Can you get unemployment and short term disability at the same time in Washington?

This is actually a really common question and the answer is generally no - you can't collect both at the same time. The reason is that for unemployment benefits, you have to certify that you're able and available for work. If you're receiving disability benefits, you're essentially saying you're unable to work, which contradicts the unemployment requirement.

I went through something similar last year with a shoulder injury. The short answer is no, you can't collect both simultaneously. Washington ESD is very strict about the 'able and available' requirement. Even if you think you could do some light work, if you're getting disability payments that say you can't work, it's contradictory.

You generally cannot collect both unemployment and short-term disability simultaneously in Washington. Unemployment requires you to be able and available for work, while disability benefits are for when you're unable to work due to medical reasons. These are conflicting requirements.

Actually, I found a service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents when you can't reach them by phone. It was a lifesaver when I needed to discuss my specific situation about transitioning from disability to unemployment. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Sometimes you really need to talk to an actual person to understand these complex situations.

I went through something similar last year. When I had to have knee surgery, I had to stop filing my weekly claims with Washington ESD because I couldn't meet the able and available requirement. You can't be looking for work if you're medically unable to work.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to discuss your situation, you might want to check out Claimyr at claimyr.com. They help people get connected to actual ESD agents when the phone lines are jammed. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Be very careful about this situation. If you collect unemployment while on disability, that's considered fraud even if it's unintentional. Washington ESD takes this seriously and you could face penalties including having to pay back benefits plus interest.

wait so if i get hurt at work can i still get unemployment?? this is confusing

Be VERY careful about this. I know someone who got in trouble for collecting both disability and unemployment at the same time. Washington ESD considers it fraud and they will make you pay back the benefits plus penalties. The systems don't always talk to each other right away, so you might get approved for unemployment even while on disability, but they'll catch it eventually.

There might be one exception - if you're on partial disability and cleared for part-time work, you might be able to get partial unemployment benefits. But this is super complicated and you'd need to talk to Washington ESD directly about your specific situation.

One thing to consider is the timing. If your surgery is scheduled for a specific date, you could potentially collect unemployment up until that point, then switch to disability benefits during your recovery period.

The whole system is a mess if you ask me. Why can't they just coordinate between different benefit programs instead of making people jump through hoops?

I had success using Claimyr when I needed to speak with someone at Washington ESD about a similar benefits conflict. The automated system kept hanging up on me, but Claimyr got me connected to an actual person who could explain my options clearly.

Does anyone know if the short-term disability has to be through your employer or can it be private insurance? I'm wondering if that makes a difference for unemployment eligibility.

I had to deal with this exact situation. The important thing is to be completely honest with both Washington ESD and your disability insurance provider. Don't try to hide anything or collect both at the same time.

ugh this whole system is so frustrating. I had a similar situation with a knee injury and couldn't get straight answers from anyone. The disability people said one thing, unemployment said another, and nobody wanted to take responsibility for giving me clear guidance.

From what I understand, the key issue is the 'able and available for work' requirement for unemployment. If you're receiving disability benefits, you're essentially stating that you're unable to work due to your medical condition. This creates a direct conflict with the unemployment eligibility requirements.

I work in HR and deal with these questions a lot. Generally speaking, you cannot collect both simultaneously. However, there can be a transition period where you might be eligible for unemployment after your disability benefits end, assuming you meet all the other requirements like having sufficient work history and being separated from employment through no fault of your own.

Check with your employer too - some companies have policies about returning to work after disability that might affect your unemployment eligibility. Like if they're holding your job open, you might not qualify for unemployment.

Just wanted to follow up on the Claimyr suggestion - I used them again recently when I had questions about job search requirements and it saved me hours of trying to get through on the phone. Their system basically gets you connected to Washington ESD without the usual headaches of busy signals and long hold times.

What if your disability is partial? Like you can work part-time but not full-time?

One thing to keep in mind is that Washington ESD has access to a lot of databases and they do cross-reference benefits. Even if you think they won't find out, they probably will eventually. It's better to be upfront about your situation.

Also consider looking into other assistance programs while you're between benefits. Food assistance, utility help, etc. There might be resources available to help bridge the gap.

I was in almost the exact same situation with a work injury. The waiting period between disability ending and unemployment starting was really hard financially. Make sure you have all your documentation ready so you can apply for unemployment as soon as you're cleared to work.

My sister went through this. She had to stop her unemployment when she went on disability for depression. When she was cleared to work again, she reopened her claim with no problems.

The timing of when you apply is crucial. You want to make sure there's no overlap between your disability payments and unemployment benefits. Washington ESD takes this very seriously.

Don't forget that if you're on disability, you might also need to consider how that affects your job search requirements. You can't exactly be actively looking for work if you're medically unable to work.

has anyone tried to get BOTH at the same time and what happened?

Have you considered vocational rehabilitation services? Sometimes they can help with job placement or retraining if your injury affects your ability to do your previous job.

Just wanted to add that if you do end up needing to contact Washington ESD about your specific situation, don't give up if you can't get through the first few times. Keep trying different times of day, or consider using a service like Claimyr that was mentioned earlier.

Bottom line - you can't collect both at the same time, but you may be able to transition from disability to unemployment once you're cleared to work. Just make sure you follow all the rules and don't try to rush the process.

The key is communication. Call Washington ESD as soon as you know your work status is changing due to medical issues. They'd rather help you transition properly than catch you in a mistake later.

What about if you're on unemployment and then get a job but have to go on disability right away? That seems like a tricky situation too.

I think the bottom line is you need to pick one or the other. Don't try to game the system - it's not worth the risk and you'll probably get caught.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice. Sounds like I need to contact Washington ESD to discuss my situation before making any decisions about the surgery timing.