Do you file unemployment where you live or work - Washington ESD question

You file unemployment in the state where you worked, not where you live. Since you worked in Seattle, you'll file with Washington ESD regardless of where you live in Washington. The work location determines which state's unemployment system handles your claim.

I had a similar situation when I got laid off from my job in Tacoma but lived in Olympia. Filed with Washington ESD no problem. The location within the state doesn't matter - it's all one system.

Just to add - if you had worked in multiple states in the past 18 months, it gets more complicated. But since you only worked in Washington, you're definitely filing with Washington ESD. Don't delay any longer!

File ASAP! You can backdate your claim to when you first became unemployed, but there are limits. Washington ESD allows backdating but you need to have a good reason for the delay. Don't wait any longer.

I was having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask this exact question last month. Kept getting busy signals and disconnected calls. Finally found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual person. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

The key thing to remember is that unemployment benefits are based on your work history and where you earned wages. Since you earned wages in Washington, Washington ESD will calculate your benefits based on those wages and you'll follow Washington's rules for job search requirements and weekly claims.

wait i thought you had to file where you live?? i filed in oregon because thats where i live but worked in washington. did i mess up?

The unemployment system is so confusing honestly. I've been dealing with Washington ESD for months over an adjudication issue and it's been a nightmare. At least you're asking the right questions before filing.

Just file online at secure.esd.wa.gov and get it started. The system will walk you through everything and you can always call later if you have questions. The important thing is to get your claim established.

Been there done that. Filed my claim after getting laid off from Microsoft. Lived in Bellevue, worked in Redmond, filed with Washington ESD no issues. Distance doesn't matter as long as you're in the same state.

This is basic stuff people... you file where you WORKED not where you LIVE. It's the same in every state. Your wages determine your benefits, not your address.

I used that Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier and it really worked. I was trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks about my pending claim. Claimyr got me connected to an agent in like 20 minutes. Worth checking out if you need to talk to someone.

Pro tip: when you file your initial claim, make sure you have your employment history for the past 18 months ready. Washington ESD will need details about your wages, employers, and why you left each job.

Washington ESD is actually pretty good compared to other states I've dealt with. Their online system works well and they process claims faster than most places. You should be fine.

One more thing - after you file, you'll need to file weekly claims every week to get paid. Don't forget to do that even if your claim is still pending. You can backfill later but it's easier to stay current.

For what it's worth, I tried calling Washington ESD directly a few times and it was basically impossible. Either busy signals or got disconnected after waiting on hold. That Claimyr service someone mentioned actually worked for me too when I needed to talk to someone about my job search requirements.

Just get your claim filed today! You're overthinking this. File with Washington ESD since you worked in Washington. Everything else can be sorted out later if needed.

Update us when you get it filed! Always good to hear success stories for people who are still figuring out the process.

Just wanted to add that I went through this exact same situation last year - lived in Bellingham but worked in Vancouver, WA. Filed with Washington ESD and it was totally straightforward. The system doesn't care about distance within the state, just that your wages were earned in Washington. One tip: make sure you have your Social Security card handy when you file online, they ask for it during the verification process. Don't let the fear of making a mistake stop you from filing - you can always correct information later if needed, but you can't get back the time you lose by waiting!