Pay nothing until a live ESD agent is on the phone with you.
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One more thing to consider - some severance agreements have you sign away your right to file for unemployment. Make sure yours doesn't have that clause before you file. It's not super common but it happens.
Oh wow, I didn't know that was even legal. I'll definitely check my agreement for that.
It's not super common but I've seen it happen. Usually in higher-level positions or when there are other issues involved.
Bottom line: file for unemployment, report your severance honestly, and don't stress too much about it. The system is designed to help people who are out of work, not to punish them for getting severance. You'll figure it out!
Thanks for the encouragement! I'll file my claim this week and just be completely honest about the severance.
That's the right approach. Good luck with everything!
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I exhausted my 26 weeks last month and there's literally nothing after that. No extensions, no additional programs, nothing. Make sure you have a backup plan because 6 months goes faster than you think.
What did you do after your benefits ended? I'm worried about being in the same situation.
Had to take a job paying $10/hour less than what I was making before. Sometimes you just have to survive until something better comes along.
Bottom line for OP: 26 weeks maximum for regular unemployment benefits in Washington. No extensions available right now. File every week, keep detailed job search records, and start planning for what happens after those 26 weeks are up. That's the reality of the system.
Thanks everyone for all the info. Sounds like I need to be realistic about the 6 month timeline and start preparing for different scenarios. This has been really helpful.
Good luck with your job search. Construction can be unpredictable but hopefully things pick up soon. Just remember to follow all the rules so you don't lose any of those 26 weeks.
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Just wanted to add - when you do get approved, make sure to file your weekly claims on time every week. Missing even one week can cause problems later. Set a reminder on your phone or something.
Will do! What day of the week are you supposed to file?
You can file Sunday through Saturday for the previous week. I always do mine on Sunday morning to get it out of the way.
I was approved but never got the letter in the mail - it got lost somehow. But my online account showed everything clearly so I was able to start filing weekly claims without the physical letter. The online info is what really matters.
Good to know the online account is the main source of truth. I'll keep monitoring that closely.
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The whole system seems designed to be confusing on purpose. Like they don't want people to know how much they can get or how to apply properly. At least the benefit amounts are decent if you can navigate the bureaucracy.
It's definitely not user-friendly. I spent hours trying to understand the base period calculation before I finally got it.
Same here. The terminology alone is confusing - base period, benefit year, waiting week. Why can't they just use plain English?
One more thing - make sure you have your employment history ready when you apply. Washington ESD needs detailed info about your last 18 months of work including employer names, addresses, dates, and wages. Having all that organized will speed up your application.
Thanks for all the advice everyone! I feel much more confident about filing now. Going to gather my employment docs and use that benefit calculator first.
Good luck! The process isn't as scary as it seems once you get started. Just be thorough and honest on everything.
Maya Patel
Just to clarify one more time - January 31st is the deadline for both filing Form 940 AND paying any remaining FUTA tax owed for 2024. Don't miss either one!
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AstroAce
•Got it. I'll make sure I have both the form filed and payment made by January 31st. Thanks everyone for all the help!
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Aiden Rodríguez
•glad this thread helped. i learned a lot too even though i dont have employees yet
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Emma Garcia
One last tip - if you're cutting it close on the deadline, you can pay online through EFTPS (Electronic Federal Tax Payment System) and it counts as timely if submitted by 8 PM ET on the due date.
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AstroAce
•That's really good to know about the 8 PM cutoff. I was worried about mail delivery timing.
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Emma Garcia
•Yeah, electronic payments are definitely the way to go for last-minute submissions. Much more reliable than mail.
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