Can you get Washington ESD unemployment benefits for alcoholism treatment?

This is a complex situation. Generally, to qualify for Washington ESD unemployment benefits, you need to be able and available for work. Being in inpatient treatment might disqualify him since he wouldn't be available for employment. However, if his employer terminates him due to his condition, that could be different. He should contact Washington ESD directly to discuss his specific circumstances.

I went through something similar last year. The key issue is whether he's considered 'able and available' for work. If he's in residential treatment, Washington ESD will likely say he's not available. But if it's outpatient treatment and he can still work, he might qualify if his hours get reduced.

Getting through to Washington ESD can be really frustrating when you need answers quickly. I spent weeks trying to reach someone about my claim issues. If you're having trouble getting through, there's a service called Claimyr that helped me connect with an actual Washington ESD agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

your brother might want to look into washington state's family and medical leave program instead of unemployment. if his employer qualifies he could get partial wage replacement while in treatment and his job would be protected

The Washington ESD website has specific information about medical conditions and benefit eligibility. Under their eligibility requirements, you have to be physically able to work and available for work. Inpatient treatment would likely disqualify someone since they're not available. However, if the addiction caused job performance issues that led to termination, the circumstances around the job separation matter for eligibility.

This whole system is so confusing! Why is it so hard to get help when you're trying to do the right thing? Your brother is trying to get sober and the system makes it harder by cutting off income support.

Been there myself. Had to choose between keeping my job and getting treatment. Ended up losing the job anyway because I couldn't handle both. The system doesn't make it easy.

One thing to consider - if your brother's employer has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), they might offer support for addiction treatment including job protection. Many larger employers have policies specifically for this situation.

Also worth noting that Washington state has expanded their paid family leave program recently. It covers situations like this where you need time off for serious health conditions. The benefit isn't as much as unemployment but it's something.

If he does decide to apply for unemployment benefits anyway, just be prepared for a possible adjudication process where they review his availability for work. That can take weeks and you might need to provide documentation about his treatment program and ability to work.

Good luck to your brother. Recovery is tough enough without having to worry about money on top of everything else.

Just to be clear on Washington ESD policy - if someone is terminated due to addiction-related performance issues, they might still qualify for benefits if the addiction is considered a medical condition and not willful misconduct. But each case gets reviewed individually.

has anyone mentioned disability benefits? if the addiction is severe enough to require inpatient treatment it might qualify as a disabling condition temporarily

This is why people don't get help - too many hoops to jump through when you're already struggling. Hope your brother gets the support he needs.

My company had a similar situation with an employee. They worked with him to use accrued sick time and vacation time to cover part of the treatment period, then unpaid FMLA for the rest. Might be worth exploring all options with HR first.

Update us on what Washington ESD says when you're able to reach them. This kind of information helps other people in similar situations who might be reading this thread.

Final thought - document everything about his employment situation, treatment program, and any communications with his employer. Whether he ends up applying for unemployment, FMLA, or other benefits, having good documentation will be crucial for any application process.

Recovery is a full-time job in itself. Whatever path he chooses, the most important thing is getting the treatment he needs. The financial stuff will work itself out eventually.

If calling Washington ESD directly doesn't work out and you need to speak with someone urgently, I've heard good things about that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Sometimes having a real person to talk through the options makes all the difference.

Wishing your brother all the best with his recovery journey. It takes courage to ask for help and seek treatment.