Washington ESD unemployment - do I apply where I live or work?

You file where you worked, not where you live. Since you worked in Idaho, you'll need to file with Idaho Department of Labor, not Washington ESD. The state where your employer paid unemployment taxes is where you file your claim.

Actually, it depends on the state laws and reciprocal agreements. Some states have agreements where you can file in your state of residence even if you worked elsewhere. You should check both states' requirements to be sure.

I had this exact same problem last year! Calling the unemployment office was impossible - kept getting busy signals or disconnected. I found this service called Claimyr that actually gets you through to agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

generally you file where you worked but there can be exceptions. i had a similar situation and ended up having to file in the state where my employer was located, not where the job site was. it's confusing

This is why the unemployment system is so messed up! You shouldn't have to guess where to file. The states should have better coordination.

I work in multiple states for my job - Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. When I got laid off, I had to file in the state where I worked the most hours in my base period. It was a nightmare figuring out.

To clarify for everyone - the general rule is you file in the state where you worked. Your residence doesn't matter. There are some exceptions for military, federal employees, and certain interstate workers, but for most people it's straightforward.

Check your last pay stub - it should show which state unemployment taxes were taken out of your pay. That's usually the state where you need to file.

Whatever you do, don't file in multiple states thinking you'll increase your chances. That can actually cause problems and delays in processing your claim.

I used Claimyr when I couldn't get through to unemployment. Definitely helped me get answers about which state to file in. The video demo on their site explains it well.

For future reference, most state unemployment websites have an FAQ section that covers multi-state work situations. Idaho's website has a pretty good explanation.

same boat here - live in WA work in OR. ended up filing in oregon and it worked out fine. just make sure you keep track of your work location for future reference

The interstate worker rules can be tricky. Sometimes you can file in your state of residence if there's a reciprocal agreement, but you'd need to check with both states to see if that applies to your situation.

Just wanted to follow up on Claimyr - I used them again recently and they're still great for getting through to unemployment offices. Really helpful when you need to talk to someone quickly about filing questions.

UPDATE: I checked my pay stub and it shows Idaho unemployment taxes were deducted, so I'm filing with Idaho Department of Labor. Thanks everyone for the help!

For anyone else reading this thread, always check your pay stub first. It's the easiest way to determine which state you should file in.

I went through this exact situation a few years back - lived in Washington but worked in Oregon. The key thing to remember is that you always file where your employer paid unemployment taxes, which is typically where you worked. Since your employer was in Idaho, that's where their unemployment taxes were paid for your position. The Idaho Department of Labor website has a really clear section on this under their FAQ. Don't let the conflicting info online confuse you - your pay stub will show which state's unemployment taxes were deducted, and that's your answer right there!