Filing multistate claim with WA ESD - phone vs. online? (Combined wage claim help)

I did this last yr moving from idaho to wa. Started online but got stuck. the system is rlly confusing for multistste claims tbh

You can technically start online, but for a combined wage claim (CWC) between Washington and Oregon, you'll almost certainly need to speak with an agent to complete the process correctly. The online system isn't fully equipped to handle all the interstate wage verification steps. I recommend starting your application online first to get your basic information into the system. Then you'll need to call ESD to have them properly initiate the combined wage claim with Oregon. Make sure you have your Oregon employer information and approximate earnings ready when you call. They'll need to request your wage data from Oregon's employment department, which can take 2-3 weeks to process.

I WASTED 3 WEEKS trying to do my multistate claim online when I moved from California!!! Complete nightmare! The system kept saying my claim was processing but nothing happened. When I finally got someone on the phone they told me my claim was SITTING THERE doing NOTHING because the interstate wages weren't being automatically requested!! They had to manually trigger something on their end. WHY DOESN'T THE WEBSITE TELL YOU THIS?? The whole WA unemployment system is broken!!

I help people with their UI claims regularly, and I can confirm that combined wage claims between Washington and Oregon almost always require phone intervention. Here's why: 1. You need to establish which state is the "paying state" (likely WA since you're here now) 2. The systems don't automatically communicate between states for wage verification 3. There are different rules for how each state calculates your benefit amount Start your claim online through eServices, but call as soon as possible afterward to ensure they initiate the interstate wage request. Make sure to specifically mention you need a "combined wage claim" or "CWC" with Oregon. Also, while waiting for the interstate wages to process, you should still file your weekly claims even though they'll show "pending" status.

I spent literally DAYS trying to get through to ESD for my multistate claim with Idaho. The phone lines are always jammed. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual ESD agent in about 30 minutes instead of trying for days. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Worth it for me because the agent was able to fix my multistate claim issues right away instead of me waiting weeks. The agent told me multistate claims almost always need phone assistance to process correctly.

kinda related but not totally... does anyone know if you can apply for unemployment if you worked in washington but now live in oregon? is that reversed from what the OP is asking?

Just following up to emphasize something important: Even though you'll likely need to call to complete your combined wage claim, make sure you still file your initial claim online ASAP to establish your claim date. This is important because your benefit eligibility date starts when you first file, even if the interstate wage verification takes several weeks. Also, be aware that your first eligible week is a waiting week (unpaid) in Washington, so the sooner you get your initial claim filed, the better.

Just went through this exact same situation moving from Oregon to WA in January! Here's what worked for me: I started online like everyone's saying, but the key is calling within 24-48 hours of filing your initial claim. Don't wait weeks like I did initially. When you call, specifically ask them to "initiate a combined wage claim with Oregon" and have your Oregon employer details ready (company name, dates worked, approximate quarterly wages). The agent I spoke with said they see this WA/OR situation constantly and it's a pretty straightforward process once they manually trigger the interstate request. My Oregon wages came back in about 10 days and increased my weekly benefit amount significantly. Good luck!

Pro tip from someone who just went through this exact process in February: Call ESD early in the morning (right when they open at 8am) or late in the afternoon around 4pm. Those seem to be the best times to actually get through. Also, when you do get connected, ask the agent to give you a confirmation number for the interstate wage request - this way you can reference it if you need to call back. The whole process took about 3 weeks for me from initial filing to getting my first payment with the Oregon wages included. The waiting is frustrating but it's worth it because my benefit amount was almost double what it would have been with just WA wages!