Washington ESD unemployment insurance program related to social security and medicaid - how do they work together?

These are all separate federal and state programs but they can interact in important ways. Social Security is federal retirement/disability benefits, Medicaid is healthcare coverage for low-income folks, and Washington ESD handles unemployment insurance for our state. Your unemployment benefits won't affect your mom's social security at all - completely different systems.

I was in a similar situation last year. When I lost my job and filed with Washington ESD, I also applied for Apple Health (that's what we call Medicaid here). The unemployment benefits I got were considered income but I still qualified because I was under the income limit for a single person.

Here's something that might help - I had trouble reaching Washington ESD when I needed to ask about how my benefits might affect other programs. Found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to a real person at Washington ESD without waiting on hold forever. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

The programs are related in that they're all part of the social safety net but administered differently. Social Security Administration handles SS, Washington State handles Apple Health/Medicaid enrollment, and Washington ESD handles unemployment. They share some information but you typically need to apply for each separately.

one thing to watch out for - if you're getting social security disability benefits yourself (not your mom), that can affect your ability to collect unemployment because you have to be able and available for work to get UI benefits

Also want to mention that having Apple Health while unemployed was a huge help for me. Doctor visits and prescriptions were covered, which was one less thing to worry about while job hunting. Definitely worth applying if you think you might qualify.

The programs are designed to work together as a safety net. People often use multiple programs at once - like unemployment benefits for income replacement and Medicaid for health coverage. Nothing wrong with using what you're eligible for.

I tried calling Washington ESD about this same question and could never get through. The automated system just kept hanging up on me after an hour of waiting. It's ridiculous how hard it is to reach them.

Quick clarification on income reporting - when you apply for Apple Health, you'll report your weekly unemployment benefit amount times 4 to estimate monthly income. So if you're getting $500/week in UI benefits, report about $2000/month as unemployment income.

Don't forget that unemployment benefits are taxable income for federal taxes, but so is social security in some cases. Medicaid eligibility looks at your current income situation, not what you made last year.

Another connection between the programs - if you're collecting unemployment benefits, you might also be eligible for food assistance (SNAP/EBT). That's administered by DSHS in Washington state, separate from Washington ESD but they coordinate information.

been on unemployment twice and apple health helps so much with the stress of not having employer insurance. the programs really do work together to help you get through tough times

One more thing - when you do get a new job, make sure you report the income change to Apple Health right away. They need to know when your unemployment benefits end and regular income starts.

Just wanted to follow up on the Claimyr thing - I used it again this week to ask Washington ESD about job search requirements and got through in like 10 minutes. Way better than the hours I used to spend on hold.

To summarize the connections: Social Security and unemployment benefits don't affect each other (unless it's disability benefits), Apple Health/Medicaid considers your unemployment income but you can still qualify, and all these programs are designed to work together as a safety net during unemployment.

Also worth mentioning that some employers offer COBRA health insurance continuation, but it's usually way more expensive than Apple Health if you qualify for Medicaid. Always worth checking Apple Health first.

these programs saved my family when I lost my job in 2023. unemployment from washington esd, apple health for medical, and even got some food assistance. don't be too proud to use what's available

The key thing is that these are all temporary assistance programs (except Social Security for retirement). The goal is to help you get back to work and self-sufficient. Washington ESD even requires job search activities to keep getting benefits.

Quick tip - if you're having trouble with any of these applications or have questions, many public libraries have staff who can help with online applications for benefits programs. Free assistance if you need it.

One last plug for Claimyr - when I had questions about how my part-time work would affect my unemployment benefits, I used their service to reach Washington ESD and got a clear answer in minutes instead of days of trying to call. Really worth it when you need specific information about your claim.