Thanks everyone for all this helpful information! I feel much more confident about understanding how severance works with unemployment benefits now.

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm in a similar situation where I'm considering a severance offer but wasn't sure about the unemployment implications. The key takeaways I'm getting are: 1) File your UI claim immediately even with severance, 2) Be completely transparent about the severance amount and timing, 3) The delay period is calculated by dividing severance by your weekly benefit amount, and 4) You still need to do job search activities during the delay period. One question I have - does it matter if the severance is considered "pay in lieu of notice" versus regular severance? I've heard those might be treated differently by Washington ESD.

This thread has been really helpful. I was panicking about this exact situation and now I at least know what to expect. Thanks everyone!

I'm in a similar boat - just got my unemployment approved and I'm behind on child support too. Reading through all these responses has been eye-opening. It sounds like I should expect them to take around 50-60% since I'm behind on payments. The timing seems to be around 2-3 weeks after the first payment based on what others have shared. I'm going to start looking into those assistance programs people mentioned and maybe try that Claimyr service to get through to DCS before the garnishment kicks in. Better to be proactive than caught off guard. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it really helps to know what to expect even if it's not great news.

Bottom line: File immediately after your last day of work, report severance honestly, keep filing weekly claims, and don't expect any benefits until severance ends. The system works, it's just not intuitive.

Just went through this exact situation last year. Filed my claim the day after my last work day while still receiving 6 weeks severance. Washington ESD processed everything during the severance period, so my benefits started immediately the week after severance ended. No gap, no delays. The key is getting your claim established early - don't wait until you're desperate and need the money right away.

Bottom line - file your claim, be honest about what happened, and don't assume you won't qualify. Washington ESD deals with these situations all the time and they're pretty good at distinguishing between genuine misconduct and isolated incidents with valid explanations.

I went through something very similar about 6 months ago. Got terminated for being late 4 times over 3 months due to various legitimate issues (sick child, car breakdown, etc.). I was really stressed about whether I'd qualify since I was technically fired, but Washington ESD approved my claim without any issues. The fact that you had valid reasons for each incident and weren't formally disciplined beforehand really works in your favor. They understand that life happens and occasional tardiness with legitimate explanations isn't the same as willful misconduct. I'd definitely recommend filing as soon as possible - even if there's any uncertainty, you want to get your claim date established. The worst they can do is say no, but from what you've described, I think you have a solid case. Don't let the termination scare you away from applying for benefits you're likely entitled to.

Update: IT WORKED!!! Just got my determination letter today - claim APPROVED and all my backpay will be deposited next week. Total time from emailing my legislators to approval was just 3 days. I honestly can't believe how fast it happened after months of nothing. For anyone else trying this route, I emailed all three of my district representatives (both house reps and the senator). The senator's office responded first, within hours, but all three offices eventually replied saying they'd help. I'm literally crying right now thinking about being able to catch up on rent and bills. This forum has been a lifesaver - thank you all for the support!

This is incredibly helpful, thank you for sharing! I've been stuck in adjudication for 8 weeks now and was starting to lose hope. I had no idea that contacting state legislators was even an option - I thought they only dealt with big policy issues, not individual cases like this. Just to clarify - when you say you emailed them about your "financial situation," did you include specific dollar amounts for things like rent, utilities, etc? I'm trying to figure out how detailed to be without making the email too long. Also, did you mention how many times you'd already tried calling ESD directly? I'm definitely going to try this approach. At this point I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Thanks again for giving those of us in adjudication hell some actual hope!