Can you apply for unemployment and disability at the same time in Washington ESD?

This is actually a complicated situation that depends on the specifics of your case. Generally speaking, to qualify for unemployment benefits you need to be able and available for work, which conflicts with being disabled. However, Washington state does have some provisions for partial disability situations. You should definitely contact Washington ESD directly to discuss your specific circumstances.

I went through something similar last year with a shoulder injury. You can potentially collect both but there are strict rules. For unemployment, you have to be able to accept suitable work if offered, even with restrictions. For disability, you're typically claiming you can't work. The key is whether your restrictions still allow you to perform some types of work.

Honestly, trying to reach Washington ESD by phone is a nightmare right now. I spent hours calling and either got busy signals or was disconnected. Someone on another forum mentioned this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to actual ESD agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Might be worth checking out if you need to speak with someone about your specific situation.

Wait I'm confused - if you're disabled how can you be available for work? That seems like a contradiction to me. Isn't that fraud or something??

This happened to my brother in law. He was a roofer and hurt his knee. Couldn't do construction anymore but could do other work. Washington ESD approved his unemployment claim as long as he was actively looking for jobs he could physically handle. The job search requirement is still there even with medical restrictions.

ugh the washington esd system is so confusing. why cant they just have clear guidelines posted somewhere instead of making everyone call and wait on hold forever???

For what it's worth, here's what I understand about the eligibility criteria: You need to demonstrate that despite your medical condition, you remain able and available for work that accommodates your restrictions. This means actively seeking employment within your physical limitations and being willing to accept suitable job offers. The disability determination is separate and based on different criteria entirely.

I tried to do both unemployment and disability last year and it was a mess. The disability office said I couldn't work, but unemployment said I had to be available for work. Ended up having to choose one or the other. Maybe things have changed but just be prepared for potential conflicts between the two systems.

One thing to keep in mind - if you do apply for both, make sure your statements are consistent across both applications. Any contradictions between what you tell unemployment versus disability could cause problems with both claims.

My advice would be to consult with someone at WorkSource Washington too. They might have resources or counselors who understand how these programs interact. Plus they can help with the job search requirement if you do qualify for unemployment with restrictions.

Just want to echo what others have said about getting through to ESD by phone. It's absolutely terrible right now. I finally got connected using that Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier and it was a lifesaver. Talked to an actual ESD adjudicator who cleared up my questions in 10 minutes. Sometimes you just need to bite the bullet and use whatever works.

Update: I actually called a disability lawyer for a free consultation and they explained the difference pretty well. Unemployment is for people who are temporarily out of work but still able to work. Disability is for people who can't work at all or have significantly reduced capacity. There can be some overlap in certain situations but you have to be very careful about how you present your case to each program.

Whatever you decide, make sure you apply for unemployment right away if you think you might qualify. There's usually a waiting period and you want to get that clock started as soon as possible. You can always withdraw the application later if you decide to go a different route.

Been following this thread because I'm in a similar boat with a wrist injury. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. It's helpful to know I'm not the only one trying to figure this stuff out.

Final thought - document everything throughout this process. Keep records of all your medical appointments, work restrictions, job search activities, and communications with both unemployment and disability offices. Having thorough documentation will help if there are any questions or appeals down the road.

I'm new to this community but dealing with a similar situation. I was injured at my manufacturing job and have been out of work for 3 weeks now. My doctor says I can do light duty work but nothing that requires standing for long periods or lifting over 5 pounds. Reading through this thread has been really helpful - I didn't realize you could potentially qualify for unemployment even with work restrictions. Has anyone here had experience with ESD accepting partial work restrictions like mine? I'm worried they'll say I'm not "available for work" even though I could do office jobs or other seated positions.