Can you receive unemployment, L&I, and FMLA benefits at the same time? ESD confusion

No, you typically can't collect unemployment, L&I, and FMLA all at the same time. Here's why: - Unemployment (ESD) requires you to be able and available to work, actively seeking jobs - L&I (workers' comp) is for work-related injuries and provides partial wage replacement when you can't work - FMLA isn't a payment - it's job protection for up to 12 weeks Since you have a workplace injury, L&I would be your primary benefit. FMLA runs concurrently to protect your job. You wouldn't qualify for unemployment since you aren't able to work due to your injury.

ur supervisor is WRONG!! when i hurt my shoulder last year my boss told me the same thing. i tried getting unemployment and l&i at the same time and ended up having to payback over $4500 to esd!!! dont make my mistake, it was a NIGHTMARE

Listen, I've been through this exact situation and it's frustrating how poorly employers understand the system. Here's the deal: FMLA = job protection only (no money) L&I = wage replacement for WORK injuries (60-75% of wages) Unemployment = for when you CAN work but DON'T HAVE a job You CANNOT collect unemployment while on L&I because unemployment requires you to be able and available for work. Your L&I claim specifically states you're NOT able to work due to injury. Focus on your L&I claim. Document EVERYTHING. Keep copies of all medical records. If you have trouble getting through to L&I claims managers, I recommend Claimyr (claimyr.com). I was getting nowhere with my claim until I used their service to get through to an actual person - they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Made a huge difference in getting my claim processed correctly.

They help you get through to ESD or L&I phone systems - it's for when you can't get past the busy signals or long hold times. Really helpful when you need to talk to an actual claims manager instead of just leaving messages that never get returned.

Thank you all for the information! I'm going to focus on my L&I claim since it was definitely a workplace injury. It makes sense now that unemployment wouldn't apply since I'm technically not able to work right now. I'll check out that Claimyr service if I keep having trouble getting updates on my claim status.

One important thing to note: if your doctor releases you for LIGHT DUTY work, but your employer doesn't have any light duty available, THEN you might qualify for unemployment while your L&I claim is still open. This is called a "crossover" claim and is the only situation where you might receive both types of benefits. But it's complicated and requires specific documentation from your doctor and employer. You should speak with both L&I and ESD claims specialists if this situation applies to you.

WRONG WRONG WRONG!!! You CAN'T get unemployment if you're on L&I!!! My brother tried this in 2024 and got DENIED and then had to appeal and it was a HUGE MESS!!! Don't listen to these people telling you to try for both!!! Pick ONE system and stick with it!!!

im confused too lol... so does FMLA give you any money at all? or is it just saying your boss cant fire you while youre hurt?

when i was on L&I last year i had the worst time getting updates on my claim. kept leaving messages and nobody called back for weeks! i finally got through to someone who helped after like 20 calls. maybe try early morning? seems like they pick up more before 9am

I went through something similar when I injured my wrist at work. The key thing to remember is that these systems are designed to work together, not against each other. Since you have a documented workplace injury, L&I should be your primary focus - they'll cover your medical expenses and provide time-loss benefits while you recover. One thing that helped me was keeping a detailed log of all my interactions with each agency (dates, times, who I spoke with, what was discussed). This came in handy when there were discrepancies or when I needed to reference previous conversations. Also, don't feel bad about your HR department giving you conflicting info - unfortunately, many employers don't fully understand how these programs interact. The most important thing right now is getting your L&I claim properly established and following through with all medical appointments. Everything else can be sorted out once you have that foundation in place.

Just want to add that if you're dealing with a back injury from lifting, make sure you get proper documentation from your doctor about any lifting restrictions or physical limitations. L&I will want detailed medical records showing the extent of your injury and how it relates to your work duties. I had a similar workplace back injury and the claims process went much smoother once I had comprehensive medical documentation. Also, if your employer has workers' comp insurance (which they should), make sure they report your injury to their insurance carrier - sometimes there are delays if the employer doesn't file the proper paperwork on their end. Don't let anyone pressure you into filing for benefits you're not eligible for. Focus on getting your L&I claim established first, then worry about other options if your situation changes (like if you're cleared for light duty but your employer can't accommodate it).

I'm going through a very similar situation right now - workplace back injury from repetitive lifting, and my employer also mentioned FMLA while I'm dealing with L&I. The advice here has been really helpful, especially about focusing on the L&I claim first since it's a documented workplace injury. One thing I learned the hard way is to make sure you understand the difference between your employer's workers' comp insurance and the state L&I system. In Washington, if your employer is self-insured for workers' comp, you deal with their insurance company directly. But if they're covered under the state fund, you work with L&I. This wasn't explained to me initially and caused some confusion about who I should be contacting for updates. Also, definitely keep copies of EVERYTHING - medical reports, claim forms, correspondence. I've already had one instance where L&I said they didn't receive paperwork that my doctor's office said they faxed over. Having my own copies saved me from having to redo everything. The waiting is frustrating, but from what I'm learning, it's better to get one claim handled properly than to try juggling multiple systems and risk having to pay benefits back later.

I'm dealing with a similar workplace injury situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea that you couldn't collect unemployment while on L&I - my supervisor also told me to "apply for everything" which now seems like terrible advice. One thing I want to add is that if you're having trouble getting through to L&I on the phone, try using their online portal if you haven't already. I was able to upload some of my medical documentation directly through the website, which seemed faster than trying to fax everything. You can also check your claim status online, which helped reduce my anxiety about not knowing what was happening. Also, make sure you're being completely honest about your injury and limitations with both your doctor and L&I. I initially downplayed my pain level because I was worried about job security, but my doctor explained that accurate documentation is crucial for getting the benefits you're entitled to. Your recovery and proper medical care should be the priority right now. Hang in there - this process is confusing and stressful, but focusing on your L&I claim like everyone else has suggested seems like the right path forward.

I work in benefits administration and see this confusion all the time. You're absolutely right to focus on your L&I claim first - that's your primary safety net for a workplace injury. Here's what I always tell people in your situation: 1. L&I covers medical expenses AND time-loss benefits (usually around 60-75% of your wages) 2. FMLA just protects your job - no payments, but your employer can't fire you during recovery 3. These two work together perfectly for workplace injuries The unemployment confusion happens because some supervisors don't understand that ESD requires you to be "able and available" for work. Since you're medically unable to work due to injury, you don't qualify. One tip: when you talk to your L&I claims manager, ask them to explain your time-loss benefit calculation. Sometimes there are delays in getting these payments started, but understanding the timeline helps manage expectations. Also, if your doctor releases you to modified duties later but your employer can't accommodate, THEN you might have other options. Don't let anyone pressure you into filing for benefits you're not eligible for - the overpayment recovery process is brutal and you don't want that headache on top of recovering from injury.

I'm going through a workplace injury situation too and this discussion has been so helpful! I was also told by my supervisor to "apply for everything" but now I understand why that's bad advice. One thing I learned from my physical therapist is to make sure you follow through with ALL the medical appointments L&I approves, even if you start feeling better. Apparently missing appointments or stopping treatment early can affect your claim status. Also, if L&I sends you to an independent medical exam (IME), that's normal - don't panic thinking it means they're trying to deny your claim. The hardest part for me has been the mental stress of not knowing when payments will start or how long the process takes. But reading everyone's experiences here makes me feel less alone in dealing with this confusing system. Focus on healing and let L&I handle the financial side - that's what they're there for!

I'm new to this community but dealing with a very similar situation - workplace injury and complete confusion about which benefits to apply for. My employer's HR department also gave me conflicting information about filing for unemployment alongside my L&I claim. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly enlightening! I had no idea that unemployment requires you to be "able and available" for work, which obviously doesn't apply when you're medically unable to work due to injury. The explanation about L&I providing both medical coverage AND time-loss benefits (60-75% of wages) while FMLA just protects your job makes so much sense. I'm definitely going to focus on getting my L&I claim established properly first, keep detailed documentation of everything, and try that early morning calling tip to actually reach someone. The stories about people having to pay back thousands in unemployment benefits they weren't eligible for are exactly the kind of nightmare I want to avoid! Thank you all for sharing your experiences - this thread should be required reading for anyone dealing with workplace injuries in Washington. It's so much clearer now why trying to juggle multiple benefit systems at once is a bad idea.