Can you get Washington ESD unemployment for anxiety - mental health condition?

Yes, you can potentially qualify for unemployment benefits if your anxiety makes you unable to work, but it's complicated. Washington ESD will need medical documentation showing that your condition prevents you from performing your job duties. You'll likely need a letter from your doctor or psychiatrist explaining the severity and how it impacts your ability to work.

I went through this last year with depression and anxiety. Washington ESD approved my claim but it took forever - like 8 weeks in adjudication. They wanted multiple doctor visits documented and proof that I tried accommodations at work first.

You might want to look into claimyr.com if you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD about your specific situation. I used them when my claim was stuck and they helped me get through to an actual agent. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Way better than calling the regular number and getting hung up on.

Make sure you understand the difference between being unable to work due to illness versus being able and available for work. For regular UI benefits, you need to be able and available to work. If your anxiety completely prevents you from working, you might need to look into disability benefits instead of unemployment.

whatever you do dont mention mental health on your initial application!! they'll automatically deny you. just say you had to quit for health reasons and provide documentation later if they ask

I'm going through something similar right now. Filed 3 weeks ago and still waiting for them to make a decision. The stress of waiting is making my anxiety worse honestly.

Also worth noting that if you quit your job due to anxiety, Washington ESD will scrutinize whether you had 'good cause' to quit. They'll want to see that you tried to work with your employer on accommodations first, like reducing hours or changing duties.

Has anyone actually gotten approved recently? I feel like they deny everything these days. Been waiting 2 months for my regular unemployment claim to get approved.

My therapist had to write a really detailed letter explaining how my anxiety affects my work performance. It wasn't just 'patient has anxiety' - she had to explain specific symptoms and limitations.

Just want to add that mental health is real health. Don't let anyone make you feel like anxiety isn't a legitimate reason to need time off work. Take care of yourself first.

you might also want to look into FMLA if you haven't already. sometimes that can bridge the gap while you're waiting for unemployment to be approved

Washington ESD will probably ask you to provide evidence that you're seeking treatment for your anxiety too. They want to see that you're working toward being able to return to work eventually.

The key thing is being honest about your situation. If your anxiety truly prevents you from working, document everything and be prepared for a potentially long adjudication process.

Also remember you'll still need to do job searches if you get approved, unless your doctor says you're completely unable to work. The job search requirement is still there even for mental health related claims.

I used Claimyr when I had questions about my mental health claim and it was super helpful to actually talk to a real person at Washington ESD. They explained exactly what documentation I needed.

One more thing - if you get denied initially, don't give up. You can appeal the decision and provide additional medical evidence. A lot of mental health claims get approved on appeal.

Thanks for posting this question OP. I've been wondering the same thing but was too embarrassed to ask. Mental health struggles are so isolating.

I'm going through something similar right now with panic disorder. One thing that helped me was getting my psychiatrist to write a very detailed letter that specifically mentioned how my condition affects my ability to handle customer interactions, concentrate on tasks, and maintain regular attendance. Washington ESD seems to want concrete examples of how your mental health impacts your specific job duties, not just a general diagnosis. Also, make sure to document any attempts you made to get workplace accommodations before you had to quit. The process is definitely stressful but there are people who do get approved for anxiety-related claims. Hang in there!