You were injured on the job
To be eligible for unemployment benefits, you need to be able and available to work.
If you are not able to work
If you are not able to work because of a workplace injury, you should contact the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) about workers' compensation benefits.
If you are able to work but cannot return to your previous employer
You might be eligible for unemployment benefits. You can file a temporary total disability (TTD) claim while you look for a new job.
To be eligible, you need to:
- Receive workers' compensation or crime victims compensation for at least 13 straight weeks.
- File your claim within 1 year of the date you were released for work.
- File your claim within 6 years of the start of your injury or illness.
Information you need to provide
If you received workers' or crime victims compensation, you need to provide us your L&I claim number.
If private insurance covered your on-the-job injury, you need to provide us the following:
- Your insurance company's name.
- Your claim number.
- Your claim manager's name and phone number.
L&I resources
Your injury is not job-related
You might qualify for unemployment benefits if you were not able to work for at least 13 straight weeks.
To receive unemployment benefits as part of a regular or a TTD claim, you need to:
- Be able and available to work.
- Meet job search requirements.
To see if you are eligible for a TTD claim, you will need to:
- Provide the date your doctor released you to return to work.
- Return by the due date any forms we send you. These forms will include 1 completed by a medical professional.
To discuss if you qualify and your claim options, call the Unemployment Claims Center at 800-318-6022. Find claims center hours on the contact us page. If you have a hearing or speech disability, you can use Washington Relay Service 711.