Can I collect Washington ESD unemployment if I got a severance package?

That makes sense! So I should file now even though I won't get payments for a few weeks? Will this affect my total benefit amount later?

Exactly - file now to protect your claim date. It won't reduce your total benefit weeks, you'll just start receiving payments after the severance period ends. Make sure to report the severance amount accurately on your weekly claims.

This is really helpful. I was worried about reporting it wrong and getting in trouble for overpayments later.

That's smart thinking. Washington ESD takes overpayments seriously, so accurate reporting from the start saves you headaches later. Keep all your severance documentation too.

How does that work exactly? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for days with no luck.

It basically automates the calling process for you - keeps trying until it gets through and then connects you to an agent. Way better than sitting on hold for hours or getting the busy signal constantly.

I've heard about services like that but wasn't sure if they were legit. Good to know it actually worked for someone.

It's a common misconception. You CAN get unemployment with severance in Washington, but the severance reduces your weekly benefit amount dollar-for-dollar until it's exhausted.

oh ok that makes more sense thanks

Mine is being paid as regular payroll over 6 weeks, so I think that counts as salary continuation. Same tax withholdings as my regular paycheck.

Yes, that's salary continuation. Washington ESD will treat those payments as wages and reduce your weekly benefit accordingly. The good news is your benefit year clock doesn't start ticking until you actually start receiving payments.

Health insurance continuation usually doesn't count as reportable income for unemployment purposes. It's the cash payments that matter. But definitely mention it if you talk to a Washington ESD agent just to be safe.

Thanks, that's what I hoped. The cash portion is straightforward but the benefits piece had me worried.

I did sign a non-compete but it's pretty narrow - just can't work for direct competitors for 6 months. Should that be a problem?

Probably not, but if it significantly limits your job search opportunities, you might want to discuss it with Washington ESD. They need to know if there are restrictions on your availability for work.

Do you have a link to that section? I tried finding it but the Washington ESD website is so confusing to navigate.

It's in the Unemployment Insurance Handbook under 'Deductible Income.' You can find it through the main Washington ESD website under Resources.

Did you have any issues with the job search requirements during the severance period?

You still need to meet the job search requirements even during weeks you're not receiving benefits. I kept a log of applications and contacts during my severance period just to be safe.

I get the frustration, but the rules exist to prevent fraud and ensure benefits go to people who truly need them. Once you understand the basics, it's not too bad.

I guess but when you're stressed about losing your job the last thing you want is to navigate bureaucracy

How quickly were you able to get connected to an agent through their service?

It took about 45 minutes total, but that included the wait time once connected. Way better than the 3 hours I spent trying to call on my own with no success.

That's really smart. I never thought about keeping my own records beyond what's required.

It saved me when Washington ESD had a processing error and thought I'd underreported income. Having my own records made it easy to prove I'd been accurate all along.

Thankfully mine is just straight cash payments, no stock involved. Sounds like that would complicate things even more.

Yeah, equity compensation has different rules. Stick with the straightforward severance - much easier to handle with Washington ESD.

That's really helpful confirmation. I was leaning toward filing now but wanted to make sure I wasn't making a mistake.

Definitely file now. The worst thing would be to wait and then have gaps in your coverage later. Better to start the process and let them handle the severance calculations.

Vacation payout is usually treated as wages too, similar to severance. It gets reported as income and reduces your weekly benefit amount. The key is the timing - when you actually receive the payment matters for which week you report it.

Thanks! Both payments came in the same week so I'll report them together on that weekly claim.

I was planning to file online anyway. Good to know it handles the severance reporting well.

Yeah, the online system is pretty intuitive for this stuff. Just make sure you have all your severance documentation handy when you're filling it out.

Thanks everyone! This thread has been incredibly helpful. I'm going to file my claim this afternoon.

Good luck! Remember to keep reporting that severance on your weekly claims until it's exhausted, then you should start receiving your full benefit amount.

Will do. Really appreciate all the detailed advice from everyone here.

This is exactly what I needed to hear! I've been going back and forth on this for days, worried I'd mess something up. It's reassuring to know the system is designed for these situations and that filing early is the right move. Did you have any trouble with the weekly claim process during your severance period, or was it pretty straightforward once you got started?

The weekly claim process was actually really straightforward once I got the hang of it. There's a specific section where you report "other income" and I just put in my weekly severance amount there. The system automatically calculated that I wouldn't get any UI payment that week, but it kept my claim active. The key thing I learned is to be consistent - report it the same way every week until the severance runs out. After my 8 weeks of severance ended, I started getting my full weekly benefit amount with no problems. The hardest part was just getting over the initial anxiety about doing it wrong!