Does disability pay more than Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

Disability and unemployment are completely different programs with different eligibility requirements. You generally can't collect both at the same time since unemployment requires you to be able and available for work, while disability means you can't work.

Disability and unemployment are completely different programs with different eligibility requirements. You generally can't collect both at the same time because UI requires you to be able and available for work, while disability means you can't work. The payment amounts vary a lot depending on your work history and which disability program you qualify for.

disability takes FOREVER to get approved though, like months or even years. unemployment is immediate if you qualify

I went through this exact situation last year. My unemployment was paying about $650/week but I was having seizures that made it impossible to work. Applied for SSDI and had to stop my UI claims immediately. The disability process took 8 months and I got approved for $1,200/month which is way less than unemployment was paying me.

The thing about disability is it's based on your lifetime earnings, not your recent wages like unemployment. So if you had lower paying jobs earlier in your career, your disability benefit might be significantly less than your current UI amount. You can estimate your potential SSDI benefit on the Social Security website.

The amount depends on your work history and earnings. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is based on your lifetime earnings, while Supplemental Security Income (SSI) has set maximum amounts. Washington ESD unemployment is based on your recent wages. You'd need to check with Social Security to see what your potential disability payment would be.

Have you tried calling Washington ESD to ask about this? I was having trouble getting through to them about my claim status until I found this service called Claimyr that helps you reach agents. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Might be worth asking them directly about how disability affects your UI eligibility.

ugh the whole system is so confusing! why can't you get both if you paid into both programs?? seems like they should stack if you qualify for both

One thing to consider is that disability benefits are permanent (as long as you remain disabled) while UI has a maximum duration. In Washington state, regular UI maxes out at 26 weeks. So even if disability pays less monthly, it might be better long-term if you truly can't work.

I'd strongly recommend talking to a disability attorney before making any decisions. Most offer free consultations and can help you understand if you have a strong case. The approval rates for disability are pretty low on first applications, so you want to make sure you're in a good position before giving up your unemployment.

Just want to add that there are different types of disability benefits. SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) is based on your work history, but SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is need-based with much lower payments. Make sure you understand which one you might qualify for.

Whatever you decide, document everything about your medical condition. Keep all doctor visits, test results, treatment records, etc. If you do apply for disability, having thorough medical documentation is crucial for approval.

I was in a similar situation last year. Couldn't get through to anyone at Washington ESD to ask about my options when my back problems got worse. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually reach a human at Washington ESD. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. The agent I spoke with explained that I'd need to stop my UI claim if I went the disability route.

honestly the whole system is messed up. you either have to pretend youre healthy enough to work for unemployment or pretend youre too sick to work for disability. what if youre somewhere in between?

My understanding is that disability payments are generally lower than unemployment, especially if you were making decent money before. But disability can last much longer - unemployment in Washington maxes out at 26 weeks usually.

Be very careful about timing this. If you stop your unemployment claim to apply for disability and get denied, you might not be able to restart your UI benefits. The rules are strict about continuous eligibility.

tbh the disability system is broken too, my cousin has been waiting 2 years for an appeal and still no money. at least with unemployment you get paid while you're looking for work

Have you looked into whether your employer offers short-term or long-term disability insurance? If you were laid off you might not have access to it anymore, but it's worth checking since those benefits can be higher than government programs.

If you do decide to pursue disability, you might want to contact Washington ESD first to ask about how it affects your current claim. I used claimyr.com recently to get through to an agent about a different issue and they were really helpful explaining the rules.

One more thing - if your back condition is something that might improve with treatment, you might want to exhaust your UI benefits first while getting medical care. That way you're not locked into the disability system if you could potentially return to work.

Thanks everyone for all the advice! I think I'm going to try to get through to Washington ESD using that Claimyr service to ask about my specific situation, and also schedule a consultation with a disability attorney to understand my options better. I'll probably try to use up my remaining UI weeks while I figure this out since it sounds like disability is a much longer process anyway.

Another thing to consider - if you're collecting unemployment, you're supposed to be actively looking for work. If your medical condition is preventing you from doing that job search requirement, Washington ESD might question your continued eligibility anyway.

whatever you do dont just stop filing your weekly claims without talking to someone first. i did that once thinking i was being honest about not being able to work and it screwed up my whole claim

From what I've seen, most people get less money on disability than they were getting from unemployment, but it's more stable long-term. The average SSDI payment is around $1,500/month nationally, but it varies a lot based on your work history.

I tried calling Washington ESD about a similar question last month and spent literally 4 hours on hold across multiple days. Finally found out about this Claimyr thing that gets you through to an actual person. Saved me so much time and frustration.

Just want to add that if you do apply for disability, keep detailed records of your medical treatments and how your condition affects your daily activities. The more documentation you have, the better your chances of approval.

The job search requirement is what got me. I was on unemployment but my condition made it impossible to actually interview or work full-time. Felt like I was stuck between two systems that didn't account for my reality.

Have you looked into vocational rehabilitation services? Sometimes they can help you find work that accommodates your disability while you're still on unemployment.

Whatever you decide, don't let your current unemployment claim lapse while you're figuring this out. Keep filing your weekly claims until you know for sure what you're doing.

I used Claimyr last week when I had questions about medical leave affecting my unemployment claim. The Washington ESD agent they connected me with was really knowledgeable about the intersection between medical issues and UI eligibility. Worth using if you need specific guidance about your situation.

The waiting period for disability approval is brutal, but if you're genuinely unable to work, unemployment will end eventually anyway. At least with disability, if you're approved, you get back pay from when you first applied.

Bottom line - this is too important a decision to make based on forum advice. You need to talk to professionals who can look at your specific medical condition, work history, and financial situation.

Thanks everyone for all the insights. This has given me a lot to think about and research. I'll definitely talk to professionals before making any changes to my current unemployment claim.