Washington Unemployment
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Washington ESD unemployment compensation and insurance for people who were elderly - what law covers this?
I'm trying to help my 64-year-old dad who got laid off from his warehouse job last month. He's wondering about his unemployment benefits and whether there are any special provisions since he's getting close to retirement age. I know regular unemployment through Washington ESD covers most workers, but are there additional protections or benefits for older workers? What specific laws or programs should we be looking into? He's worried about the job search requirements since it might be harder for him to find work at his age.
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Washington ESD unemployment benefits after getting fired - am I eligible?
So I got terminated from my job last week and I'm wondering if I can still get unemployment when fired in Washington. My supervisor said it was due to 'performance issues' but honestly I think they just didn't like me. I've been working there for 2 years and never had any formal write-ups or warnings. Can I still file for Washington ESD benefits or does being fired automatically disqualify me? I really need the income while I look for another job.
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The most important thing is being honest and consistent in all your communications with Washington ESD. Don't try to hide the fact that you were fired - they'll find out anyway when they contact your employer.
Absolutely. I plan to be completely honest about everything that happened.
My advice: file the claim, be patient with adjudication, keep doing job searches, and don't assume you're disqualified just because you were fired. Many people get approved after being terminated for non-misconduct reasons.
Thanks for all the encouragement everyone. This thread has been really helpful in understanding the process!
What is unemployment pay in Washington ESD - confused about benefits
I keep hearing people talk about unemployment pay but I'm honestly confused about what it actually is. My job just cut my hours to part-time and someone said I might qualify for something through Washington ESD but I don't really understand how any of this works. Is unemployment pay the same as unemployment benefits? How much money are we talking about here? Do I have to be completely unemployed or can I still work part-time? Sorry if this is a dumb question but I've never had to deal with this before.
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OP, since your hours got cut to part-time, you'll probably want to report your part-time wages when you file your weekly claims. They'll reduce your benefit amount based on what you earn, but you can often still get partial benefits. The formula is a bit complex but ESD calculates it automatically.
Yes! As long as your weekly earnings are below your weekly benefit amount plus $5, you'll get at least partial benefits. So if your weekly benefit would be $400 and you earn $200 part-time, you'd still get some unemployment pay.
This is super helpful info. I'm in a similar situation and didn't realize partial benefits were a thing.
The washington esd website has a benefit calculator tool that can give you an estimate of what you might receive based on your work history. It's not perfect but gives you a ballpark figure before you apply.
Good luck with your application! Don't hesitate to ask if you run into any issues during the process.
And remember that Claimyr option if you need to actually talk to someone at ESD. Sometimes you just need a human to explain things.
How much is tax on unemployment benefits in Washington - confused about what I owe
I'm getting ready to file my taxes and I'm completely lost about how much tax I'll owe on my unemployment benefits from last year. I received about $18,500 total from Washington ESD between March and October when I finally found work again. I didn't have any taxes withheld because I needed every penny I could get at the time. Now I'm panicking because I keep hearing different things about unemployment being taxable. Some people say it's taxed like regular income, others say there are special rules. Can someone explain how much tax I should expect to pay on this? I'm single and that was my only income for most of 2024.
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I used TurboTax last year and it walked me through the unemployment tax stuff pretty well. Just make sure you have your 1099-G before you start.
That's what I'm planning to use too. Hopefully it makes it straightforward.
Most tax software handles unemployment income automatically once you enter the 1099-G info. Pretty painless.
How long can you file for unemployment after being fired in Washington?
I got terminated from my job at a manufacturing plant about 6 weeks ago and I'm just now looking into filing for unemployment benefits with Washington ESD. My supervisor said it was due to attendance issues but I had some medical problems that weren't properly documented. I kept putting off filing because I thought I might find another job quickly, but that hasn't happened. Is there a deadline for when you have to file your initial claim after getting fired? I'm worried I waited too long and might have missed my chance to get benefits.
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Don't stress too much about the misconduct thing until you know if it's even an issue. File first, then deal with any challenges as they come up. You might be surprised - Washington ESD might not even flag your termination as misconduct.
Thanks, I think I was overthinking it and psyching myself out.
Overthinking is the enemy of action. Just file and see what happens.
Ellie Kim
Bottom line for your dad: file for regular unemployment benefits through Washington ESD, meet all the job search requirements, and don't let anyone tell him he's too old to receive benefits. Age discrimination in unemployment is illegal.
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KingKongZilla
AuthorPerfect summary! This thread has been really helpful for understanding his options.
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Fiona Sand
Agreed. The system isn't perfect but the benefits are there for people who qualify, regardless of age.
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Mohammad Khaled
One more thing - if your dad worked for a large company, they might have offered voluntary separation packages that could affect his unemployment eligibility. Make sure Washington ESD knows about any severance or separation agreements.
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KingKongZilla
AuthorHe didn't get any severance, just a layoff notice. But good point about making sure Washington ESD has all the details.
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Alina Rosenthal
Yes, being completely honest about the separation circumstances is crucial for avoiding issues later.
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