Can you receive Washington ESD unemployment and disability at the same time?
I'm really confused about whether I can collect both unemployment benefits from Washington ESD and disability payments simultaneously. I've been on temporary disability for a shoulder injury from my warehouse job, but my doctor says I might be cleared for light duty work soon. My disability payments are barely covering my rent and I'm wondering if I could file for unemployment too since I'm technically able to work now, just not at my old job. Has anyone dealt with this situation before? I don't want to get in trouble with Washington ESD for collecting benefits I'm not supposed to have.
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ApolloJackson
This is actually a pretty complex situation with Washington ESD. Generally speaking, you can't collect both at the same time because unemployment requires you to be "able and available" for work, while disability usually means you're unable to work. However, there are some exceptions for partial disability situations.
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Grace Patel
•That makes sense about the able and available requirement. My injury is healing and I could do desk work or light warehouse duties, just not heavy lifting like my old job required.
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Isabella Russo
•The key is whether you can perform some type of work, not necessarily your old job. Washington ESD looks at your overall work capacity.
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Rajiv Kumar
I went through something similar last year. You need to be very careful about how you handle this with Washington ESD. If you're receiving temporary disability and can prove you're able to seek and accept suitable work, you might qualify for UI benefits. But you absolutely have to report the disability payments on your weekly claims.
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Grace Patel
•Did you have to provide medical documentation to Washington ESD about your work capacity?
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Rajiv Kumar
•Yes, I had to get a letter from my doctor stating what types of work I could and couldn't do. Washington ESD used that to determine my eligibility.
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Aria Washington
Be super careful here because this is where a lot of people get tripped up. I tried calling Washington ESD about this exact question and spent literally 3 hours on hold before giving up. You really need to talk to someone who knows the specific rules about concurrent benefits.
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Liam O'Reilly
•Same experience here with the phone lines. I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to a Washington ESD agent in like 15 minutes. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.
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Aria Washington
•That sounds too good to be true but at this point I'm desperate. The regular phone system is absolutely useless.
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Grace Patel
•I'm definitely going to look into that Claimyr thing. I need to get clear answers before I file anything with Washington ESD.
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Chloe Delgado
From what I understand, temporary disability and unemployment can sometimes overlap if your disability is partial or you've been cleared for light duty work. The important thing is being honest about your situation and reporting everything correctly to both agencies.
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Ava Harris
•This is exactly right. Transparency is key with Washington ESD. They'd rather help you figure out the right benefits than catch you in a mistake later.
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Grace Patel
•That's reassuring. I just want to make sure I'm following all the rules correctly.
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Isabella Russo
One thing to consider is that your disability payments might reduce your weekly UI benefit amount. Washington ESD has specific calculations for how other income affects your unemployment benefits.
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Grace Patel
•I hadn't thought about that. Do you know if they reduce it dollar for dollar or is there some kind of formula?
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ApolloJackson
•It depends on the type and amount of disability payment. Washington ESD has worksheets for calculating deductions from UI benefits when you have other income.
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Jacob Lee
Whatever you do, don't just assume you can't get both. I almost missed out on benefits because someone told me it was impossible, but it turned out my situation qualified for concurrent benefits.
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Grace Patel
•What made your situation qualify? Was it because your disability was partial?
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Jacob Lee
•Yes, I had a back injury that prevented me from doing my construction job but I could still do office work or other light duty positions. The key was proving I was actively seeking work within my physical limitations.
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Ava Harris
The job search requirement is crucial here. Even if you qualify for both benefits, you still have to meet Washington ESD's job search requirements unless you're on standby status with your employer.
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Grace Patel
•My employer can't accommodate light duty so I'm not on standby. I guess I'd need to search for jobs that match my physical restrictions?
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Ava Harris
•Exactly. You'd need to document your job search efforts for positions you can physically perform, just like any other UI claimant.
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Liam O'Reilly
I used that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier to get through to Washington ESD about a similar question. The agent was actually really helpful and walked me through exactly what documentation I needed for my specific situation. Way better than trying to figure it out from the website.
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Emily Thompson
•How much does that cost? I'm already tight on money which is why I need to figure out these benefits.
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Liam O'Reilly
•It's really reasonable considering how much time and frustration it saves. The main thing is they actually get you connected to a real person who can answer your specific questions.
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Sophie Hernandez
Make sure you understand the difference between Social Security Disability and short-term disability insurance. The rules are different depending on which type you're receiving.
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Grace Patel
•Mine is short-term disability through my employer's insurance. Does that make a difference for Washington ESD eligibility?
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Sophie Hernandez
•Yes, employer-sponsored short-term disability is generally treated differently than SSDI for unemployment purposes. But you still need to report it on your weekly claims.
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Daniela Rossi
I've been collecting both for the past two months while I recover from surgery. The key is being completely upfront with Washington ESD about your medical restrictions and work capacity. They have a form you fill out about your limitations.
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Grace Patel
•That's encouraging to hear! Did you have any issues with the approval process?
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Daniela Rossi
•It took a bit longer than usual because they had to review my medical documentation, but once approved it's been straightforward. Just make sure to report your disability payments on every weekly claim.
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Ryan Kim
Don't forget that if you do qualify for both, you might owe taxes on the unemployment benefits. Disability payments are often tax-free but UI benefits are taxable income.
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Grace Patel
•Good point about taxes. I hadn't considered that aspect of it.
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Ryan Kim
•Yeah, it can be a surprise at tax time if you're not prepared. Washington ESD offers tax withholding on UI benefits which might be worth considering.
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Zoe Walker
The most important thing is getting accurate information from Washington ESD directly rather than relying on general advice. Every situation is different and the rules can be complex.
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Elijah Brown
•Absolutely agree. I thought I knew the rules and ended up with an overpayment notice that took months to resolve.
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Grace Patel
•That's exactly what I'm trying to avoid. I want to make sure I do everything correctly from the start.
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Maria Gonzalez
If your doctor clears you for any type of work, even with restrictions, you should be able to file for unemployment. The Washington ESD will evaluate whether you meet the able and available requirement based on your specific circumstances.
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Grace Patel
•My follow-up appointment is next week so hopefully I'll get that clearance letter then.
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Maria Gonzalez
•Perfect timing. Make sure the letter specifically states what types of work you can perform, not just what you can't do.
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Natalie Chen
I tried calling Washington ESD about this same question last month and never got through. Finally used some calling service that got me connected right away. Made all the difference in getting my situation sorted out properly.
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Grace Patel
•Was that the Claimyr service others mentioned? I'm seriously considering it at this point.
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Natalie Chen
•Yes, that's the one. Honestly worth it just for the peace of mind of talking to an actual Washington ESD agent who can review your specific case.
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Santiago Martinez
One more thing to consider - if you're receiving workers compensation for your injury, that has different rules than regular disability insurance when it comes to UI eligibility.
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Grace Patel
•Mine isn't workers comp since the injury happened outside of work. Just regular short-term disability through my employer's plan.
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Santiago Martinez
•That should make things simpler then. Workers comp has more restrictions when it comes to concurrent UI benefits.
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Samantha Johnson
Bottom line - you probably can collect both if you're medically cleared for some type of work and actively seeking employment within your physical limitations. Just be transparent with Washington ESD and report everything correctly.
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Grace Patel
•Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice. I feel much more confident about moving forward with this now.
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Nick Kravitz
•Good luck! The most important thing is getting that medical clearance and being honest about your work restrictions.
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