Working in Oregon but laid off temporarily - can I claim ESD benefits with job search?

ur in what they call standby status. u dont have to do job serch if u have definate return date and its less than 4 weeks. file ur claim and when it asks if u have date to return to work say YES. fill out the date. also say YES to did u look for work, then select 'on standby' on the pulldown menu that asks for job search details.

The previous comment isn't completely accurate. You need to be careful with cross-state employment situations. Since you're living in Washington but working in Oregon, you typically need to file with the state where you WORKED, not where you live. In this case, that would be Oregon. This is called an "interstate claim." However, since you mentioned you were previously on unemployment in Washington, it depends on your base year and whether those wages are still within your benefit year. If your previous WA claim is still active, you might be able to reopen it. I'd recommend calling ESD directly to clarify your specific situation before filing anything. Cross-state claims can get messy if filed incorrectly.

This sounds like a perfect candidate for standby status, BUT with the cross-state situation, there's an extra layer of complexity. If your benefit year is still active from your previous WA claim (usually 52 weeks from when you first filed), you can likely reopen that claim without needing to file a new one in Oregon. For standby status: - It must be 8 weeks or less (your 2-week layoff qualifies) - You need a definite return-to-work date (you have 3/31) - Your employer typically needs to request this status Since your layoff is only 2 weeks, you'll likely qualify for standby which means no job search requirements as long as you indicate you're on standby when filing your weekly claim. But here's the critical part - call ESD directly to confirm your specific situation with the cross-state employment. Don't guess on this one.

I dealt with this exact situation last year! What a headache. Since you only worked in Oregon for 2 weeks, you probably don't have enough wages there to qualify for an Oregon claim. You should reopen your Washington claim. Here's what I did: 1. Reopened my WA claim online 2. Called ESD to explain the temporary layoff situation 3. They approved standby status since it was less than 8 weeks 4. Each week when claiming, I selected "on standby" instead of listing job contacts But getting through to ESD is literally impossible sometimes. When I was dealing with this, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an ESD agent in about 25 minutes instead of spending days trying. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Completely worth it for complicated situations like yours where you really need to talk to a human.

Everyone is overcomplicating this. The general rule is that you file unemployment in the state where you worked, BUT there's an exception for temporary out-of-state work. Since you only worked in Oregon for 2 weeks, you haven't established sufficient work history there. You should file with Washington because: 1. That's where your wage credits are from previous employment 2. You're a Washington resident 3. The Oregon employment was brief and temporary As for standby status, yes, you qualify since your layoff is less than 8 weeks and you have a definite return date. When you file your weekly claim, you'll select that you're on standby and won't need to complete job searches. If you're reopening an existing claim rather than filing a new one, the process is simpler. Just log into your ESD account and select the option to reopen your claim.

I don't think anyone mentioned this yet, but make absolutely sure your employer in Oregon has given you something in writing about the layoff and return date. ESD might ask for documentation to prove your standby status is legitimate, especially with an out-of-state employer. I learned this the hard way and had my standby denied because I couldn't provide proof of my return date.

One more important detail: When you reopen your claim, make sure to report your Oregon wages correctly. You'll need to provide: - Employer name and address (Oregon address) - Your start date (2 weeks ago) - Last day worked (this coming Friday) - Reason for separation (temporary layoff with return date) - Gross earnings for the weeks you worked Be precise with these details. If the system asks whether you worked out of state, answer yes. This helps them properly categorize your claim. The system should then prompt you about the return-to-work date. Enter 3/31/2025 exactly as confirmed by your employer. Standby status should be automatic for layoffs under 8 weeks with a definite return date, but I've seen the system get confused with out-of-state employers. If you run into any issues, that's when you'll definitely need to speak with an agent.

Just went through something similar a few months back! I live in WA but had a short stint working in Oregon before getting temporarily laid off. Here's what worked for me: Since you were previously receiving WA unemployment benefits and only worked in Oregon for 2 weeks, you should definitely reopen your Washington claim rather than filing a new one in Oregon. You haven't built up enough wage credits in Oregon to qualify there anyway. The standby status is perfect for your situation - 2 weeks is well under the 8-week limit, and having that definite 3/31 return date is key. When you reopen your claim online, make sure to: 1. Report your Oregon wages accurately (have your paystubs ready) 2. List the temporary layoff reason 3. Enter your exact return-to-work date 4. When filing weekly claims, select "on standby" instead of doing job searches One heads up - the system might flag your claim for review since you worked out of state, which could delay your first payment by a week or two while they verify everything. But as long as you have that email confirmation from your supervisor about the layoff and return date, you should be fine. Good luck getting through to ESD if you need to call - it's still a nightmare but worth it for peace of mind on cross-state situations like this!