Does disability count as income for Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

SSDI payments are not considered wages for unemployment purposes in Washington. You should still be eligible for UI benefits based on your work earnings. However, you'll need to report the disability income when you file your initial claim - Washington ESD needs to know about all income sources even if they don't affect your benefit calculation.

I was in the exact same situation last year. Filed my claim online and included my SSDI info in the 'other income' section. Washington ESD didn't reduce my weekly benefits at all because of the disability payments. The key is being upfront about it when you file.

Be careful though - if your disability prevents you from working full-time, that could affect your 'able and available' status for unemployment. Washington ESD requires you to be physically and mentally able to work and actively seeking employment. This is where a lot of people with disabilities run into problems with their claims.

I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask about this exact question. Spent hours on hold trying to reach someone. Finally used claimyr.com to get connected to an actual agent who explained the whole process. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made the whole thing so much easier than trying to call on my own.

wait so if I get VA disability payments does the same rule apply?? I've been putting off filing for unemployment because I thought it would mess up my benefits

The key distinction is between 'earned income' and 'unearned income.' SSDI, VA disability, and similar payments are unearned income. Washington ESD only offsets unemployment benefits for earned income like wages, self-employment earnings, or pension payments from recent employment.

I'm a former Washington ESD employee and can confirm that SSDI does not reduce unemployment benefits. However, make sure you're honest about your work capacity when filing. If your disability significantly limits your ability to work, Washington ESD may question your eligibility. The fact that you were working part-time recently should help establish your work capacity.

Filed my claim 3 weeks ago with SSDI income reported and still waiting for approval. Washington ESD is taking forever to process claims that involve any kind of disability income. Anyone else experiencing delays?

The whole system is so confusing! I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks to ask this same question. Their phone lines are always busy and when I do get through, I get disconnected. How is anyone supposed to get answers?

Quick update - I was in a similar situation and my claim was approved without any issues. The SSDI didn't affect my weekly benefit amount at all. Just make sure you keep reporting it on your weekly claims to stay compliant.

One thing to remember is that you'll still need to do the work search activities even if you're on SSDI. Washington ESD requires job search contacts unless you're specifically exempt. Being on disability doesn't automatically exempt you from the work search requirement.

Does anyone know if there are any special considerations for people who become disabled while already collecting unemployment? That's a different situation but I'm curious.

Just wanted to add that if you're getting both SSDI and unemployment, make sure you understand the tax implications. SSDI isn't usually taxable but unemployment benefits are. Don't get hit with a surprise tax bill next year!

I tried using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it actually worked great. Got connected to a Washington ESD agent within an hour instead of spending all day trying to call. They answered all my questions about disability income and unemployment. Definitely recommend it if you need to talk to someone directly.

Bottom line - file your claim and be honest about all income sources. SSDI won't reduce your unemployment benefits, but hiding it could cause problems later. Washington ESD can access federal databases anyway, so there's no point in not reporting it.

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago. The most important thing is to be completely transparent when you file - I listed my SSDI payments in the "other income" section and included a brief note explaining that I had been working part-time despite receiving disability benefits. Washington ESD didn't reduce my weekly benefit amount at all, and my claim was approved in about 10 days. The key is demonstrating that you're still able and available for work within your limitations. Since you were already working 30 hours a week, you have solid proof of your work capacity. Just make sure you're prepared to explain how your disability doesn't prevent you from seeking and accepting suitable employment.