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Just to wrap this up for anyone reading - Washington unemployment benefits last up to 26 weeks maximum within a 52-week benefit year. Your actual duration depends on your work history and is shown in your monetary determination. Keep filing weekly claims and meeting job search requirements to continue receiving benefits for the full duration you qualify for.
Just wanted to add that military members have special rules for unemployment benefits. If you're transitioning out of the military, you might be eligible for Unemployment Compensation for Ex-servicemembers (UCX). The timing and requirements are different from regular unemployment.
One last tip - even if your employer offers severance pay, you can usually still file for unemployment benefits. Severance might affect the timing of when benefits start, but it doesn't automatically disqualify you. Check with Washington ESD about how severance impacts your specific situation.
It depends on how the severance is structured. Some types delay benefits, others don't. Claimyr might be helpful for getting a definitive answer about your specific severance situation.
For what it's worth, I used Claimyr twice - once to ask about Social Security and unemployment, and again when my claim got stuck in adjudication. Both times they got me through to helpful agents who resolved my issues quickly.
Bottom line - yes you can collect both, but make sure you're meeting all the unemployment requirements. Age discrimination is real but don't let that stop you from claiming benefits you've earned.
One more tip - when they ask about your separation reason, be specific but concise. 'Terminated for alleged performance issues following safety complaint' is better than a long emotional explanation.
If you need to reach someone at Washington ESD about your claim and can't get through on the phone, that Claimyr service mentioned earlier actually works. I was skeptical at first but it saved me from weeks of calling. Worth looking into if you run into issues.
Diego Chavez
I used that Claimyr service mentioned earlier when I had questions about my standby claim. Really wish I had known about it sooner - would have saved me weeks of trying to get through on the phone. Definitely recommend if you need to talk to ESD directly about your misconduct case.
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Connor Gallagher
•Seems like several people have had good experiences with that. I'll keep it in mind if I need to follow up with ESD directly.
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Diego Chavez
•Yeah, sometimes you really need to talk to a person to get clarity on your specific situation. The website can only tell you so much.
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NeonNebula
Thanks for asking this question OP! I'm in a similar situation (got fired for performance issues) and this thread has been super helpful for understanding how ESD handles these cases. Going to file my claim this week.
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Connor Gallagher
•Glad it helped you too! Good luck with your claim. Sounds like we're both in situations where it's worth filing and seeing what happens.
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NeonNebula
•Exactly! Worst case we get denied and appeal. Best case we get benefits while job hunting. Nothing to lose by trying.
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