Washington ESD unemployment after broken leg - am I eligible?

But I can do desk work or phone work, just not physical labor. Doesn't that count as being available?

It's complicated. You have to be available for suitable work, which Washington ESD determines based on your work history and skills.

What kind of documentation did you need? My doctor gave me a note saying I can work but with restrictions.

That's exactly what you need! Make sure it specifies what work you CAN do, not just what you can't do. Washington ESD needs to see you're actively seeking appropriate employment.

Wait, so you can get UI benefits even if you can't do your old job? I thought you had to be ready to go back to your exact same position.

Should I mention the injury when I file or wait until they ask? I don't want to hurt my chances but I also don't want to lie.

Be upfront about it. Hiding information will cause bigger problems later. Explain that you're temporarily unable to perform physical labor but available for other work.

Is that legit? I'm skeptical of anything that charges money to help with unemployment stuff.

I was skeptical too but it actually worked. They don't ask for personal info, just help you navigate the phone system to reach a real person at Washington ESD.

I've heard of Claimyr from other people on here. Seems like a decent option when you really need to talk to someone at ESD.

Because every case IS different. They have to evaluate individual circumstances to prevent abuse while helping legitimate claimants.

I guess that makes sense but it's frustrating when you need help and don't know if you qualify.

How many jobs do you have to apply for each week? And do they actually check?

think its 3 jobs per week minimum but check the current requirements. and yes they can audit your job search log anytime

It's actually 3 job contacts per week in Washington. Keep detailed records because they do random audits.

My employer is pretty understanding. I told them about the injury and they said they'd hold my position but can't pay me while I'm out.

That's good. Make sure you get that in writing - it'll help your case if Washington ESD questions whether you left voluntarily.

How long did it take? I'm worried about going weeks without any income.

like 6 weeks I think? there was some back and forth about his medical documentation but it worked out

This is really helpful, thank you! Should I wait until my cast comes off to file or start the process now?

File as soon as possible. There's a one-week waiting period anyway, and delays only hurt your potential benefit amount.

Definitely file now. Even if there are complications, you want your claim date to be as early as possible.

Glad Claimyr worked for you too! It's crazy how hard it is to reach ESD without some kind of help.

Good to hear you got clarity. Make sure to keep copies of all medical documentation and job applications for your records.

That's awesome! I might try Claimyr myself, I've been trying to reach ESD about my own claim for days.

It happened at home unfortunately, not work-related. But good point for others reading this.

Ah gotcha. Still, unemployment should work for your situation based on what others have said here.

Tell me about it. Adding stress about money to an injury recovery is the last thing anyone needs.

I get the frustration but the requirements exist to prevent fraud. Most legitimate cases do get approved eventually.