I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation! My employer announced they're moving to Oregon and I can't relocate due to caring for my elderly mother who has health issues here in Washington. Reading through everyone's responses has been incredibly helpful - especially knowing that Washington ESD considers this involuntary separation rather than voluntary quit. I've been worried they might see it as me choosing not to take the job offer, but it sounds like having legitimate family obligations that prevent relocation is well-recognized as good cause. I'm going to start gathering all the documentation people mentioned - the relocation announcement emails, timeline, and a written explanation of my caregiving responsibilities. It's such a relief to hear from others who've been through this successfully. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

I just went through this exact situation last year when my company relocated from Washington to Texas. I couldn't move because of my partner's medical treatment here and family commitments. Washington ESD was actually very understanding about it - they classified it as involuntary separation due to employer relocation, not a voluntary quit. The key is being thorough in your initial application and clearly explaining why relocation isn't feasible for you. I included documentation about the company's announcement, the timeline they gave us, and a brief explanation of my personal circumstances that made moving impossible. The whole process took about 2-3 weeks and I was approved without any complications. One tip - when you file, make sure to emphasize that this is due to the employer's business decision to relocate, not your personal preference about the new location. That distinction really matters for how they classify your separation. Good luck with everything - it sounds like you have a very solid case!

The whole process should be quick once you know what to do. Just file that final weekly claim with your work start date and you're done. Simple as that.

Make sure to keep your job offer letter or any documentation about your start date handy when you file that final weekly claim. Washington ESD sometimes asks for proof of employment dates if there are any questions later. Also, don't forget to update your address or contact info in the system if your new job requires you to move or change your phone number - you'll want to receive any final correspondence at the right address.

Thanks everyone for all this info. Sounds like I need to focus on getting better and wait until I'm medically cleared before thinking about unemployment. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain this stuff.

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago with a knee injury. The frustrating part is that Washington ESD is very strict about the "able and available" requirement - even if you feel like you could do some work, if you're officially on STD, they consider you unavailable. I tried to argue that I could do desk work while my knee healed, but they denied my claim because I was receiving disability payments. The good news is that once your doctor clears you to return to work (even with restrictions), you can file immediately if your employer doesn't have suitable work available. Keep all your medical documentation and communication with your employer - you'll need it when you're ready to file. Hang in there, the 60% from STD is tough but focus on healing properly so you don't re-injure yourself.

Wow, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I've been lurking here because I'm anticipating potential ReliaCard issues when my unemployment benefits start next week. Reading through everyone's experiences and solutions has given me a great roadmap for what to do if I run into problems. I'm definitely going to bookmark the key phone numbers (1-855-279-1270 for WA ESD ReliaCard line) and the online chat option at usbankreliacard.com. It's really reassuring to know that most lockout issues are due to their overly sensitive security system rather than actual account problems. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and tips - this community support is amazing when dealing with these frustrating systems!

This thread has been so incredibly helpful! I just wanted to add one more resource that saved me when I was having ReliaCard issues - if you're having trouble with both the phone lines AND the online chat, you can also try reaching out to US Bank on Twitter (@USBank) or Facebook. I sent them a direct message explaining my ReliaCard lockout situation and they responded within a few hours with a direct phone number to a specialist who was able to help me immediately. Social media customer service teams often have access to escalation paths that regular phone reps don't. It's not the first thing you'd think to try, but when you're desperate and have exhausted other options, it's worth a shot! They'll ask you to provide your card details through a secure method, but it worked great for me when I was completely stuck.

Just wanted to circle back - I tried Claimyr yesterday and got connected to a Washington ESD agent within 90 minutes. Found out my claim was delayed because they needed to verify my previous employer's information, but the request got stuck in their system and was never processed. Agent was able to push it through and said I should see movement on my claim within a few days.

I'm in a similar situation - filed my claim 5 weeks ago and still stuck in "under review" status. Reading through all these responses, it seems like the common thread is that most people who got their issues resolved had to actually speak with a Washington ESD agent to find out what was specifically holding up their claim. The phone system is definitely broken, but I'm encouraged by all the positive feedback about Claimyr from multiple people here. Going to give it a try since traditional calling methods clearly aren't working. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's reassuring to know I'm not alone in this frustrating process.