Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses! I feel much more prepared to navigate this process now. It's reassuring to know others have successfully managed both disability and unemployment benefits.

I'm in a very similar situation to you, Ravi! I've been on partial disability for about 8 months and my physical therapist just cleared me to start looking for light-duty work. Reading through all these responses has been really eye-opening - especially about needing to be super transparent with Washington ESD from the beginning. I've been hesitant to apply because I wasn't sure if having ongoing PT appointments would disqualify me, but it sounds like as long as I'm cleared to work within my limitations, I should be okay. Has anyone dealt with scheduling conflicts between required job search activities and medical appointments? That's my biggest concern right now.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information. I'm going to file for unemployment tomorrow and just be completely honest about my situation. Fingers crossed it works out!

I just wanted to chime in as someone who successfully navigated this exact situation last year. I was receiving partial disability through L&I after a back injury and my employer cut my hours from 40 to about 12 per week. The key things that helped me get approved for both benefits were: 1) Having clear medical documentation that I could work with restrictions (not that I couldn't work at all), 2) Being very specific in my UI application about my work limitations but emphasizing my availability within those limits, and 3) reporting my L&I payments accurately on every weekly claim. Yes, they did reduce my UI benefits dollar-for-dollar, but I still ended up with more total income than just the disability alone. The adjudication process took about 6 weeks, which was stressful, but it was worth it in the end. Make sure you register with WorkSource right away and keep up with your job search requirements - that's something they really scrutinize. Happy to answer any specific questions if it would help!

Bottom line - job abandonment doesn't automatically disqualify you if you had good cause. File your claim, be honest about the circumstances, and don't be afraid to appeal if you get denied initially. You might be surprised by the outcome.

I went through something similar about 6 months ago. The key thing to remember is that Washington state recognizes "constructive dismissal" - basically when working conditions are so bad that any reasonable person would have to quit. Mental health impacts from a hostile work environment absolutely count as good cause. When you file your claim, focus on specific incidents and how they affected your ability to do your job safely. Even without formal HR complaints, you can still build a strong case. Document everything you can remember now - dates, what was said, how it made you feel, any physical symptoms like anxiety or insomnia. I ended up getting approved after initially being denied, and the back pay helped a lot during my job search.

Update: Finally got through to an ESD agent this morning. The 'reversed' decision means the judge overturned ESD's original approval of my benefits. The agent confirmed I'll be receiving an overpayment notice for about $5,800 in benefits I've already received. I can either pay it back in full, request a payment plan, or file for a waiver if I can prove financial hardship. I'm also going to appeal to the Commissioner's Review Office within the 30-day window. The agent said I should focus on showing why the judge didn't correctly apply the law to my situation rather than just restating my original arguments. Thanks everyone for your help with understanding this!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress! I went through something similar last year and the uncertainty is awful. One thing that helped me was getting a copy of the judge's written decision as soon as possible - it should spell out exactly why they reversed ESD's original decision and what specific law or regulation they based it on. This information will be crucial if you decide to appeal to the Commissioner's Review Office. Also, when you apply for that payment plan, ask if they can put a hold on collection activities while your Commissioner appeal is pending. Some people have success with this, though it's not guaranteed. Document everything and keep copies of all correspondence. Hang in there!

Yeah there is a fee, but honestly it was worth it to finally get through and get accurate information instead of guessing or getting conflicting advice online.

I've been dealing with Washington ESD for a few months now and wanted to share what I learned about the weeks calculation. The maximum is indeed 26 weeks, but it's based on a formula that considers your earnings in your base year. What really helped me understand my situation was looking at my quarterly wage report on the ESD website - it breaks down exactly which quarters they used and how much I earned in each. If you're unsure about your qualification, I'd recommend checking that wage history first before trying to call them. It gives you a clearer picture of what to expect.