Will ESD deny my claim if I file my weekly certification from overseas during family emergency?

This is a tricky situation. Technically, to receive unemployment benefits, you must be able, available, and actively seeking work in your labor market (Washington state). Being physically out of the country could potentially disqualify you because you wouldn't be considered "available for work" during that time. However, ESD does have provisions for temporary absences due to family emergencies. You should contact ESD directly BEFORE you leave and explain your situation. They may be able to place your claim on hold or make an exception based on your circumstances.

dont do it! i went to mexico for my cousins wedding last year and filed from there. didn't think it mattered cuz i was still looking for work online. got back and 2 weeks later got a letter saying i was disqualified and owed money back!!! they somehow knew i was out of the country. not worth the risk!!

I was stuck overseas during COVID (visiting family when borders closed) and had to file from there for about 6 weeks. ESD can definitely tell you're filing from another country - they track IP addresses. In my weekly claim, I honestly reported that I wasn't physically able to work in my usual labor market that week, and my benefits were put on hold until I returned. You have two options: 1) Contact ESD before you go, explain the emergency, and see if they'll make an accommodation 2) Temporarily stop claiming while you're away, then restart when you return Do NOT claim benefits without disclosing you're out of the country. That could lead to an overpayment situation or worse.

my brother had to go to ohio for our dads funeral last summer and he just skipped filing for that week then started again when he got back. he said it was easiest that way.

If u need 2 get thru to ESD try Claimyr.com - I used it last month when my claim got stuck in pending for no reason. It got me through to an actual ESD agent in like 20 minutes after I'd been trying for DAYS on my own. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Worth it to get a clear answer about your situation before you leave the country.

Look, here's what ESD's website says about being "available for work" when filing UI claims: "You must be physically able to work, available for work, and actively seeking suitable work during each week you claim benefits." The key part is that you must be AVAILABLE. If you're out of the country dealing with a family emergency, you are not technically available to accept a job offer immediately. This means you should NOT claim for those weeks. However - and this is important - you can simply stop claiming for the weeks you're gone and restart when you return without losing your claim. Your claim remains open for a year from when you applied, so taking a few weeks off from claiming won't close your claim.

To clarify what others have said: 1. Being physically outside the US typically means you are not "able and available" for work in Washington's job market, which is a requirement for benefits. 2. However, ESD does have exceptions for temporary absences due to emergency situations with immediate family members. 3. You have a few options: - Contact ESD and request a formal exception before you leave - Temporarily stop filing weekly claims while you're away - Apply for a formal leave from job search requirements 4. If you do file while overseas without disclosure, ESD can detect this through IP tracking, and it could result in an overpayment determination or investigation for potential fraud. I recommend being completely transparent with ESD. Document your communication attempts. If you can't reach them before leaving, at minimum send an email to create a record of your attempt to notify them of your emergency situation.