Can you get Washington ESD unemployment after workers compensation ends?
My workers comp case just settled after 8 months and I'm wondering if I can file for unemployment benefits now? I was injured at my construction job last March and have been on L&I this whole time. The doctor finally cleared me for light duty work but my employer says they don't have any positions available for me with my restrictions. Can I apply for Washington ESD unemployment while I look for a new job that accommodates my limitations? I'm confused about the rules around this.
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Esteban Tate
Yes, you can typically apply for unemployment after workers comp ends if you're able and available for work. The key thing is that you need medical clearance to work, even if it's with restrictions. Since your doctor cleared you for light duty, that should qualify you.
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Alice Pierce
•That's what I was hoping to hear. Do I need to provide any special documentation from L&I when I file my claim?
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Esteban Tate
•You'll probably want to have your medical release and settlement paperwork handy. Washington ESD might ask about your work availability and restrictions during the application process.
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Ivanna St. Pierre
I went through something similar last year. Filed for UI right after my workers comp ended and it took forever to get approved. They had to verify everything with L&I first.
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Alice Pierce
•How long did the verification process take? I'm worried about the delay since I need income coming in.
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Ivanna St. Pierre
•About 3 weeks for me, but that was because my case was complicated. If your settlement is straightforward it might be faster.
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Elin Robinson
Actually had success using Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD when I had questions about filing after my work injury case ended. The regular phone lines were impossible to get through, but their service (claimyr.com) got me connected to an actual agent who explained the whole process. There's even a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.
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Alice Pierce
•Never heard of this service before. Did they charge you a lot to make the call?
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Elin Robinson
•They don't publish their rates but it was worth it to get real answers instead of guessing. The agent confirmed I could file and walked me through what documentation I'd need.
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Atticus Domingo
•Interesting, I might try this too. Been trying to reach Washington ESD for weeks about my own situation.
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Beth Ford
The main requirement is that you're able and available for work within your medical restrictions. Since your employer can't accommodate your light duty restrictions, you should qualify for benefits while you search for suitable employment. Make sure to register with WorkSource too.
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Alice Pierce
•Good point about WorkSource. Do I need to be actively applying for jobs even with my restrictions?
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Beth Ford
•Yes, you'll need to do your job search activities but they should be within your medical limitations. Focus on positions that match your light duty restrictions.
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Morita Montoya
wait im confused, can you collect unemployment and workers comp at the same time or not?? my friend said you cant double dip
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Esteban Tate
•No, you can't collect both simultaneously. But once workers comp ends, you can transition to unemployment if you meet the eligibility requirements.
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Morita Montoya
•oh ok that makes sense. so its one or the other but you can switch between them
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Kingston Bellamy
I'm dealing with this exact situation right now! My L&I case closed in January and I filed for unemployment immediately. The process was actually smoother than I expected. Just make sure you have all your medical documentation organized.
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Alice Pierce
•That's encouraging! Did Washington ESD ask for specific forms from L&I or just general medical clearance?
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Kingston Bellamy
•They wanted my final medical report and the settlement agreement. Also had to explain my work restrictions during the phone interview.
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Joy Olmedo
Been there. The tricky part is proving you're actively seeking work when you have restrictions. Keep detailed records of all your job applications and make sure employers know about your limitations upfront.
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Alice Pierce
•Good advice. Should I mention my restrictions in my applications or wait until they contact me?
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Joy Olmedo
•I usually mention it in the cover letter to avoid wasting everyone's time. Better to be upfront about what you can and can't do.
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Isaiah Cross
One thing to watch out for - if you're still receiving any medical treatment related to your injury, make sure it doesn't interfere with your availability for work. Washington ESD is pretty strict about the 'available for work' requirement.
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Alice Pierce
•I still have physical therapy twice a week. Will that be a problem?
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Isaiah Cross
•As long as the PT appointments don't prevent you from working full-time hours, you should be fine. Just be prepared to explain your schedule if they ask.
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Atticus Domingo
The waiting period might be longer than usual because they have to coordinate with L&I to verify your case is actually closed. Don't panic if it takes a few extra weeks.
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Alice Pierce
•A few extra weeks on top of the normal waiting period? That's concerning since I need the income.
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Atticus Domingo
•It's not guaranteed to be longer, just depends on how quickly the agencies communicate. Some people get approved right away.
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Elin Robinson
Another vote for using Claimyr if you need to speak with someone at Washington ESD about your specific situation. Regular call volume is insane and you'll just get disconnected. At least with their service you know you'll actually talk to an agent.
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Kiara Greene
•How does Claimyr actually work? Do they just keep calling until they get through?
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Elin Robinson
•They have some system that gets past the busy signals and holds your place in line. Much better than spending all day redialing.
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Evelyn Kelly
Make sure your old employer properly reported your separation. Sometimes there are issues if they don't code it correctly when someone transitions from workers comp to unemployment.
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Alice Pierce
•How would I know if they reported it wrong? Should I contact HR before filing?
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Evelyn Kelly
•Wouldn't hurt to check with them. If there's an issue, it's easier to fix before you file rather than after Washington ESD starts processing your claim.
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Paloma Clark
this whole system is so confusing, why cant they make it easier to understand when you can get benefits and when you cant
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Beth Ford
•The rules are complex because they have to prevent fraud while still helping people who genuinely need assistance. Workers comp to unemployment transitions have extra scrutiny.
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Paloma Clark
•i guess that makes sense but its still frustrating when youre just trying to pay rent
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Heather Tyson
Pro tip: when you file your weekly claims, be very specific about your job search activities. Since you have restrictions, Washington ESD wants to see that you're realistically looking for work you can actually do.
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Alice Pierce
•Should I only apply for jobs that explicitly mention they accommodate restrictions, or can I apply broadly and explain during interviews?
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Heather Tyson
•I'd focus on positions where your restrictions aren't a major barrier. Shows Washington ESD you're making a genuine effort to find suitable work.
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Raul Neal
Had a friend who tried to file too early while still on workers comp and it created a huge mess. Make sure your L&I case is completely closed before you even start the unemployment application.
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Alice Pierce
•Yeah, I made sure to wait until I got the final settlement paperwork. Don't want any complications.
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Raul Neal
•Smart move. The overlap can cause all sorts of issues with both agencies.
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Jenna Sloan
Remember you'll need to keep doing your work search activities even with restrictions. Document everything because Washington ESD can audit your job search log at any time.
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Alice Pierce
•How many applications do I need to submit per week? Is it the same as regular unemployment?
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Jenna Sloan
•Same requirements - usually 3 job search activities per week. But they need to be realistic given your limitations.
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Christian Burns
One more thing - if you end up in adjudication because of the workers comp situation, don't freak out. It's pretty common for these cases to need extra review. Just be patient and provide whatever documentation they request.
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Alice Pierce
•How long does adjudication usually take for workers comp to unemployment transitions?
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Christian Burns
•Could be anywhere from 2-6 weeks depending on complexity. The more straightforward your case, the faster it'll be.
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Sasha Reese
If you get stuck trying to reach Washington ESD about this, I had good luck with Claimyr too. Their phone service actually works unlike trying to call directly. Worth checking out their demo video to see how it works.
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Alice Pierce
•Seems like a lot of people have success with that service. Might be worth trying if I run into issues.
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Sasha Reese
•Yeah for something this specific about transitioning from workers comp, talking to an actual person is way better than guessing based on the website.
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Muhammad Hobbs
Bottom line: you should be able to get unemployment after workers comp ends as long as you're medically cleared to work and available for employment. The process might take a bit longer but it's definitely possible.
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Alice Pierce
•Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! Going to file my claim this week and see how it goes.
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Muhammad Hobbs
•Good luck! Keep all your documentation organized and be patient with the process.
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Noland Curtis
Hope it works out for you! The transition from workers comp to unemployment can be stressful but it sounds like you have all your ducks in a row.
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Alice Pierce
•Fingers crossed! At least now I know what to expect from the process.
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