Can you apply for Washington ESD unemployment if you move to another state?

Oh that's such a relief! I was worried I'd lose out on benefits just because I moved. Do I need to notify Washington ESD that I moved or anything?

You should update your address in your SecureAccess Washington account so they can send correspondence to the right place. Other than that, just keep filing your weekly claims like normal.

Mine went through fine, but I didn't move until after my claim was already approved. Adjudication can be slow regardless of where you live though - 3 weeks isn't unusual unfortunately.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD about your adjudication, you might want to check out Claimyr. It's a service at claimyr.com that helps people get connected to ESD agents on the phone. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Might be worth trying if you keep getting the busy signal.

Good question! You have to be able and available for work, but that doesn't mean you have to stay in Washington. You can look for work in your new state or even apply for remote positions. The important thing is that you're actively job searching and can accept suitable work.

Ah okay that makes sense. I was thinking you had to physically be in Washington to collect benefits but remote work changes everything these days.

Do I still have to use WorkSourceWA for job searches even if I'm looking for work in another state? That seems weird.

Yeah you still use WorkSourceWA to log your job search activities, but you can search for jobs anywhere. I was applying to jobs in Arizona and just logged them in the Washington system. It's a bit awkward but it works.

This is so confusing! Why can't they just make this stuff more straightforward? I've been trying to get someone at Washington ESD on the phone for days to ask about this exact situation.

That's exactly why I started using Claimyr. Gets you connected to an actual ESD agent without having to redial constantly. Way less stressful than spending all day calling.

Never heard of that, is it legit? I'm desperate at this point.

Yeah it's totally legitimate. They basically handle the calling process for you and connect you when an agent becomes available. Check out their demo video, it explains the whole process.

Oh wow, that would be a disaster! Good thing you mentioned that. I definitely won't file in Oregon then.

Yeah that happened to my cousin. Took months to sort out and she had to pay back like $4000. Stick with Washington since that's where you worked.

That's exactly my situation - my lease is just ending and I want to save money by living with family. I haven't quit my job or anything, just planning ahead in case something happens.

Perfect, then you should have no issues at all. Just remember to keep your address updated with Washington ESD so you don't miss any important mail.

Did that hurt your job prospects at all? I'm worried employers might think it's weird or sketchy somehow.

Not really. Most employers understand that unemployment follows where you worked, not where you live. I just explained it briefly and moved on. Didn't seem to be a big deal.

That's actually a really good point. You might need to file taxes in both states depending on your new state's rules. Definitely something to check with a tax professional about.

Yeah that's what I was thinking. Could get complicated depending on which state you move to.

That's reassuring to hear. I was making it out to be way more complicated in my head than it actually is.

The hardest part is just getting through to someone at ESD if you have questions. The actual process is pretty straightforward once you understand how it works.

Good point! I'll make sure to bookmark the site and check it regularly. Thanks for all the advice everyone, this has been super helpful.

No problem! This kind of situation comes up a lot so glad we could help clarify things.

Perfect summary! Saving this thread for future reference. You all have been amazing, thank you so much.

Glad this helped! Moving while dealing with unemployment can be stressful enough without worrying about the technical details.

And remember, if you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD about your specific situation, Claimyr can help you get through without the endless busy signals. Sometimes it's worth talking to an agent directly just for peace of mind.

@Connor Gallagher Sorry to hear about your layoff in Bellingham! Moving back with your parents in California sounds like a solid plan to save money during your job search. From what I understand, Washington ESD is totally fine with remote positions - the key requirement is just that you re'able and available to work, not that the job has to be physically located in Washington. Since you re'in tech and most of those positions are remote anyway, you should have no issues at all. I d'definitely recommend reaching out to an ESD agent if you want official confirmation though. If you have trouble getting through on the phone which (is super common ,)you might want to check out that Claimyr service that @Serene Snow mentioned earlier in the thread - seems like it could save you a lot of frustration trying to reach someone. Good luck with the move and job search!

@Connor Gallagher I m'also in tech and went through this exact situation! Washington ESD absolutely accepts remote work applications - in fact, they encourage it since it expands your job opportunities. When I was on unemployment and moved to Portland, I applied for remote positions all over the country and just logged them all in WorkSourceWA like any other job application. The system doesn t'care where the company is headquartered as long as you re'genuinely available to work. Moving back with your parents is such a smart financial move too - I saved so much money doing that and it really took the pressure off during my job search. Just make sure to keep your contact info updated in SecureAccess Washington once you move. The California job market for tech is pretty good too, so you ll'have both remote and local options. Best of luck with everything!