Washington ESD unemployment if doctor says you can't work - still eligible?
My doctor just put me on medical leave and said I shouldn't work for at least 6 weeks due to a back injury. I'm wondering if I can still file for unemployment benefits with Washington ESD during this time? I know you have to be able and available for work, but this is a temporary medical situation. Has anyone been through this before? I'm really confused about whether being on doctor's orders not to work disqualifies me from UI benefits.
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Philip Cowan
Unfortunately, Washington ESD requires you to be able and available for work to qualify for regular unemployment benefits. If your doctor says you can't work, that typically disqualifies you from UI. However, you might want to look into disability benefits instead - either through your employer or state disability if available.
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Kara Yoshida
•That's what I was afraid of. Do you know if there are any exceptions for temporary medical issues? This isn't a permanent disability.
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Philip Cowan
•Even temporary medical restrictions can disqualify you from unemployment if they prevent you from accepting work. The key test is whether you could start a job immediately if offered one.
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Caesar Grant
I went through something similar last year with a knee surgery. Washington ESD denied my claim because I couldn't meet the able and available requirement. The adjudication took forever too - kept calling but could never get through to explain my situation.
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Kara Yoshida
•How long did the adjudication process take for you? I'm worried about being stuck in limbo.
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Caesar Grant
•About 8 weeks total. The worst part was not being able to talk to anyone at Washington ESD to get updates on my claim status.
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Lena Schultz
•I had the same issue with reaching Washington ESD agents. Found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to someone in like 20 minutes. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works.
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Gemma Andrews
Wait, are you sure about this? I thought there were exceptions for medical situations. Maybe if you can show you're actively seeking treatment and will be able to work soon?
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Philip Cowan
•The able and available requirement is pretty strict. Even if you're getting treatment, if you currently can't accept work due to medical restrictions, Washington ESD will likely deny the claim.
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Gemma Andrews
•That seems harsh for temporary medical issues. What if someone breaks their leg but could still do desk work?
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Pedro Sawyer
This happened to my sister - she had to have surgery and was out for 2 months. Washington ESD told her she needed to apply for disability through the state, not unemployment. She was pretty frustrated because the disability process takes longer and pays less.
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Kara Yoshida
•Did she ever get approved for anything? I'm trying to figure out what my options are.
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Pedro Sawyer
•She eventually got some disability benefits but it took months to process. The whole system is confusing honestly.
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Mae Bennett
I'm dealing with this exact situation right now! Filed my claim 3 weeks ago and it's been stuck in adjudication. My doctor cleared me to do light duty work but Washington ESD seems to think that means I'm not fully available. So frustrating trying to get through to someone to explain.
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Kara Yoshida
•Have you been able to reach anyone at Washington ESD? I've heard the phone lines are impossible.
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Mae Bennett
•I tried calling dozens of times with no luck. Someone mentioned using Claimyr to get through faster - thinking about trying that next.
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Lena Schultz
•Definitely recommend Claimyr for getting through to Washington ESD. I used it last month when my claim was stuck and finally got to talk to an actual person who could review my case.
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Beatrice Marshall
The able and available test is one of the main eligibility requirements for unemployment benefits. If you have medical restrictions that prevent you from accepting suitable work, you won't qualify. However, if your restrictions are very limited (like no heavy lifting but can do office work), you might still be eligible depending on your work history.
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Kara Yoshida
•My restrictions are pretty broad - no lifting, no standing for long periods, no driving. Sounds like I probably won't qualify then.
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Beatrice Marshall
•With those restrictions, it would be difficult to meet the able and available requirement. You should definitely explore disability options instead.
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Melina Haruko
why is the system so complicated?? seems like if you cant work because of injury you should get SOME help. this is ridiculous
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Philip Cowan
•I agree it's frustrating. The unemployment system is designed for people who are temporarily out of work but ready to start immediately. Medical situations fall under different programs.
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Melina Haruko
•still seems backwards to me but thanks for explaining
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Dallas Villalobos
One thing to consider - can you modify your job search to only include positions you could actually do with your medical restrictions? If you can show Washington ESD that you're genuinely seeking and available for work within your limitations, that might help your case.
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Kara Yoshida
•That's an interesting idea. My doctor said no physical work but I could potentially do computer-based jobs. Would that be enough?
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Dallas Villalobos
•It might be worth discussing with Washington ESD directly. Each case is evaluated individually, and if you can demonstrate genuine availability for suitable work, you could potentially qualify.
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Caesar Grant
•Good luck getting through to them though. The phone system is a nightmare. That Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier might be your best bet for actually talking to a human.
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Reina Salazar
I work in HR and see this situation come up a lot. Generally, if a doctor says you can't work, that creates a conflict with the unemployment requirement to be available for work. Most people in this situation end up applying for short-term disability or FMLA if available through their employer.
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Kara Yoshida
•Unfortunately I don't have disability coverage through my employer and I don't think I qualify for FMLA since I haven't been there long enough.
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Reina Salazar
•That's tough. You might want to check if you qualify for any state disability programs or temporary assistance programs while you recover.
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
Been there! Had surgery last year and Washington ESD denied my unemployment claim. The adjudication officer told me that having medical restrictions that prevent accepting work automatically disqualifies you from UI benefits. Had to wait 3 months to get back to work.
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Kara Yoshida
•That's exactly what I'm worried about. How did you manage financially during those 3 months?
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
•It was really tough. Had to rely on savings and family help. I wish I had known about disability options beforehand.
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Demi Lagos
Check with your doctor about whether your restrictions are absolute or if there's any type of work you could still do. Sometimes doctors are overly cautious with work restrictions. If you can get a modified note saying you can do sedentary work or something similar, that might help your unemployment case.
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Kara Yoshida
•That's a good point. I'll ask at my follow-up appointment if there are any modifications possible.
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Philip Cowan
•Just make sure any modified restrictions still allow you to genuinely seek and accept work. Washington ESD will evaluate whether you can realistically find employment with your limitations.
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Mason Lopez
This whole thread is making me nervous. I'm supposed to have surgery next month and was counting on unemployment benefits during recovery. Sounds like I need to look into other options.
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Beatrice Marshall
•Definitely plan ahead if possible. Look into short-term disability, FMLA, or any other benefits you might have through your employer before your surgery.
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Mason Lopez
•Good advice, thanks. I'll check with HR tomorrow about what options I have.
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Vera Visnjic
The key thing Washington ESD looks at is whether you can accept suitable work immediately if offered. If your medical restrictions prevent that, you won't qualify for unemployment benefits. It's frustrating but that's how the system works. Disability benefits are specifically designed for situations where medical issues prevent working.
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Kara Yoshida
•I understand the logic but it still feels like people fall through the cracks. Especially when disability takes so long to process.
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Vera Visnjic
•Agreed, there's definitely a gap in coverage for temporary medical situations. It's one of the flaws in how our benefit systems are structured.
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Jake Sinclair
Whatever you decide to do, document everything! Keep copies of all medical records, doctor's notes, and any communication with Washington ESD. If you end up needing to appeal or apply for other benefits later, having good documentation will help your case.
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Kara Yoshida
•Good reminder, I'll make sure to keep everything organized. This whole process is overwhelming.
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Lena Schultz
•If you do need to contact Washington ESD about your case, seriously consider using Claimyr. The regular phone lines are brutal and you'll probably need to explain your medical situation in detail to get a proper determination.
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Brielle Johnson
Update us on what happens! I'm in a similar boat with a potential medical leave coming up and this info is really helpful.
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Kara Yoshida
•Will do! I have a doctor's appointment next week to discuss my restrictions and then I'll probably try to call Washington ESD to get a definitive answer.
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Brielle Johnson
•Thanks, and good luck with everything!
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