Washington ESD unemployment vs workers comp - what pays more workers' comp unemployment benefits?

So I can't double dip? That makes sense I guess. I'm just worried about when the workers comp runs out.

Right, no double dipping. When workers comp ends you might be eligible for unemployment if you're able and available for work. The key is proving you can work again.

What happened when your workers comp ended? Did you transition to unemployment?

Yeah but it took forever to get approved because they had to verify I was cleared to work by my doctor. Took like 6 weeks of adjudication.

So workers comp is definitely paying me more then. I'm getting the 60% of my wages which comes to about $890.

Wait I thought unemployment was based on your highest quarter earnings? I'm so confused by all these calculations.

It's based on your base year earnings divided by 52 weeks, then you get about 50% of that up to the maximum. It's complicated but there are calculators online.

Never heard of that service. Does it actually work? I'm already dreading having to call Washington ESD when my workers comp runs out.

Yeah it worked for me. Saved me hours of calling. They basically call for you and get you connected to a real person instead of the automated system.

Sounds too good to be true but if it helps with those ridiculous wait times I might try it.

That's what I'm worried about. What if I'm partially recovered but not 100%? Can I work part time and still get some benefits?

With workers comp yes, they have vocational rehab programs. With unemployment you have to be able and available for full time work or you won't qualify.

Different states have different rules. In Washington you can't collect both simultaneously. Your cousin might have been in a different situation or different state rules.

ugh why is everything so complicated. I can barely figure out my regular unemployment claim let alone this workers comp stuff

Good point. I'm keeping copies of everything from my doctor and L&I case manager.

Yeah they're super picky about the medical clearance. I had to get three different forms filled out.

You only have to do job searches once you're cleared to work and file for unemployment. While on workers comp you're not required to look for work.

That makes sense. I was wondering how that would work with the WorkSourceWA requirements.

Wow $1100/week is really good. What kind of work were you doing? I'm in manufacturing.

Construction. Higher wages so higher workers comp payments. Manufacturing should still pay decent though.

damn I need to get hurt at work lol jk jk but seriously that's more than I make working

How quickly do you need to file? Is there a deadline?

You should file within a week of your workers comp ending. There's no hard deadline but the sooner the better to avoid any gaps in income.

Yikes! How did they find out? Do the systems talk to each other?

Yeah they cross reference with L&I records. I thought I was being sneaky but they caught it during an audit.

Ouch. That's why you gotta be honest on all the forms. They always find out eventually.

That's really helpful to know. I'm definitely going to bookmark that for when I need to make the transition.

How much does it cost? I'm always skeptical of these third party services.

It's worth it when you consider how much time it saves. Check out their demo video to see how it works.

Tell me about it. I'm not looking forward to dealing with them when my workers comp ends.

At least with workers comp you mostly deal with L&I which is slightly better than Washington ESD in my experience.

Thanks everyone for all the advice. Sounds like I should stick with workers comp for now and plan for the unemployment transition later.

Smart choice. Just make sure you have all your paperwork ready for the transition.

That's what I'm worried about. L&I has been okay so far but I hear they get tougher the longer your claim goes on.

Yeah they definitely try to push you back to work before you're ready. Make sure you have a good doctor who will advocate for you.

6 weeks?! That's brutal. Is there any way to avoid the gap?

File for unemployment before your workers comp ends if possible. But they won't approve it until you're actually cleared to work.

This is why I always tell people to save money when they're on workers comp. You never know when it'll end.

That's good to know. I was worried they'd make me apply for jobs I physically can't do.

Nope, reasonable accommodation applies to job search too. Just make sure you document any physical limitations with your doctor.

Perfect summary. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences. This thread has been super helpful.

Glad we could help. These situations are confusing but at least now you know what to expect.

I'll definitely keep that in mind. Seems like several people here have had good experiences with it.

Yeah the Washington ESD phone system is terrible. Any service that can help you actually reach a human is worth considering.

Thanks! This community is awesome. I'll update if anything interesting happens with my case.