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

This is actually a really common question and the answer is complicated. Technically you can apply for both, but there are some serious conflicts. For unemployment, you have to certify each week that you're able and available to work. For disability, you're essentially saying you can't work. Washington ESD will look at this very carefully.

I went through something similar last year. The key thing is being honest about your situation. If you can work but with restrictions, you might qualify for both. But if you're totally unable to work, then unemployment isn't an option since you have to be actively seeking work.

You should definitely talk to someone at Washington ESD about this before filing. I tried calling their customer service line but couldn't get through after hours of trying. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Might be worth checking out if you can't get through the normal way.

ugh the whole system is so confusing!! I have a friend who hurt her shoulder at work and she got workers comp AND unemployment somehow. But that might be different since it was a work injury???

Look, I've been dealing with Washington ESD for months on various issues and they are TERRIBLE at explaining these situations clearly. The website gives you generic info that doesn't help when you have a complex case like yours. You really need to talk to someone who knows the specific rules.

From what I understand, the biggest issue is the work search requirement. Even if you can receive both types of benefits theoretically, you still have to do job searches for unemployment and prove you're applying to jobs. Hard to do that if you're also claiming you're disabled.

been there done that, it's a nightmare to navigate. Started with unemployment after my layoff but then my chronic pain got worse. Had to choose between continuing UI claims or pursuing disability. Ended up with disability but it took forever to get approved.

Another thing to consider - if you're getting any kind of disability payments, it might affect your weekly benefit amount for unemployment. Washington ESD has offset rules for other income sources.

Just want to follow up on my earlier suggestion about Claimyr. I used them again last week for a different issue and the agent I spoke with actually had experience with disability/unemployment overlap questions. Might save you a lot of time versus trying to piece together information from different sources.

Let me add some clarity here since there's been a lot of speculation. Washington ESD does allow concurrent benefits in very specific circumstances, but you must meet ALL requirements for both programs simultaneously. For unemployment: able and available for work, actively seeking work, ready to accept suitable work. For disability: demonstrating you cannot perform substantial gainful activity. These can sometimes overlap if you have partial disability.

wait so can you get both checks at the same time or not?? this is all so confusing and everyone is giving different answers

The real problem is that even if you qualify for both, Washington ESD will put your claim under extra scrutiny. Every week when you certify, they might flag you for review if they see any inconsistency between claiming you're available for work vs. having a disability.

One more thing to consider - timing matters a lot. If you file for unemployment first and then develop a disability, that's different from having a pre-existing disability when you file for unemployment. Washington ESD looks at these situations differently.

Just a heads up - if you do decide to pursue both, keep VERY detailed records of everything. Every doctor visit, every job application, every conversation with Washington ESD. You'll need documentation to support both claims.

My uncle did this a few years ago when he got laid off and then had a heart attack. He managed to get both unemployment and disability but it was a lot of paperwork and back and forth with different agencies.

Final update on the Claimyr thing - I mentioned it earlier but wanted to add that they were really helpful with complex questions like this. The Washington ESD agent I got connected to had dealt with disability/unemployment overlaps before and knew exactly what documentation would be needed. Saved me a lot of trial and error.

To summarize for anyone reading this later: Yes, you can potentially file for both unemployment and disability simultaneously in Washington, but you must genuinely meet the requirements for both programs. Key points: 1) You must be able to perform some type of work for unemployment, 2) Document all medical limitations and job search activities, 3) Be prepared for extra scrutiny from Washington ESD, 4) Consider timing of when disability vs. unemployment situations arose, 5) Keep detailed records of everything.

UPDATE: I ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned and finally got through to a Washington ESD agent. They explained that I can file for unemployment now while my disability application is pending, as long as I'm honest about my work limitations and only apply for jobs I can actually do with my back injury. Going to start my UI claim tomorrow and document everything carefully. Thanks everyone for the help!