Can you collect Washington ESD unemployment while waiting for disability approval?

That's reassuring to hear. Do I need to mention the pending disability claim when I file for unemployment? I don't want to give them a reason to deny my claim.

You should be honest about your situation, but emphasize your ability to work within your restrictions. Washington ESD focuses on your current work capacity, not your disability application.

How did you handle the job search requirements? Did you have to apply for jobs that were beyond your physical capabilities?

No, I focused on administrative and desk jobs that matched my restrictions. Washington ESD was reasonable about it as long as I was making genuine efforts to find suitable work.

Did collecting unemployment affect your disability case at all? I've heard conflicting information about this.

This is exactly the kind of complex situation where getting professional help makes sense. I used Claimyr.com to get through to Washington ESD when I had questions about my unique circumstances. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how they help you actually reach a live agent instead of getting stuck in phone hell.

I hadn't heard of Claimyr before. Did they help you get answers about specific eligibility questions like this?

Yeah, they basically get you connected to Washington ESD agents who can give you definitive answers about your specific situation instead of trying to guess based on general rules.

That makes sense. I guess my biggest worry is creating some kind of contradiction between saying I can work for unemployment purposes but can't work for disability purposes.

There's actually a difference between being able to do some work versus being able to maintain substantial gainful activity. You can be partially disabled but still able to perform certain types of work.

I totally agree, the whole process is designed to wear people down. But at least unemployment can provide some income while you wait.

Exactly! The disability process takes so long and meanwhile bills don't stop coming. Unemployment seems like the only realistic option right now.

Good point about documenting everything. I've been keeping a log of job applications but I should probably be more systematic about it.

Yeah, definitely keep copies of applications, notes about interviews, and any communication with potential employers about accommodations. It helps if Washington ESD questions your eligibility later.

Did you end up getting approved for disability eventually? I'm wondering if collecting unemployment hurt your chances.

Yes, I got approved for disability about 8 months later. The unemployment didn't seem to hurt my case because I had documented medical restrictions and was only applying for jobs within those limits.

That's encouraging to hear! I think the key is showing consistency between what you tell both agencies about your work capacity.

Oh man, the phone situation with Washington ESD is absolutely brutal. I probably called 200 times before I found Claimyr. They actually got me through to an agent in like 10 minutes. Game changer for getting real answers instead of guessing.

The phone thing is exactly why I'm asking here first. I've tried calling Washington ESD several times and either get disconnected or put on hold indefinitely.

That distinction makes a lot of sense. I can definitely work certain types of jobs right now, even if I might not be able to maintain full-time employment long-term.

Exactly. Just be consistent in how you describe your capabilities to both agencies and keep good documentation of your job search efforts.

Definitely planning to be completely upfront about everything. The last thing I need is more legal problems on top of my health issues.

Smart approach. The agencies do communicate with each other more than people think, so inconsistencies will eventually surface.

I haven't looked into that yet. Do you know if Washington state has anything like that?

Washington doesn't have a state disability program like some other states do. Your best bet is probably the unemployment route while you wait for SSDI.

My doctor was pretty clear about what I can and can't do, so I should be able to target my job search appropriately. Thanks for the reminder about staying within those boundaries.

Perfect. As long as you're being genuine about your capabilities and job search, you should be fine with both Washington ESD and Social Security.

Good advice, though like others mentioned, actually reaching Washington ESD by phone is really challenging. I ended up using Claimyr after trying for days to get through. They connected me with an agent who could answer my specific questions about eligibility requirements.

Good point! I do have an open workers comp claim too. This is getting complicated with all these different systems potentially overlapping.

Yeah, definitely worth getting professional advice when you have multiple benefit programs involved. Each one has different rules and they don't always play nice together.