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.

I'm so glad this thread helped you too! Being laid off is stressful enough without worrying about losing benefits if you need to move. Montana sounds like a great place to regroup with family support. Just make sure to update your address with Washington ESD once you move so you don't miss any important correspondence. The job market is tough right now but having that family support system can make such a difference. Best of luck with your job search!

Moving back to Montana sounds like a smart move - having family support during job searching can be such a game changer! I went through something similar when I moved from Seattle to Colorado after getting laid off. The peace of mind knowing you can keep your Washington benefits really does help reduce the stress. Just remember to keep logging your job searches in WorkSourceWA even if you're applying to jobs in Montana. It feels a bit weird at first but it's totally normal. Wishing you the best with your move and job hunt!

Sorry to hear about the layoff, that's always tough. Moving back to Montana for family support sounds like a really wise decision though! I was in a similar spot when I got let go from my job in Tacoma and moved back to my parents' place in Utah. Having that emotional and financial support from family made such a huge difference during the job search process. Plus the cost of living is usually lower when you're not paying rent! Just echoing what others have said - keep your Washington claim active since that's where you worked, and don't forget to update your contact info. The WorkSourceWA job logging thing is a bit clunky but you get used to it. Hope the move goes smoothly and you find something great soon!

@Amara Okafor I m'so sorry about your layoff, but moving back to Montana to be with family sounds like exactly the right call! I went through something really similar when I got laid off from my job in Bellingham and ended up moving back to my hometown in North Dakota. Having that family support network makes such a huge difference, both emotionally and financially. The Washington unemployment system is actually pretty good about handling out-of-state moves - I never had any issues with my benefits. Just make sure you keep up with your weekly claims and job search requirements. Montana has some great opportunities too, especially if you re'open to remote work. The lower cost of living compared to Washington will help stretch those benefits further too. Hang in there - this community has been such a lifesaver for navigating all the ESD stuff!

@Amara Okafor I m'really sorry to hear about your layoff in Spokane - that s'never easy to deal with. But moving back to Montana to be with family while you job search sounds like a really smart plan! I went through a similar situation when I got laid off from my tech job in Vancouver, WA and ended up moving back to my parents place' in Arizona. Having that family support system made all the difference during what was honestly one of the most stressful times in my life. The good news is that Washington s'unemployment system handles interstate moves really well - I never had a single issue with my benefits continuing. Just keep filing your weekly claims on time and don t'forget to update your mailing address in SecureAccess Washington once you get settled in Montana. The job market is definitely challenging right now, but being able to focus on your search without worrying about rent and having family nearby for emotional support is invaluable. Plus Montana is beautiful! Wishing you all the best with the move and job hunt.

@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!

That's such a great point about the benefits going further in lower cost-of-living states! I hadn't even thought about that advantage. It's really reassuring to hear from so many people who have successfully navigated this situation. The whole explaining-to-people thing is something I was worried about too, but you're right that most folks understand once you explain the work history connection. Thanks for sharing your experience moving from Olympia to Nevada - it gives me a lot more confidence about potentially making a similar move. This thread has been absolutely invaluable!