If I live in one state and work in another, where do I file unemployment - Washington ESD questions

You file in the state where you worked, not where you live. Since you worked in Washington, you need to file with Washington ESD. The wages you earned in Washington are what determine your benefit amount.

Definitely file with Washington ESD. I live in Idaho but worked in Washington for 2 years. Filed my claim online through the Washington ESD website and had no issues. Just make sure you have all your Washington employment information ready when you apply.

This is actually pretty common in the Pacific Northwest with people crossing state lines for work. You always file where you earned the wages. If you had worked in multiple states, it gets more complicated, but since all your recent work was in Washington, it's straightforward - Washington ESD handles your claim.

I had trouble reaching Washington ESD when I needed to ask questions about my interstate claim. Kept getting busy signals for weeks. Finally found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual person at Washington ESD. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

make sure you file ASAP dont wait around like i did. i waited 3 weeks thinking i needed to figure out which state first and it delayed everything. washington esd backdate but its a hassle

One thing to keep in mind - you'll need to meet Washington's job search requirements even though you live in Oregon. That means 3 job search activities per week and you'll need to register with WorkSource Washington.

I'm in a similar situation but reverse - live in Washington, worked in Oregon. Filed with Oregon and it's been a nightmare. Their system is so much worse than Washington ESD's. You're lucky you get to deal with Washington.

Double-check that your employer was paying into Washington's unemployment insurance system. Most should be, but if they're based in Oregon and you were their only Washington employee, there might be complications.

File online through the Washington ESD portal - it's pretty straightforward. You'll need your Social Security card, driver's license, and employment information for the last 18 months. The system will walk you through everything.

This happens all the time in border areas. Portland-Vancouver, Spokane-Coeur d'Alene, etc. The unemployment offices are used to dealing with it. Just file where you worked and don't overthink it.

Whatever you do, don't file in both states thinking you'll get more money or something. That's considered fraud and will get you in serious trouble.

If you end up having trouble with your claim or need to talk to someone at Washington ESD, I used Claimyr recently and it was a lifesaver. Got connected to an agent in like 10 minutes instead of spending hours trying to call.

I work in Washington but live in British Columbia. Even international situations work the same way - file where you earned the wages. Washington ESD handles it just fine.

Make sure you file your weekly claims on time once you get approved. Living out of state doesn't change any of the ongoing requirements.

Been there! Lived in Longview WA but worked in Portland OR for years. Filed with Oregon unemployment and everything went smooth. The key is just being consistent - file where you worked, period.

One more thing - when you do your job search activities, make sure to keep good records. Washington ESD might ask for proof of your job search efforts, and being out of state doesn't exempt you from that.

Don't stress about it too much. Thousands of people commute across state lines for work and file unemployment claims every year. The system is set up to handle it.

If you run into any issues during the application process, don't hesitate to reach out for help. The Washington ESD website has good FAQs, and if you need to talk to someone, that Claimyr service people mentioned actually works pretty well for getting through to agents.

Just wanted to add my experience - I was in almost the exact same situation last year! Lived in Oregon, worked at a distribution center in Washington for about 10 months before getting laid off. Filed with Washington ESD online and it was actually pretty smooth. The whole process took about 3 weeks from application to first payment. Make sure you have your last few pay stubs handy when you apply - they'll ask for wage information and it's easier if you have everything ready. Good luck with your claim!