How to apply for unemployment disability benefits through Washington ESD?

I think you might be mixing up two different programs. Washington ESD handles regular unemployment insurance (UI), but disability benefits are usually handled by Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Washington State's disability programs through DSHS. If you're looking to file for unemployment while having a disability, that's different - you'd still file a regular UI claim but would need to prove you're able and available for work.

Wait, I'm confused too. Are you talking about filing for unemployment BECAUSE of a disability, or trying to get disability payments through the unemployment system? Because those are totally different things.

If you're looking to apply for regular unemployment benefits and you have a disability, you'll use the same application process as everyone else through Washington ESD. The key thing is that you have to certify each week that you're able and available for work. Having a disability doesn't disqualify you, but you need to show you can work with reasonable accommodations. If you're completely unable to work due to your condition, then you'd be looking at SSDI instead.

I went through this last year when I had to file for unemployment while dealing with a chronic illness. Washington ESD was actually pretty accommodating once I explained my situation. The weekly certification asks if you're able and available for work - I answered yes because I could work with my limitations. The job search requirement was the trickier part since I needed to find employers who could accommodate my needs.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask these questions directly, I recently discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually reach a real person at ESD. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Might be worth checking out if you need to talk to someone about your specific situation with disability accommodations.

just fyi disability benefits and unemployment are usually separate things entirely. if youre totally disabled you probably cant get unemployment anyway because of the work requirement

Thanks everyone for the clarification! So it sounds like if I do lose my job, I should file a regular unemployment claim through Washington ESD and just be prepared to explain how I can work with accommodations during the adjudication process if needed.

I had a similar situation and ended up needing to provide medical documentation during my adjudication. Washington ESD wanted to make sure I understood the work search requirements and could realistically meet them given my limitations. It took about 3 weeks to resolve but my claim was approved.

The job search requirements might be the biggest challenge honestly. You have to apply to a certain number of jobs each week and some employers aren't great about accommodating disabilities during the hiring process.

Make sure you're familiar with the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements too. Employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations during the application process, not just after hiring.

If you end up needing to appeal any decisions from Washington ESD about your claim, make sure you do it within the 30-day deadline. I've seen people miss that window and then have to start the whole process over.

Just want to echo what others have said about Claimyr - I used them when I was having issues with my claim and couldn't reach anyone at Washington ESD. Really helped me get my situation sorted out quickly instead of waiting weeks for a callback that never came.

The Washington ESD website has some information about accommodations for people with disabilities, but it's not super easy to find. You might want to call their main line and ask to speak with someone about ADA accommodations for unemployment claimants.

One thing to keep in mind is that if you're receiving SSDI, there are limits on how much you can earn from unemployment benefits before it affects your disability payments. Might want to check with Social Security about that if it applies to your situation.

I work in HR and we've had employees successfully file for unemployment while dealing with disabilities. The key is being honest about your limitations but also clear about what you can do with proper accommodations. Washington ESD generally tries to work with people as long as they're genuinely seeking employment.

Don't forget about WorkSource Washington too. They have specialized services for people with disabilities looking for work, and using those services can count toward your job search requirements.

Just wanted to add that there's also the Ticket to Work program through Social Security that might be relevant if you're dealing with disability issues and looking for employment support. It's separate from unemployment but could be helpful alongside it.

Bottom line: file for regular unemployment through Washington ESD if you lose your job, be prepared to explain your work capacity during adjudication, and use services like Claimyr if you need to actually talk to someone at ESD about your specific situation. The system can work for people with disabilities, it just takes some extra documentation and patience.

One thing that might help clarify your situation is knowing that Washington State also has Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) through the ESD, which is different from both regular unemployment and disability benefits. If you're currently working part-time but need to reduce hours or take time off due to your health condition, you might qualify for PFML benefits while still maintaining your employment. This could be an option to explore before you reach the point of needing to file for unemployment. The PFML program allows for intermittent leave, which might work better for managing a chronic condition while staying employed.