Washington Unemployment
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Do you pay federal taxes on Washington ESD unemployment benefits?
Just got my first unemployment payment from Washington ESD and I'm wondering about taxes. Do I need to pay federal taxes on these benefits? Should I have them withhold taxes or just handle it when I file my return? I don't want to get hit with a huge tax bill next year.
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Can you receive Washington ESD unemployment and disability at the same time?
I'm really confused about whether I can collect both unemployment benefits from Washington ESD and disability payments simultaneously. I've been on temporary disability for a shoulder injury from my warehouse job, but my doctor says I might be cleared for light duty work soon. My disability payments are barely covering my rent and I'm wondering if I could file for unemployment too since I'm technically able to work now, just not at my old job. Has anyone dealt with this situation before? I don't want to get in trouble with Washington ESD for collecting benefits I'm not supposed to have.
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One more thing to consider - if you're receiving workers compensation for your injury, that has different rules than regular disability insurance when it comes to UI eligibility.
Mine isn't workers comp since the injury happened outside of work. Just regular short-term disability through my employer's plan.
That should make things simpler then. Workers comp has more restrictions when it comes to concurrent UI benefits.
Bottom line - you probably can collect both if you're medically cleared for some type of work and actively seeking employment within your physical limitations. Just be transparent with Washington ESD and report everything correctly.
Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice. I feel much more confident about moving forward with this now.
Good luck! The most important thing is getting that medical clearance and being honest about your work restrictions.
How long can you get unemployment benefits in Washington - need to know my limits
I just got laid off from my warehouse job after 8 years and I'm trying to figure out how long I can collect unemployment benefits in Washington. I've never had to file for UI before so I'm completely lost on this stuff. I know there's a standard amount of weeks but I've heard different things from coworkers. Some say 26 weeks, others mentioned something about extensions. My buddy said it depends on how much you worked before but I don't really understand how they calculate it. I made decent money so I'm hoping I can get the full amount of time. Can someone explain how this actually works? I need to plan my job search timeline and budget accordingly.
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Sorry to hear about your layoff. The 26 weeks should give you enough time to find something good if you stay focused. The Washington job market isn't terrible right now, especially for warehouse and logistics work.
Thanks for the encouragement. I'm actually feeling pretty optimistic about finding something within the 26 week window.
Last thing - remember to file your weekly claims every week even if you're not sure about something. Missing a week can cause delays in your payments. It's better to file and ask questions later than to skip a week.
Good advice. I'll make sure to stay on top of the weekly filings. This has been really helpful - thanks everyone for the information!
How long can you collect unemployment in Washington ESD - maximum duration?
I'm trying to figure out exactly how long I can collect unemployment benefits through Washington ESD. I've been on regular UI for about 12 weeks now and want to know what the maximum duration is. I keep hearing different things - some people say 26 weeks, others mention extensions. Does anyone know the current rules for 2025? I'm worried about running out of benefits before I find work.
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How much did that cost? I might need to do the same thing.
It was worth it to get a real answer instead of guessing. Much cheaper than missing out on benefits because I didn't understand my claim status.
Bottom line: 26 weeks maximum for regular UI in Washington state. No extensions currently available. Plan accordingly!
Thanks everyone for all the info. Sounds like I need to get serious about my job search since I'm already at 12 weeks.
Good luck with your search! Remember to keep filing your weekly claims and logging your job search activities until you find work.
Can contractor get unemployment benefits from Washington ESD?
I've been working as a 1099 contractor for the past 2 years doing web development and my contract just ended unexpectedly. I'm wondering if I can file for unemployment benefits with Washington ESD? I know contractors are usually considered self-employed but I've heard there might be some changes to the rules. Has anyone been in this situation? I paid into unemployment when I was a W-2 employee a few years back but not sure if that matters now.
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This thread has been super helpful! I had no idea about the misclassification angle. My contract work definitely had a lot of employer-like control. Time to gather my documentation and file a claim.
Update for anyone following - I decided to file my claim and request misclassification review. The online system let me indicate I was a contractor but believed I was misclassified. Now waiting for them to contact me for more info.
Thanks for the update! That gives me a clear path forward. Really appreciate everyone's input on this thread.
Keep us posted on how it goes! This info could help other contractors in similar situations.
Omar Hassan
Does anyone know if the tax withholding election carries over to the next benefit year if you have to reapply? Or do you have to set it up again?
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Yara Nassar
I believe you have to elect it again when you file a new claim, but I'm not 100% sure. That might be a good question for a Washington ESD agent.
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Omar Hassan
Yeah I'll try to get through to them and ask. Thanks!
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Chloe Taylor
Thanks everyone for all the tax info! This thread was really helpful. Going to log in and set up withholding on my next weekly claim.
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Miguel Herrera
Glad it helped! You'll thank yourself next tax season.
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ShadowHunter
Same here - definitely setting up withholding after reading all this.
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