Washington ESD unemployment after disability - can you apply for unemployment after disability?

Yes, you can definitely apply for unemployment benefits after being on disability, as long as you're now able and available for work. The key is that you need medical clearance showing you can work again. When you file your claim, Washington ESD will want documentation that you're physically and mentally capable of performing work.

I went through this exact situation last year. The transition from disability to unemployment was actually pretty smooth once I got through to someone at Washington ESD who understood the process. The main thing is proving you're able to work now.

Wait, I thought there was some rule about not being able to collect unemployment if you were getting disability? Isn't that like double dipping or something??

Make sure you report any disability payments you received when you file your claim. Washington ESD needs to know about all income sources, even if they're not from work. Be completely honest about your situation.

The job search requirements are going to be the same for you as anyone else. Make sure you're prepared to look for work actively and document it properly. Washington ESD doesn't care that you were on disability - once you're cleared to work, you're held to the same standards.

Just want to add that if you run into any issues with Washington ESD during the application process, don't give up. Sometimes there are misunderstandings about disability-to-unemployment transitions that need to be cleared up with an actual person.

ughh the whole system is so confusing, why can't they just make it simple? disability, unemployment, all these different programs with different rules

One thing I forgot to mention - when I applied after my disability ended, they asked for my base year wages to calculate my benefit amount. Make sure you have your wage information from before you went on disability.

This is actually really helpful info. My sister might be in a similar situation soon. Her workers comp case is wrapping up and she's been cleared to return to work but her old job isn't available anymore.

UPDATE: I submitted my application yesterday and included my medical clearance documentation. The online system accepted everything without any red flags, so hopefully that's a good sign. Now I guess I wait for them to process it.

How does this work if you were on state disability vs federal disability? Is the process different for Washington ESD?

Make sure you're ready to start working immediately when you file. They might ask about your availability date and you want to show you're ready to go.

so jealous that your condition improved! mine just keeps getting worse but not bad enough for permanent disability. stuck in this weird middle ground

Question - do you have to pay back any of the disability if you start getting unemployment? Or are they completely separate?

FINAL UPDATE: My claim was approved! It took about 2.5 weeks and they didn't ask for any additional documentation beyond what I submitted initially. For anyone else in this situation, having that medical clearance really seemed to make the difference. Thanks everyone for the advice!

This thread is super helpful. Bookmarking it in case I need it in the future. Thanks for sharing your experience OP.

one more question - did your benefit amount get calculated based on wages from before you went on disability?

Thanks for documenting this whole process. Really shows that the system can work when you have the right documentation and approach it correctly.

For future reference, does anyone know if this process is the same for short-term vs long-term disability?

This gives me hope. I've been worried about this exact situation for months. Seeing that it worked out for someone else is really encouraging.

This is such valuable information! I'm currently in a similar situation where I'm about to be cleared to return to work after being on disability for several months. My biggest concern was whether there would be complications transitioning to unemployment benefits, but seeing your successful experience really puts my mind at ease. I'm definitely going to make sure I have all my medical clearance documentation ready before I apply. Did Washington ESD ask you any specific questions about the gap in employment due to disability, or was the medical clearance sufficient to explain everything?