Military spouse denied ESD benefits after moving out of state due to PCS orders - help!

You're absolutely right that military spouses have special provisions! Washington state specifically has protections for military spouses who have to leave their jobs due to a permanent change of station. The key is making sure ESD understands you're claiming under the military spouse provision.\n\nYou need to appeal the decision and specifically cite the military spouse provision in RCW 50.20.050(2)(b)(iii). This allows benefits when you quit to follow your spouse to a new location due to a transfer. Make sure you submit your husband's military orders as documentation with your appeal.\n\nI went through this exact situation in 2023 when we moved from WA to Texas. Initially denied, won on appeal when I specifically referenced the military spouse provision.

Thank you so much! I never specifically mentioned the military spouse provision in my application, just that I moved because of my husband's orders. I'll file an appeal today and make sure to specifically reference that RCW section. Did you have to get a lawyer for your appeal or did you handle it yourself?

same thing happened to my sister!!! ESD is awful with military spouses, they keep denying people even tho the law is clear. she had to call like 50 times to get someone who actually knew the rules

Oh great, so I'm not alone at least! Did your sister eventually get approved? I've been trying to call ESD for weeks but either get disconnected or can't get through at all.

I understand your frustration! You are correct that military spouses have special eligibility when relocating due to PCS orders. Washington State considers this a qualifying separation from employment under the

this is so confusing lol... so the rule is if your spouce is in the military you can get unemployment even if you move??? what if youre not married but living together for 5 years??

The provision specifically applies to legally married spouses. Domestic partnerships might qualify in some circumstances, but it would need to be a legally recognized partnership. Unfortunately, for unmarried partners, even in long-term relationships, these specific provisions typically don't apply unless you have a registered domestic partnership recognized by the state.

I had the EXACT same issue after leaving JBLM last year! ESD kept denying me saying I wasn't available for work in WA anymore. So frustrating!!! The system is totally broken. I tried calling for WEEKS and couldn't get through to anyone who understood military spouse rules. Finally gave up and just found a job here in Texas. The whole unemployment system is designed to deny people!!

I'm sorry that happened to you! Unfortunately, many ESD agents aren't properly trained on the military spouse provisions. But just to clarify for anyone reading this thread - you absolutely CAN get unemployment benefits from Washington after moving due to military orders. The key is persistence and proper documentation.\n\nThe military spouse provision was specifically designed to help military families who face frequent relocations. Don't give up after an initial denial - that's what the system counts on.

Wish I'd known that before giving up! I was just so tired of fighting the system. Maybe I should have appealed but after 10+ calls and no help I just couldn't deal with it anymore.

Have you tried Claimyr? I was in a similar situation (not military but moved states after working in WA) and couldn't get through to ESD at all. I used Claimyr.com and they got me connected to an actual ESD agent in about 25 minutes instead of spending days trying to get through. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 \n\nThe agent I spoke with was able to fix my claim on the spot once I explained the situation. Worth trying before going through the whole appeal process which can take forever.

I hadn't heard of this service before - thanks for the suggestion! It would be such a relief to actually talk to a real person. I'll check out that link. At this point I'd try anything to get this resolved.

As others have mentioned, you're entitled to benefits under the military spouse provision. One important thing to know: when you appeal, you should continue filing your weekly claims even while waiting for the appeal decision. If you win your appeal, they'll only pay you for weeks that you properly filed claims.\n\nAlso, make sure you're registered for work in Louisiana through their workforce system. Even though Washington pays the benefits, you still need to meet the job search requirements of the state you're physically in. This is part of the Interstate Benefits agreement between states.\n\nLastly, be prepared that your appeal hearing might be over the phone. Have all your documentation ready, speak clearly, and stick to the facts about your separation being due to your spouse's military orders. About 70% of military spouse appeals are successful when properly documented!

Thank you for this detailed advice! I hadn't been filing weekly claims since the denial, so I'll start doing that right away. I did register with the Louisiana workforce system but wasn't sure if that counted for my Washington claim. This is all so complicated to navigate across states.

do you have to send the actual military orders or can you just like send an email explaining?? asking for my cousin who's dealing with this rn

You definitely need to provide a copy of the actual military orders. ESD requires official documentation, not just an explanation. Your cousin should submit a copy of the official PCS orders showing the service member's name, the new duty station, and the effective date. This is considered the essential proof for the military spouse provision.

Update: I took everyone's advice and filed an appeal today specifically citing the military spouse provision and RCW 50.20.050(2)(b)(iii). I uploaded a copy of my husband's PCS orders and wrote a detailed explanation about why I'm eligible even though I've moved out of state. I also used that Claimyr service someone suggested and finally got through to ESD! The agent confirmed I should be eligible under the military spouse provision and added notes to my file for the appeal adjudicator. She said I should continue filing weekly claims while waiting for the appeal decision. Fingers crossed this gets resolved soon - thank you all for your help!

That's excellent news! Sounds like you've done everything right. The appeal process typically takes 3-4 weeks, but with the agent's notes in your file, you have a very strong case. Keep us updated on how it goes!

Will do! Really grateful for all the advice here - I was about ready to give up before posting.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm also a military spouse dealing with ESD issues after our PCS move from Washington to Colorado last month. I've been hesitant to apply for benefits because I assumed I wouldn't qualify since we moved, but seeing all this information about the military spouse provision gives me hope. Quick question - does the timing matter? I left my job in Washington about 6 weeks ago when we got orders. Is there a deadline for when you have to apply for benefits after leaving due to military orders? I've been putting it off thinking it was hopeless but now I'm wondering if I should have applied sooner. Also, for those who have been through this - approximately how long did the whole process take from initial application to actually receiving benefits? Trying to figure out our budget while my husband gets settled at his new base.

This whole thread is incredibly helpful - I wish I had found this information months ago! I'm currently stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and my spouse just got out of the Air Force in January. We're staying in Washington for now, but seeing all these stories about military spouses getting denied benefits is concerning since we might get orders to move soon. One thing I'm wondering about - does the military spouse provision work both ways? Like if I (active duty) get PCS orders and my civilian spouse has to quit their job to move with me, they're covered. But what if my spouse gets a great job offer in another state and I have to request a compassionate reassignment or something? Would that still qualify under the same provision, or is it specifically only for PCS orders? Also, thank you to everyone sharing the specific RCW citation and practical tips about continuing to file weekly claims during appeals. This is exactly the kind of real-world advice that you can't find in the official ESD documentation!

As someone who works in military family services, I wanted to add a few practical tips that might help others going through this process: 1. **Documentation is key** - In addition to PCS orders, keep copies of your resignation letter/separation paperwork that specifically mentions the military move. This helps establish the direct connection between your job separation and the PCS. 2. **State-specific variations** - While Washington has strong military spouse protections, each state handles this differently. If you're moving TO Washington from another state, you might need to file in your previous state of employment initially. 3. **Base resources** - Most bases have Family Readiness Group coordinators or Military Family Life Counselors who have dealt with this exact situation. They often have contacts at state unemployment offices and can provide guidance on the process. 4. **Timeline expectations** - Even with perfect documentation, allow 4-6 weeks for the entire process. The interstate coordination between unemployment systems adds complexity and time. For anyone currently dealing with this: don't let initial denials discourage you. The military spouse provision exists specifically because lawmakers recognized that military families shouldn't be penalized for serving our country. Persistence pays off!