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For what it's worth, I know several people who successfully collected unemployment while receiving severance. It's not automatic disqualification, just requires some extra documentation and patience with the process.
Final tip: keep detailed records of all your communications with Washington ESD about the severance issue. If you end up needing to appeal, having documentation of what you were told will be crucial.
One more suggestion - check if your local library has job search resources. Ours has resume help, interview prep, even business clothes you can borrow for interviews. Plus free internet and printing if you need it.
Just wanted to add - don't burn bridges with Washington ESD even after your benefits end. Keep your account active and check it occasionally. Sometimes there are glitches or delayed payments that show up later.
i made the mistake of not reporting cash work early in my claim and when i finally called to ask about it the agent told me i needed to report it immediately and they'd adjust my past claims. it was scary but they didn't penalize me since i self-reported. honesty really is the best policy here
honestly i used that claimyr thing after seeing it mentioned here a few times. worked way better than trying to call directly
The bottom line is this: report ALL work, even cash jobs. Washington ESD has multiple ways to verify your earnings and the penalties for fraud are severe. But don't panic - most people who report work still receive partial benefits and stay in good standing with the system.
Anyone know if the weeks count calendar weeks or just the weeks you actually collect benefits? Like if I had a gap where I worked for 2 weeks, do those count against my 26?
The whole benefit duration thing stressed me out so much that I ended up calling Washington ESD through that Claimyr service just to have someone walk me through my specific situation. Best decision I made - got all my questions answered and could focus on job searching instead of worrying about timelines.
Leo McDonald
One last thing - make sure you have all your employment information ready when you file. You'll need dates of employment, wages, and reason for separation for each job in your base period.
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Logan Chiang
•Should I gather all that before I start the application?
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Leo McDonald
•Yes, it'll make the process much smoother. Have your W-2s, pay stubs, and employment records handy when you file online.
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Jessica Nolan
Good luck to everyone dealing with unemployment right now. It's stressful but the benefits can really help bridge the gap while you're looking for new work.
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Logan Chiang
•Thanks! Feeling much better about the whole process after reading all these responses.
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Isla Fischer
•That's what this community is for - helping each other navigate these systems. Hope your claim goes smoothly!
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