment while protecting their benefits.

honestly this whole thing seems like too much hassle for probably not much money

One important thing to remember is that if you do get approved for unemployment while on disability, you'll need to report those payments to Social Security. It could affect your disability calculation depending on how much you receive.

My cousin tried this and it was a nightmare. She ended up having to pay back unemployment benefits because Social Security said she shouldn't have been eligible. Be really careful.

This is why getting proper guidance from Washington ESD is so important. Every case is different and you need to understand the specific rules that apply to your situation. Claimyr can help you actually reach someone who knows these complex regulations instead of guessing based on other people's experiences.

Good luck with whatever you decide. The system definitely isn't set up to make this easy for people in your situation.

Just wanted to add that you should document everything if you decide to apply for unemployment. Keep records of all your job search activities, medical appointments, communications with Social Security, everything. If there are any problems later, you'll need that documentation.

The whole disability vs unemployment thing is so backwards. They want people to work but make it almost impossible to transition safely back to employment.

I would also suggest contacting a disability attorney who specializes in work incentives. Many offer free consultations and can help you understand your options without screwing up your existing benefits.

Whatever you do, don't just guess or assume anything. Get official answers from both Washington ESD and Social Security before making any moves. The consequences of getting it wrong are too serious.