Military discharge and filing ESD unemployment - WA or NC confusion
I'm getting discharged from the Army on April 1st, 2025 and trying to figure out where to file for unemployment. My situation is a bit confusing, and I can't get a straight answer from anyone! My discharge orders list my home of record as North Carolina (where my mom lives and where my mail goes), but I'm physically living in Washington state and plan to stay here. Does anyone know which state I should apply for benefits in? Washington or North Carolina? I don't want to file in the wrong state and mess everything up or get denied benefits. Also, do I need to wait until after my official discharge date to apply or can I start the process now?
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GalacticGuru
you should file in the state where u actually live, so washington. i got out of the marines 2 yrs ago and had a similar thing with my home of record being different. as long as yr physically in WA and staying here, file with ESD. u can start the process right away but the claim won't be active until after yr official seperation date.
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Ravi Gupta
•Thanks! I appreciate the quick response. Did you have any issues with your claim when you applied? I'm worried because my W-2 and other documents will probably have my NC address on them.
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Freya Pedersen
The previous comment is partially correct, but military unemployment is more specific. You can actually choose between filing in: 1) the state where you're physically located, 2) the state of your home of record, or 3) the state of your duty station. Since you're staying in Washington, filing with Washington ESD makes the most sense. You'll apply for UCX benefits (Unemployment Compensation for Ex-servicemembers), not regular UI. Make sure to have your DD-214 ready - they won't process your claim without it. One important note: you can't actually file until after your discharge date, but you can create your eServices account now to save time.
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Ravi Gupta
•Thank you for the detailed information! This is really helpful. I've never heard of UCX benefits before - is the application process different from regular unemployment? And is there anything specific I need to know about the job search requirements as a veteran?
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Omar Fawaz
When I got out last year I thought I had to file in my home state too but the VA rep told me WA was better cuz the benefits are higher. Just make sure u have ur dd214 and u can file the day after ur out
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Freya Pedersen
•You're right about Washington generally having higher benefit amounts than many states. However, I should clarify that the benefit amount is based on your military pay grade, not civilian wages. The military reports your earnings differently to unemployment offices. Also, you don't have to wait until you physically have your DD-214 in hand - you can file as soon as you're discharged and then provide the DD-214 when you receive it, though this may delay your first payment.
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Chloe Anderson
I help veterans with ESD claims frequently. Here's exactly what you need to do: 1. File with Washington ESD after your discharge date (April 2nd or later) 2. When asked about employer, select the military option 3. Have your DD-214 and SF-8 form ready (if they gave you one) 4. Use your Washington address on the application 5. Be prepared to verify your identity through [ID.me](https://id.me/) 6. Select UCX as your claim type when prompted The system will likely put your claim in adjudication for review, which is normal for military claims. Don't panic if this happens - it's standard procedure to verify your service. Also, as a veteran, you qualify for priority services at WorkSource, which can help with your job search requirements. Make sure to register with them after filing.
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Ravi Gupta
•This is incredibly helpful, thank you! I'm still a bit confused about the adjudication process though. How long does that typically take for military claims? I'm trying to budget and figure out when I might actually see benefits.
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Diego Vargas
When I left the Army in 2024, my claim was stuck in adjudication for over a month. I kept calling ESD but could never get through. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to an actual ESD agent within 20 minutes. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. The agent was able to see that they were missing my federal service info and fixed it right away. My claim was approved the next day. Might be worth keeping in your back pocket if you run into issues after filing.
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Omar Fawaz
•did u have to pay for that service? seems sketchy paying to talk to ESD when its a government service we already pay taxes for lol
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Diego Vargas
•Yeah, there is a fee, but after spending weeks trying to get through myself and almost missing a rent payment, it was worth it. I agree it's frustrating we have to pay for better access to a government service though.
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Anastasia Fedorov
MAKE SURE YOU SELECT THE CORRECT OPTION FOR MILITARY SERVICE!!! I messed this up when I filed and had to restart my entire claim! The regular unemployment application system isn't designed well for military transitions. Also DO NOT list your commander as your supervisor - use your direct NCO. And when they ask about reason for separation just put 'End of Service Contract' don't put anything that might sound like you were fired!!!
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Ravi Gupta
•Thanks for the warnings! I definitely don't want to have to restart my claim. For the supervisor question - would that be my platoon sergeant or my first sergeant?
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Chloe Anderson
To answer your follow-up question about adjudication timing - military claims (UCX) typically take 2-4 weeks in adjudication if all your documentation is correct. The most common delay is when ESD has to request your service information from the military, which can take time. As for your supervisor question, list your direct platoon sergeant. And regarding the job search requirements, as a veteran you need to complete 3 job search activities each week like any other claimant, but you can count certain veteran-specific activities: 1. Meeting with a WorkSource veteran representative 2. Attending veteran job fairs 3. Participating in VA employment programs Document all these activities in your job search log.
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Ravi Gupta
•Perfect, that's exactly what I needed to know. I'll make sure to use my platoon sergeant as my supervisor contact. Is there anything else I should be aware of that's unique to veteran unemployment claims?
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Freya Pedersen
One more important thing - if you're planning to use your GI Bill for education after discharge, be aware that you generally can't receive both full-time student benefits and unemployment at the same time in Washington. You'll need to report your school attendance and any VA education benefits when filing weekly claims. Also, make sure your job search activities show you're looking for suitable work based on your military skills and experience.
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StarStrider
•That's not entirely correct. You CAN receive unemployment while using your GI Bill in Washington, but you must remain available for full-time work and be actively searching. The GI Bill education benefit is not considered income that would reduce your unemployment benefits. However, if you're in school full-time and not available for work, that would disqualify you. Source: I work with veteran employment programs and this comes up frequently.
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Ravi Gupta
Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I'm going to wait until April 2nd to file with Washington ESD, make sure I select UCX benefits, and have my DD-214 ready. I'll be careful about listing my platoon sergeant as my supervisor and selecting 'End of Service Contract' as my separation reason. I'm also going to check out WorkSource for their veteran services to help with my job search requirements. If my claim does get stuck in adjudication, I'll keep that Claimyr service in mind. Really appreciate all the advice - this has made the process much clearer!
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