Can you collect unemployment if you move out of Washington state?

That's a relief! Do I need to notify Washington ESD about the move or just update my address?

You definitely need to update your address in your eServices account. Also make sure you're still actively looking for work and can accept a job if offered.

How did you handle the job search requirements? Did you have to look for jobs in Washington or California?

I looked for jobs in California where I was living. As long as you're able to work and actively searching, it should be fine.

I've never heard of Claimyr - is it legit? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks with no luck.

Yeah it's totally legitimate. They basically call Washington ESD for you and get you connected to an agent. Saved me hours of trying to get through on my own.

That's not necessarily true. As long as you can prove you're able and available for work in your new location, moving out of state shouldn't disqualify you.

Maybe things have changed but my friend had to pay back benefits because they said she wasn't available for work in Washington. Just saying be careful.

Try that Claimyr service I mentioned. It's specifically designed for situations like this where you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD but can't get through.

I'll check it out, thanks. Getting really frustrated with not being able to get answers.

Did you have to do anything special with your job search activities or just look for work in Texas?

just looked for work in texas. kept track of everything like normal for the job search log

What counts as proof of job searching? Do I need to save all my applications?

Yes, keep detailed records of all your job search activities. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week and you need to be able to document them if asked.

That would be helpful to know. I wonder if moving to Oregon would be treated differently than moving to a state further away.

The reciprocal agreements are more about transferring benefits between states. If you're already collecting from Washington, you'd typically continue with Washington ESD regardless of where you move.

I know what you mean. The Washington ESD website isn't very clear about a lot of things.

That's exactly why I recommend talking to an actual agent. The written materials don't cover every situation and you need someone who can look at your specific case.

Oh great, another thing to worry about. I hadn't even thought about taxes.

That's a good point. You'd still be getting Washington benefits so Washington tax rules would apply, but Oregon might also want to tax you as a resident. Definitely worth checking into.

That's scary. What kind of documentation did they want that she couldn't provide?

I think it was about proving she was actually looking for work in Nevada and not just going through the motions. They questioned whether she was really available.

That's awesome! What specific requirements did they mention?

Same as always - file weekly claims, do job searches, be available for work. The agent said moving out of state doesn't automatically disqualify you as long as you can still work.

Do you think I should wait until my benefits run out before moving?

That seems extreme. As long as you follow the rules and can prove you're available for work, moving shouldn't be a problem.

Did you have any issues with job search requirements or anything?

nope, just kept doing 3 job searches per week like always. portland actually has more job opportunities than where i was in seattle

I think you're right. I'll try to get through to them before I make any decisions about moving.

Smart move. Better to know for sure than risk having to pay back benefits later.

Exactly. Document everything and make sure you're genuinely job searching in your new location.

Good luck with your move! Seems like a lot of people have done this successfully.

That's a good point. I'm moving to the Portland area so there should be plenty of opportunities in my field.

Portland should be fine. Washington ESD considers whether suitable work is available in your area, so a major city like Portland shouldn't be an issue.

I already keep track of my job searches for the weekly claims. Is there anything extra I should document if I move?

Maybe keep records showing you're established in your new location - lease agreement, utility bills, stuff like that. Shows you're genuinely living there and available for work.

Yeah, that's how I was thinking about it too. I worked in Washington for years so these are benefits I earned.

That's exactly right. Your benefits are based on your work history in Washington, not where you currently live.

Good luck with everything! Hope the move goes smoothly.

Sounds like you have a good plan. Just remember to update your address as soon as you move and keep documenting your job search activities.

This is incredibly helpful! I'm planning the same move (Seattle to Portland area) and was worried about the logistics. Did you have to do anything special when you updated your address, or was it just a simple change in the eServices portal? Also, how long did it take for your first weekly claim to process after the address change? I want to make sure there's no gap in my benefits during the transition.

This is really reassuring to hear from someone who actually went through it! I'm in a similar boat - been on unemployment for about 6 weeks and my lease is up soon. The part about documenting everything is super important from what I'm reading in this thread. Did you run into any issues with Oregon trying to tax your Washington benefits, or was that pretty straightforward? I know someone mentioned potential tax complications earlier and that's one thing I hadn't really thought about until now.

This is exactly what I needed to hear! I'm also looking at moving from Washington to Oregon while collecting benefits. When you say you kept detailed records of job applications, did you save anything beyond what's required for the weekly claims? I'm trying to figure out if I should be keeping copies of cover letters, email confirmations, or just the basic info that goes into the job search log. Also, were there any particular types of job search activities that worked better than others when you were documenting for ESD?

This is such valuable first-hand experience! I'm actually in almost the exact same situation - currently collecting Washington unemployment and considering a move to Portland to be closer to family. Your point about the "able and available" requirement makes total sense. I've been worried that ESD might see moving out of state as somehow being less committed to finding work, but it sounds like as long as you're genuinely job searching in your new location, it shouldn't be an issue. Did you notice any difference in how quickly your weekly claims processed after you moved, or was it pretty much business as usual once you updated your address?

This is really helpful to hear from someone who's been through it! I'm a newcomer to this whole unemployment system and honestly feeling pretty overwhelmed by all the rules and requirements. Your experience gives me hope that moving out of state while collecting benefits is actually doable if you're careful about it. I'm curious about one thing though - when you say you kept detailed records beyond what ESD requires, what exactly did that look like? Did you create your own spreadsheet or just save confirmation emails from job applications? I want to make sure I'm protecting myself but don't want to go overboard with documentation if it's not necessary. Also, did you give ESD any advance notice about your move, or did you just update your address after you relocated?