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Benjamin Carter

Washington ESD unemployment benefits - is this earned or unearned income for taxes?

I'm getting ready to do my taxes and I'm confused about how to report my unemployment benefits from Washington ESD. I received about $8,400 total last year after being laid off from my manufacturing job. My tax software is asking whether this is earned or unearned income and I honestly don't know. The 1099-G form from Washington ESD doesn't specify this. Does anyone know how unemployment benefits are classified for tax purposes? I don't want to mess this up with the IRS.

One more thing - if you received unemployment from multiple states during the year, you'll get separate 1099-G forms and they're all still unearned income. Just wanted to mention that since some people move during unemployment.

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Fortunately I only dealt with Washington ESD but that's good info for anyone who might have moved between states.

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yeah i had to deal with two different states when i moved, it was a nightmare but the tax treatment was the same for both

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Unearned income, no question about it. Been filing taxes with unemployment benefits for years and it's always been the same classification.

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Thanks for confirming that - it's reassuring to hear from people with experience handling this.

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Zainab Ibrahim

How to file for unemployment benefits in Washington - need step by step help

I got laid off from my restaurant job last week and everyone keeps telling me I need to file for unemployment benefits but I have no idea where to start. I've never done this before and the Washington ESD website is confusing me. Do I need to gather certain documents first? How long does the whole process take? I'm stressed about paying rent next month and really need to get this right the first time.

i used claimyr too when i couldnt get through to resolve an issue with my weekly claim. saved me hours of trying to call. the peace of mind was worth it when my benefits were on the line

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Seems like a lot of people have had success with that service. I'll keep it in mind if I run into problems.

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Good luck with your claim! The initial application is definitely the hardest part. Once you get into the routine of filing weekly claims and doing your job search activities it becomes much more manageable.

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Thank you everyone for all the helpful advice! I feel much more confident about starting the process now.

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Daniel White

Washington ESD unemployment benefits - what rate is unemployment taxed at?

Just received my first unemployment payment from Washington ESD and realized I need to figure out the tax situation. I know unemployment benefits are taxable income but I'm not sure what rate is unemployment taxed at for federal and state purposes. Should I have taxes withheld from my weekly claims or just pay quarterly? My benefit amount is $467 per week and I'm worried about owing a huge tax bill next year if I don't handle this right.

One last thing - if you do end up owing taxes on your unemployment, you can sometimes set up a payment plan with the IRS if you can't pay it all at once.

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Good to know there are options if I end up owing more than expected. Hopefully the withholding will take care of most of it though.

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This whole thread has been super helpful! I had no idea about most of this tax stuff. Going to set up withholding on my next claim for sure.

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Same here! Really glad I asked about this now rather than finding out the hard way next tax season.

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Emma Garcia

How long to receive unemployment insurance after filing Washington ESD claim?

Filed my initial unemployment claim with Washington ESD two weeks ago and still haven't received any payments. My claim shows as active but no payment dates listed. I've been doing my weekly claims on time. Is this normal? How long does it usually take to receive your first unemployment insurance payment in Washington? Getting really stressed about rent coming up.

Just wanted to add - don't stop filing your weekly claims even if you haven't received payment yet. You can lose benefits if you miss filing weeks, even during processing delays.

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Already on top of that but good reminder for others reading this thread

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The whole system is frustrating but hang in there. Most claims do get processed eventually, it's just the waiting that's brutal when you need the money.

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Thanks, trying to stay positive. This thread has been really helpful.

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GalacticGladiator

Can u get unemployment if you get fired in Washington state?

got let go from my job last week and wondering if i can still file for unemployment benefits through Washington ESD? manager said it was due to performance issues but i think it was really because they needed to cut costs. does it matter why you got fired when applying for UI benefits? really need to know if its worth filing or if they'll just deny me automatically

Final thought - even if there's some uncertainty about whether you'll qualify, file anyway. The application process itself will help clarify things and you'll get a definitive answer from Washington ESD rather than just guessing.

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true, better to know for sure than just assume i can't get it. thanks again everyone for all the advice!

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good luck with everything! losing a job sucks but at least washington has decent unemployment benefits compared to some states

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appreciate it, feeling much more optimistic after reading all these responses

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