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One thing nobody mentioned - if you move to a different state while collecting Washington unemployment, you need to notify Washington ESD. The rules can get complicated for interstate claims.
Bottom line - file your weekly claims on time, keep looking for work, report any earnings, and keep good records. The payments will come as long as you follow the rules.
Remember to report any vacation pay or severance you received. That can delay your benefits if you don't report it upfront.
I used to work in HR and saw a lot of confusion about this. The bottom line is Washington state is pretty generous about allowing unemployment with severance compared to some other states. Just be honest and report everything properly.
Final thought - if your employer offers you a choice between different severance options, consider how each one might interact with your unemployment benefits. Sometimes the option that looks better upfront isn't actually the best when you factor in UI benefits.
The benefit amount calculation is just the start. The real challenge is navigating all the requirements and keeping up with the weekly claims. Make sure you understand the system before you need it!
Brian Downey
One more thing about the calculation - if you worked in multiple states, you might be able to combine wages from different states to get a higher benefit. It's called an interstate claim.
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Maxwell St. Laurent
•I only worked in Washington so that doesn't apply to me, but good to know for others.
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Jacinda Yu
•Yeah I had to do this when I moved here from Oregon. Made a big difference in my benefit amount.
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Landon Flounder
Bottom line - if you think your calculation is wrong, don't just accept it. Get your wage records, double-check everything, and request a redetermination if needed. The worst they can say is no, but you might get hundreds more per week if there was an error.
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Maxwell St. Laurent
•Thanks everyone! This has been super helpful. I'm going to check my wage records and see if that part-time job is included in the calculation.
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Jean Claude
•Good luck! And remember that Claimyr option if you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD about your specific situation.
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