Can you file for unemployment if you work from home in Washington?

Remote work doesn't disqualify you from unemployment benefits at all! What matters is where YOU live and work, not where your employer is located. Since you live in Washington state and were working remotely from here, you should file with Washington ESD. You'll need your employer's information including their address and federal tax ID number.

same situation happened to me last year, filed with washington esd no problem even though my company was in texas. got approved within 3 weeks

I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD when I needed to verify my remote work situation. Spent hours on hold every day for two weeks. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to an actual agent who clarified everything for me. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much time and frustration.

Working from home actually makes things easier in some ways because you don't have to worry about commute issues for job searches. Washington ESD requires you to be able and available for work, and remote work shows you're already set up for that.

Wait I'm confused... if the company is in California don't you have to file there? This is so confusing!!!

I worked remote for 3 different companies over 5 years and filed for unemployment twice during that time. Never had any issues with Washington ESD. Just treat it like any other job - you worked in Washington, you file in Washington. Simple as that.

THE WASHINGTON ESD SYSTEM IS SO BROKEN!!! I've been trying to get through to them for WEEKS about my remote work situation and they just keep hanging up on me or putting me on endless hold. This is ridiculous when people need help!

One thing to watch out for - make sure your employer reports your wages correctly to Washington state. Sometimes out-of-state employers mess up the state reporting which can delay your claim.

i worked from home for amazon and got unemployment when they laid me off so yeah you can definitely file

Quick question - do you have to actively look for remote work only, or can you apply for in-person jobs too for your job search requirements?

My sister went through this exact situation last month. Her company was in New York but she lived in Spokane. Filed with Washington ESD and got approved within 2 weeks. No special requirements for remote workers.

This reminds me of when I was trying to figure out my unemployment after my remote job ended. Spent days researching online and calling Washington ESD with no luck. Finally a friend told me about Claimyr and I was able to talk to someone within hours. They walked me through everything and I got my claim sorted out.

Working from home for unemployment purposes is treated the same as working in an office. The location of your employer's headquarters doesn't matter - what matters is where YOU performed the work. Since you worked from your home in Washington, you file with Washington ESD.

Just a heads up - when you file make sure you select that you're able and available for work. Working from home actually proves you have the setup and ability to work remotely which can be an advantage in today's job market.

ugh why is unemployment so complicated? seems like they make it hard on purpose

I had a similar situation but with a twist - I was working remotely for a Washington company but living in Oregon temporarily. Had to file in Oregon instead. It really is about where you physically work, not where the company is based.

Pro tip: when you file online, have all your employment information ready including exact dates and your employer's full legal name and address. Remote work doesn't change any of the required information you need to provide.

Another thing - if Washington ESD has trouble verifying your employment because your employer is out of state, you might need to provide additional documentation like pay stubs or your offer letter. But this is rare and they'll let you know if it's needed.

Been working remote for 8 years through multiple layoffs and job changes. Filed for unemployment 3 times during that period and never had any issues with Washington ESD. Remote work is completely normal now and they handle it just like any other job situation.

One last thing to remember - make sure you're honest about your work situation when you file. Remote work is legitimate work and Washington ESD recognizes it as such. Don't overthink it or worry that you need to explain anything special about working from home.

I'm in a very similar situation - been working remotely for an Oregon-based company for the past year and a half but I live in Tacoma. Just got notice that my position is being eliminated next month. Reading through all these responses has been super helpful! It's reassuring to know that so many people have successfully filed with Washington ESD for remote work situations. I was initially confused about whether I should file in Oregon since that's where my employer is located, but now I understand it's about where I physically work. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it really helps to hear from people who've actually been through this process.

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago! Worked remotely for a New York company but lived in Seattle. The confusion is totally understandable but everyone here is right - you file where you physically work, which is Washington. I was worried about the same things you mentioned, but the process was actually pretty smooth. The only minor hiccup I had was that my employer's payroll system initially had my work location listed as New York instead of Washington, so ESD couldn't find my wage records right away. Had to provide a few pay stubs to verify my earnings, but once that was sorted it went through without any other issues. Definitely file with Washington ESD and don't stress too much about the remote work aspect - it's super common now and they handle it routinely. You've got this!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who's been working remotely in Washington for several years - the process really is straightforward once you understand the basics. I've helped a few friends navigate this same situation and the key things to remember are: 1) File in Washington since that's where you physically work, 2) Have your employment documentation ready (dates, wages, employer info), and 3) Don't worry about explaining the remote work aspect - it's totally normal now. One tip I'd add is to apply online rather than trying to call initially, since the phone lines can be overwhelmed. The online application walks you through everything step by step. If you do run into any issues later that require speaking to someone, that's when services like the ones others mentioned can be helpful for getting through the phone queue. But honestly, most remote work unemployment claims go through without needing to talk to anyone. You should be good to go!

As someone who's been working remotely for over 4 years, I can confirm that Washington state handles remote work unemployment claims just like any other job. The key thing to remember is that you're filing based on where YOU work (your home in Washington), not where your employer's headquarters is located. I've filed twice during my remote work career - once when a startup I worked for folded, and another time during a mass layoff at a tech company based in Austin. Both times the process was smooth with Washington ESD. Just make sure you have your employment dates, wage information, and employer details ready when you apply online. The system is set up to handle remote workers now since it's become so common. Don't overthink it - you worked in Washington, so you file in Washington!

I went through this same situation about 18 months ago when my remote position with a Florida-based company ended. Like everyone else has said, you absolutely file with Washington ESD since you physically work from your home here. The process was actually smoother than I expected - filed online and was approved within about 10 days. One thing I'd add that I don't think anyone mentioned yet is to make sure you save any documentation about your remote work arrangement (like emails confirming you're authorized to work from home, any equipment agreements, etc.). I never needed them, but it's good to have just in case there are any questions. The Washington ESD system handles remote workers really well now - it's become such a common work arrangement that they're totally set up for it. Don't stress about it being complicated because of the remote aspect!

I'm in a similar situation but with a slightly different twist - I've been working remotely for a Delaware-based company for about 18 months from my home in Bellingham. My position was just eliminated as part of a restructuring. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring! It's clear that the location where you physically perform the work is what matters, not where your employer is incorporated. I'm planning to file with Washington ESD this week. One question I have - has anyone dealt with a situation where their employer had them listed as a contractor initially but then converted to W2 employee status? I was a 1099 contractor for my first 3 months, then became a W2 employee. Wondering if that creates any complications for the unemployment filing process. Thanks to everyone who's shared their stories - this thread is exactly what I needed to read!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! Been working remotely from my apartment in Vancouver, WA for a Colorado-based marketing agency for the past 14 months. They just informed me that my position is being eliminated due to budget cuts at the end of this month. This entire thread has been incredibly helpful - I was initially confused about whether to file in Colorado or Washington, but it's now crystal clear that I need to file with Washington ESD since that's where I physically work. The consistency in everyone's experiences is really reassuring. I'm particularly grateful for all the practical tips about having employment documentation ready and applying online first. It's amazing how this community comes together to help people navigate these stressful situations. Planning to file my claim as soon as my last day is official. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories and advice!

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago! I was working remotely from my home in Olympia for a tech company headquartered in North Carolina. When they laid me off, I was initially confused about where to file, but it's definitely Washington ESD since that's where you physically performed your work. The application process was actually pretty straightforward - I filed online and got approved within about 2 weeks. The key is having all your employment info ready: exact start/end dates, your employer's full legal name and address, and your wage information. Don't let the remote work aspect stress you out - Washington handles these cases all the time now. Since you mentioned you have bills to pay, I'd recommend filing ASAP since there's usually a one-week waiting period before benefits start. You've got this!