Can you collect unemployment if you move to a different state - Washington ESD rules?

Yes, you can generally continue receiving Washington ESD benefits even if you move to another state. The key is that you need to remain able and available for work, and you'll still need to meet Washington's job search requirements. You should definitely notify Washington ESD about your address change through your online account.

I moved from Washington to California last year while on unemployment and had no issues continuing my claim. Just make sure you update your address and keep filing your weekly claims on time.

Make sure you're familiar with the Interstate Benefit Payment Plan. This allows you to collect unemployment from your original state while residing in another state. Washington participates in this program, so you should be fine as long as you follow the proper procedures.

I had trouble reaching Washington ESD when I needed to update my information for a similar situation. Spent hours on the phone trying to get through. If you run into that issue, I recently discovered Claimyr at claimyr.com - they help you get connected to ESD agents without all the waiting and busy signals. There's even a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Wait, I'm confused. If you move to Oregon don't you have to file for Oregon unemployment instead? I thought each state has their own system.

Just be careful about the job search requirements. Some people think moving gives them an excuse to not look for work actively, but Washington ESD still expects you to be genuinely seeking employment.

I moved to Texas while collecting Washington unemployment and it was seamless. The main thing is keeping up with your weekly certifications and making sure Washington ESD can reach you at your new address.

One thing to watch out for - make sure your move isn't considered 'voluntary' in a way that affects your eligibility. If you're moving for family reasons like your spouse's job, that's usually fine, but document the reason just in case.

This whole interstate thing is so confusing. Why can't they just make it simple? Every state should have the same rules IMO.

Make sure you change your address BEFORE you move, not after. I learned this the hard way when important documents got sent to my old address.

Does anyone know if there are time limits on how long you can collect from one state while living in another? Or can you do it for the whole benefit period?

I moved from Washington to Nevada and continued my benefits with no problems. The only annoying part was updating all my job search contacts to reflect the new location, but Washington ESD was fine with it.

Just wanted to follow up on the Claimyr thing I mentioned earlier - I actually used it again last week to get through to ESD about a different issue and it worked perfectly. Saved me probably 2+ hours of phone tag. Definitely worth checking out if you have trouble reaching them about your move.

Be prepared for some paperwork potentially. When I moved states, Washington ESD sent me some forms to verify my new address and confirm I was still eligible.

The most important thing is don't let any weekly claims lapse during your move. Even if you're busy with moving logistics, make sure you file on time every week.

I'm in a similar situation but moving to Arizona. This thread has been super helpful. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

One last thing - if Oregon unemployment benefits are better than Washington's, you might want to look into whether you can switch over at some point. But that's a more complicated process.

This has been really informative. I bookmarked this thread because I might be in a similar situation soon. Thanks everyone!

Final update from my end - I contacted Washington ESD today using that Claimyr service someone mentioned and got everything sorted out for my move. The agent confirmed I can continue my benefits in Oregon and walked me through exactly what I need to do. Thanks everyone for the advice!

This is exactly the information I needed! I'm planning to move from Washington to Colorado next month while still on unemployment and was worried about the process. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring. It sounds like as long as I update my address promptly and keep up with my weekly claims, I should be fine. I'm definitely going to check out that Claimyr service too since I've had terrible luck trying to reach ESD by phone in the past. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - it really helps to hear from people who've actually been through this!