Can you get Washington ESD unemployment if you are injured and can't work?

That's what I was afraid of. So I'm stuck with just workers comp until I'm cleared to work again?

Yes, typically that's the case. Workers comp is designed to replace your wages while you recover from a work injury.

You're thinking of partial disability situations. If you can do some work but not your regular job, there might be options, but it gets complicated with both Washington ESD and L&I involved.

Yeah that sounds right. I had a friend who went through something similar and it was a nightmare to navigate.

My doctor said no lifting over 10 pounds and no prolonged standing. I was doing warehouse work so that rules out my old job, but maybe I could do office work?

That could change things! If you're cleared for light duty work and actively looking for jobs within your restrictions, you might qualify. You'd need documentation from your doctor about what you CAN do.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr.com - they actually got me connected to a Washington ESD agent who explained my options. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting hung up on.

Really? I've never heard of that service. Does it actually work for getting through to real people?

Yeah, it worked for me. They handle the calling and waiting, then connect you when an agent picks up. Way better than spending all day hitting redial.

So even if I could do light duty work, the fact that I'm receiving workers comp automatically disqualifies me?

Not automatically, but it complicates things. You'd need to prove you're genuinely available for and seeking work within your medical restrictions.

Tell me about it. I'm barely scraping by and still have weeks left before I can go back to work.

Same situation here. Medical bills piling up even with workers comp covering some stuff.

My employer said they'll hold my position for 12 weeks total. If I'm not back by then, they'll have to let me go.

In that case, once you're medically cleared and get terminated, you could potentially qualify for UI benefits while looking for new work.

What's WorkSource? I've never heard of that.

It's Washington's job search system. If you qualify for unemployment, you typically need to register there and show you're actively looking for work.

That's why talking to an actual Washington ESD representative is so important. They can look at your specific situation and give you personalized guidance.

If only I could actually reach one! I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr thing that was mentioned earlier.

Exactly right. The key is being able and available for work when you file your claim.

So I should wait until my doctor clears me for at least some type of work before even thinking about filing?

That would be my understanding, yes. Otherwise you'd likely be denied for not meeting the able and available requirement.

How long did the process take once you filed? Did you have any issues with Washington ESD understanding your situation?

It took about 3 weeks to get approved. I had to provide medical documentation showing what work I could do. The adjudication process was longer because of the workers comp history.

I didn't know that was an option. How do you access those services?

You'd need to ask your L&I case worker about vocational rehab options. It's not automatic but can be really helpful for career transitions after injury.

That's why getting official guidance from Washington ESD directly is so important. Online forums can only help so much with these complex situations.

Which brings us back to the calling problem. I'm telling you, using Claimyr made all the difference in actually getting through to speak with someone knowledgeable.

Good point. I definitely don't want to create more problems for myself down the road.

Exactly. It's better to be cautious and get proper guidance before filing any claims.

Thanks for the summary. Sounds like I need to wait until I'm medically cleared for light duty work and then see what happens with my job status.

That seems like the safest approach. And definitely get advice from Washington ESD when you're ready to move forward.

Thank you! Yeah, it's been really tough both physically and financially. Hopefully I'll be back to normal soon.

Take care of yourself and don't rush back too soon. Better to heal properly than re-injure yourself.

Good advice. I've been keeping everything but I'll make sure I have copies of all the medical stuff too.

Smart thinking. Having everything organized will make any future claims process much smoother.

Glad it helped! It's nice to know I'm not the only one dealing with this confusing situation.

Definitely not alone. Seems like there are a lot of us trying to figure out how to make ends meet while recovering from work injuries.

Amen to that. Everything about dealing with injuries and benefits is way more complicated than it needs to be.

Seriously. You'd think there would be clearer guidance for such a common situation.

Will do. Thanks everyone for all the advice and sharing your experiences. This has been really helpful!

No problem! Hope everything works out for you and you get back on your feet soon.