How does unemployment work for remote employees - Washington ESD questions

Thanks! That makes sense. Do I need to worry about the fact that my paystubs show California withholdings?

No, Washington ESD will handle the interstate coordination. Your employer should have been paying Washington state unemployment taxes since you're a resident here.

Did you have any issues with the job search requirements? Like do I need to look for jobs only in Washington or can I apply to remote positions anywhere?

you can apply to remote jobs anywhere, just document them in your job search log like normal

How much does something like that cost? Seems like it might be worth it if you really need to talk to someone.

Much cheaper than missing out on benefits because you can't get through to resolve issues. I was stuck in adjudication for weeks before I used it.

Never heard of this but honestly the Washington ESD phone system is so frustrating I'd try anything at this point

What kind of documentation do I need? I have my offer letter and paystubs but wondering if there's anything specific for remote work.

Your regular employment docs should be fine. Sometimes they ask for proof of your Washington residence if there are questions, but that's just utility bills or lease agreements.

That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier - I was in the same situation calling hundreds of times. Their service actually got me through to a real person at Washington ESD within an hour.

Is that legit though? Sounds too good to be true

My sister used it last month and said it worked great. She was able to get her adjudication resolved finally.

That's good to know about the job search flexibility. Do I need to specify that I'm looking for remote work when I file my weekly claims?

You don't need to specify remote vs in-person on your weekly claims. Just document your job search activities normally - whether they're remote applications or local interviews.

Wait I thought you had to be available for work in Washington state specifically? Can you really apply to jobs anywhere?

How can I check if my employer was paying the right taxes? My W-2 shows state withholdings for California.

Your W-2 might show California income tax withholdings but unemployment taxes are different. Washington ESD will verify this when you file - they'll contact your employer directly.

Some people have more complex situations though. Not everyone's case is straightforward.

That's reassuring. I was worried there might be some weird complications because of the multi-state thing.

Nah, it's actually simpler than you'd think. The states have systems to coordinate this stuff.

Good point. Any change in your situation needs to be reported right away or you could end up with an overpayment issue.

I'm staying put in Washington so that shouldn't be an issue for me.

That's true but remote positions are also super competitive. Sometimes feels like you're competing with the entire country.

Fair point, but at least you have the option. Better than being stuck with only local openings.

I'll keep that in mind. Hopefully I won't need it but good to know there's an option if I get stuck.

The phone system at Washington ESD is definitely frustrating. Anything that helps you actually talk to a person is worth considering.

Perfect, that's exactly what I needed to know. Going to file my claim this weekend.

Good luck! The online filing system is pretty straightforward once you get started.

That's really helpful to hear from someone who went through the same thing! Did you have any issues with the job search requirements since you were looking for remote positions? I'm wondering if I need to focus on local jobs or if remote applications nationwide count toward the weekly requirements.