Can you go out of town when you are on Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

You can travel while on unemployment but you need to be careful about the requirements. You still have to be able and available for work, which means if a potential employer calls for an interview, you need to be able to get back for it. For a wedding weekend, that's usually not a problem since it's just a few days.

The key thing is maintaining your able and available status. Washington ESD doesn't require you to report short-term travel, but you still need to complete your 3 job search activities per week and be ready to accept suitable work. If you're going to be gone longer than a week, that's when it gets tricky.

I went to my cousin's wedding in California last year while on UI and had no issues. Just kept doing my job searches online and filed my weekly claim as usual. The Washington ESD website doesn't say anything about reporting short trips.

Actually, if you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask about this directly, there's a service called Claimyr that helps people reach ESD agents by phone. I used it when I had questions about my job search requirements. Check out claimyr.com - they even have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

be careful about this stuff, i know someone who got in trouble for traveling while on benefits. they said she wasnt available for work because she was out of state when an employer tried to reach her

The Washington ESD handbook says you need to be available for work in your local labor market. I interpret that as meaning you can travel but need to be able to return quickly if needed. A wedding weekend should be fine.

I'm so paranoid about messing up my benefits that I barely leave the house anymore. This whole system makes me feel like I'm being watched constantly. Can't they just give clear guidelines about what's allowed?

Just went through this exact situation for my brother's graduation. Called Washington ESD (took forever to get through) and they said weekend trips are no problem as long as you're back for any interviews or work opportunities. Go to the wedding!

THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO TRIP YOU UP! They want you to be scared to live your life so you'll slip up and they can deny your benefits. I've been fighting Washington ESD for months over stupid technicalities.

My advice: go to the wedding but document everything. Keep records of your job searches, save screenshots of applications, and have your phone ready in case anyone calls. Cover your bases and you'll be fine.

lol everyone's overthinking this. i travel all the time while on benefits, just keep applying for jobs and answering your phone. nobody's tracking your every move

I used Claimyr last month when I needed to clarify the job search requirements after getting a warning letter. The agent I spoke with was really helpful and cleared up my confusion about what counts as a valid job contact. Definitely worth using if you have specific questions about travel or anything else.

Your sister's wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Go and enjoy it! Just make sure you can handle any work-related calls and keep up with your job search. Life doesn't stop because you're on unemployment.

I travel for work interviews sometimes and that's never been an issue. A wedding is basically the same thing - temporary travel with a specific purpose. Just be smart about it and you'll be fine.

Reading all these responses makes me feel better about my own situation. I've been so scared to do anything while on benefits, but it sounds like reasonable short trips are okay as long as you're responsible about it.

Update: I just checked the Washington ESD website and under the 'Able and Available' section it mentions that you can travel as long as you remain available for work. So weekend trips should definitely be fine.

One more thing to consider - if you're job searching in specific industries that might require immediate start dates, just be aware of that timing. But for most jobs, a few days wouldn't matter.

I tried calling Washington ESD about this same question last week and finally got through using that Claimyr service. The agent confirmed that short trips for family events are fine as long as you maintain your availability for work. Really put my mind at ease.

Bottom line: go to your sister's wedding! Just keep your phone on, stay on top of your job search, and file your weekly claim like normal. Life is too short to miss important family moments because of unemployment anxiety.

Have an amazing time at your sister's wedding! Just remember to keep your phone charged and check it regularly in case any potential employers reach out. I always screenshot my job applications when I travel so I have everything documented if needed. The consensus here is pretty clear - short family trips are totally acceptable as long as you maintain your availability. Don't let unemployment stress rob you of these precious family moments!