Do I file for unemployment where I live or work in Washington state?
I'm confused about where to file my unemployment claim. I live in Spokane but work in Seattle - should I file with Washington ESD based on where I live or where my job was? My employer is headquartered in California but I worked remotely from my home office in Spokane most of the time, only going to the Seattle office twice a month. I got laid off last week and need to file ASAP but don't want to mess this up by filing in the wrong place.
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Zainab Ibrahim
You file where you worked, not where you live. Since your job was in Washington state, you file with Washington ESD regardless of where your home is. The fact that your employer is headquartered in California doesn't matter - it's about where YOU performed the work.
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Miguel Ramos
•Thanks! That makes sense. So even though I was remote most of the time, since I was employed in Washington I use Washington ESD?
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Zainab Ibrahim
•Exactly. Remote work is still considered work in the state where your employer is located for unemployment purposes.
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StarSailor
actually had the same question when i got laid off. you definitely file with washington esd since thats where your employer was. doesnt matter where you live at all
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Miguel Ramos
•Good to know I'm not the only one confused about this! Did you have any issues filing your claim?
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StarSailor
•nah it was pretty straightforward once i figured out the right state. just make sure you have your pay stubs and employment info ready
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Connor O'Brien
I had a nightmare trying to reach Washington ESD when I filed my claim. Spent hours on hold just to get basic questions answered. If you run into issues getting through to them, I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to an agent in under 10 minutes. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.
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Miguel Ramos
•Really? I've heard the phone lines are impossible. How much does something like that cost?
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Connor O'Brien
•I don't remember the exact price but it was worth it to avoid the endless hold times. Way better than trying to call Washington ESD directly.
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Yara Sabbagh
•I'm always skeptical of services like this but honestly the Washington ESD phone system is so broken that I might try it if I get stuck.
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Keisha Johnson
Wait, I'm confused now. I live in Oregon but work in Washington. Does that mean I file with Washington ESD too? This is so confusing!!
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Zainab Ibrahim
•Yes, you would file with Washington ESD since that's where your job is. The rule is always file where you worked, not where you live.
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Keisha Johnson
•OMG thank you! I was about to file with Oregon and that would have been a disaster.
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Paolo Rizzo
The Washington ESD website actually explains this pretty clearly in their FAQ section. You file in the state where you worked, period. Doesn't matter if you live across the country.
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Miguel Ramos
•I should have checked the FAQ first! Thanks for pointing that out.
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QuantumQuest
•yeah but their website is confusing as hell. took me forever to find the right forms
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Yara Sabbagh
Just to add some clarity here - if you worked in multiple states during your base period, things get more complicated. But in your case with just Washington work, it's straightforward - file with Washington ESD.
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Miguel Ramos
•Thankfully I only worked in Washington. What happens if someone did work in multiple states?
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Yara Sabbagh
•They usually file in the state where they worked most recently, but it can get complicated. Best to call Washington ESD directly in those cases.
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Connor O'Brien
•Good luck getting through! That's when Claimyr really comes in handy for complex questions like that.
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QuantumQuest
i made this mistake once and filed in the wrong state. what a nightmare to sort out. definitely double check before you submit anything
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Miguel Ramos
•Yikes, what happened when you filed in the wrong state?
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QuantumQuest
•had to withdraw that claim and start over. lost like 2 weeks of benefits while they sorted it out
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StarSailor
Pro tip: gather all your employment documents before you start the application. You'll need your employer's address, your wages, and dates of employment. Makes the whole process go much faster.
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Miguel Ramos
•Good advice! I have most of that stuff but should double-check I have everything.
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Zainab Ibrahim
•Also make sure you have your Social Security card and ID ready. Washington ESD is pretty strict about documentation.
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Amina Sy
I had a similar situation with remote work. The key thing is your employer was paying Washington state unemployment taxes, so that's where you file. It's actually pretty logical once you understand it.
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Miguel Ramos
•That makes total sense! I didn't think about the tax angle.
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Keisha Johnson
•Oh wow, that's a good way to think about it. Follow the taxes!
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Connor O'Brien
One more thing - when you do file with Washington ESD, make sure you're prepared for their weekly certification process. You'll need to report any work you do and actively search for jobs. The job search requirements are pretty strict.
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Miguel Ramos
•How many jobs do I need to apply for each week? I've heard different numbers.
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Connor O'Brien
•I think it's 3 job search activities per week, but you should verify that on the Washington ESD website or by calling them. That's another time when Claimyr was helpful for me.
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Paolo Rizzo
Just file online at esd.wa.gov - it's actually pretty user-friendly once you get started. The hardest part is usually reaching an agent if you have questions, but the online application itself is straightforward.
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Miguel Ramos
•Thanks! I'll start the application tonight.
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QuantumQuest
•yeah the online system is way better than calling. save yourself the headache
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Zainab Ibrahim
Final answer: File with Washington ESD since that's where you worked. Your residence doesn't matter. Make sure you have all your employment documentation ready, and don't delay filing - benefits are backdated to when you first become eligible, not when you file.
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Miguel Ramos
•Perfect, thank you everyone! This was exactly what I needed to know.
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StarSailor
•good luck with your claim! hope you get approved quickly
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Yara Sabbagh
Another thought - since you were working remotely from Spokane but technically employed in Seattle, make sure you list Seattle as your work location on the application. That's where Washington ESD will expect to see your job listed.
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Miguel Ramos
•Good point! I'll make sure to use the Seattle office address as my work location.
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Zainab Ibrahim
•Yes, use whatever address is on your tax documents and pay stubs. That's what Washington ESD will have on file.
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Keisha Johnson
This thread has been so helpful! I was going to make the same mistake with filing in the wrong state.
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Miguel Ramos
•Glad it helped you too! I'm feeling much more confident about filing now.
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Paolo Rizzo
•That's what these forums are for - helping each other navigate the unemployment system!
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Connor O'Brien
Last thing - if you do run into any issues with Washington ESD after filing, don't hesitate to use resources like Claimyr to get through to an agent. Sometimes you need to talk to a real person to resolve issues, and their phone system is notoriously difficult. Better to get help than to let problems drag on.
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Miguel Ramos
•I'll definitely keep that in mind. Hopefully I won't need it, but good to know it's an option.
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Amina Sy
•Agreed - sometimes paying a little to get through to an agent is worth it to avoid weeks of delays.
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