How does unemployment work if you move to Washington state?

That makes sense! Do I need to wait until after I move to start this process or can I begin it beforehand?

You should wait until you're actually residing in Washington to file the interstate claim. Washington ESD needs to verify your new address.

Oh no, that's what I'm worried about. How did you finally get through to them?

I ended up using this service called Claimyr that helped me get connected to an Washington ESD agent. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much time and frustration.

Never heard of that service before but honestly anything that helps with Washington ESD phone lines sounds worth it lol

This is correct. I work in workforce development and see this situation frequently. The Interstate Benefits program is designed exactly for this scenario.

Good to know, thank you both! So I won't lose any money during the transition as long as I set it up properly?

Exactly right. As long as you file the interstate claim promptly after moving, there shouldn't be any gap in benefits.

Actually it's a minimum of 3 job search activities per week in Washington, and they have to be documented in your job search log.

Is that more or less strict than other states typically?

Depends on the state but Washington is pretty reasonable compared to some places I've lived.

Thanks for that tip! I definitely would have forgotten to update my address with the original state.

yeah this is super important, learned this the hard way when my cousin moved to texas and forgot to update everything properly

Yes, that's correct. You'd file an interstate claim with your new state's unemployment office and they would administer your Washington ESD claim.

Good to know this works both directions!

All states participate in the Interstate Benefits program. It's been around for decades and is managed federally.

Yep, it's a nationwide system. The tricky part is just navigating each state's specific procedures.

In my experience it took about a week once I got through to Washington ESD to set it up. The Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really helped speed up that initial contact.

A week isn't too bad. I was worried it might take much longer.

That's reassuring, thanks!

That's encouraging to hear! Did you have to provide any special documentation for the interstate claim?

Just proof of residency in Washington - utility bill, lease agreement, that kind of thing.

You should use your actual residence address. If you're staying with a friend temporarily, that would be your address for unemployment purposes.

Makes sense, thank you!

Right? I feel much better about the whole process now.

Same here, definitely bookmarking this thread for reference.

Great advice! I'll make sure to document everything.

Yes this is so important! Having that paper trail saved me when there was a brief mix-up with my claim.

That's really good to hear! Looking forward to getting this set up properly.

Agreed, Washington ESD has been pretty responsive in my experience.

You should definitely notify your current state's unemployment office about your move as soon as possible, ideally before you relocate. Most states require you to report address changes within a certain timeframe (usually within a week or two). It's better to be proactive about it rather than risk any delays or complications with your benefits. You can usually update your address online through their portal or by calling their customer service line.

That's solid advice from Natasha. I'd also add that when you do notify your current state, make sure to ask them specifically about the process for transferring to an interstate claim. Some states have particular forms or steps they want you to follow. I made the mistake of just updating my address without mentioning I was moving to another state, and it caused a brief delay when I tried to set up the interstate claim later.

Perfect timing on this question! I just went through this process myself last month when I moved here from Texas. I called my Texas unemployment office about two weeks before my move date and they walked me through everything. They actually transferred me to a specialist who handles interstate claims, and she gave me a checklist of what to do and when. The key thing she told me was to make sure there's no gap between when I notify Texas and when I file with Washington ESD - apparently that's where people run into the most trouble with delayed payments.

This is exactly the kind of detailed guidance I was hoping for! @Geoff Richards, that's super helpful about getting transferred to an interstate specialist - I wouldn't have thought to ask for that specifically. And the tip about avoiding any gaps between notifying the original state and filing with Washington ESD is crucial. I'll definitely call my current state's office a couple weeks before my move date like you did. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread - you've all made this process seem much less daunting!

This has been such a valuable discussion! I'm actually in the process of planning a move to Washington from Arizona next month and had many of these same questions. One thing I wanted to add based on my research - I called Arizona's unemployment office yesterday and they mentioned that some states have specific "interstate claim request" forms that need to be filled out before you move. They're sending me one via email. So it might be worth asking your current state if they have any special paperwork beyond just the address update. Also, they told me to keep copies of everything for my own records during the transition period.

This is such great information from everyone! @Yuki Ito that s'a really important point about the interstate claim request forms - I had no idea some states require special paperwork beyond just updating your address. It sounds like calling ahead is definitely the way to go rather than trying to figure it out online. I m'planning my move from New Mexico in about 3 weeks, so I m'going to call their unemployment office this week to ask about any special forms and get connected with their interstate specialist like @Geoff Richards mentioned. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - it s making'this whole process feel much more manageable!