Can I file for unemployment after my severance runs out - Washington ESD timing questions?
My company laid me off 2 months ago and I'm receiving severance pay through the end of next month. I know you can't collect unemployment while getting severance, but what happens when it ends? Do I need to wait until my severance completely stops before I can even apply with Washington ESD? Or can I file ahead of time so there's no gap? Really worried about the timing since I heard adjudication can take weeks and I have a mortgage to pay.
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
You can file your initial claim with Washington ESD while still receiving severance, but your weekly claims will be denied until the severance ends. The key is getting your claim established early so there's no delay when you become eligible.
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Giovanni Colombo
•That's exactly what I was hoping to hear! So I should file now even though I'm still getting severance payments?
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
•Yes, file now. Washington ESD will establish your claim and you'll just mark that you received severance on your weekly claims until it stops.
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StarStrider
i did this last year and it worked fine. filed while getting severance and just waited til it ended to start collecting. no problems at all
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Giovanni Colombo
•How long did it take for your first payment after severance ended?
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StarStrider
•maybe like a week? already had everything set up so it was pretty quick
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Dylan Campbell
Smart move filing early. I waited until after my severance ended and then had to deal with Washington ESD's phone system for weeks trying to get through about my claim status. Couldn't reach anyone through their normal numbers. Eventually found claimyr.com which actually got me connected to a real person at Washington ESD. Check out their demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ - it shows exactly how they bypass the busy signals.
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Giovanni Colombo
•Never heard of that service before. Does it actually work for reaching Washington ESD?
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Dylan Campbell
•Worked great for me. Way better than sitting on hold for hours or getting disconnected constantly.
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Sofia Torres
•Interesting, I might need that if I run into issues with my claim
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Dmitry Sokolov
Wait, I'm confused about this whole severance thing. If you're getting paid by your old employer, doesn't that mean you're still employed? How can you file for unemployment if you're technically still getting wages?
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
•Severance isn't wages - it's a lump sum payment for termination. Washington ESD treats it differently than regular employment income.
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Dmitry Sokolov
•Oh okay that makes more sense. I was thinking it was like still being on payroll or something.
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Ava Martinez
The Washington ESD system is so confusing about this stuff. I had severance last year and nobody could give me a straight answer about when to file. Called multiple times and got different information each time. Finally just filed and figured it out as I went.
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Giovanni Colombo
•That's exactly what I'm worried about - getting different answers from different people at Washington ESD
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Dylan Campbell
•That's why I mentioned claimyr earlier - at least you know you're talking to an actual Washington ESD agent, not just whoever picks up the phone
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Ava Martinez
•Yeah, consistency would be nice. The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing over there.
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Miguel Ramos
This is actually a really common situation and Washington ESD handles it pretty well once you understand the process. File your initial claim now, then on your weekly claims just report the severance amount. When it ends, your benefits will start automatically as long as you keep filing weekly.
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Giovanni Colombo
•Do I need to do anything special when the severance ends, or does Washington ESD just know automatically?
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Miguel Ramos
•Just stop reporting severance income on your weekly claim. The system will automatically start processing your payments.
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Sofia Torres
One thing to watch out for - make sure you're clear about whether your severance is a lump sum or being paid out over time. Washington ESD treats them differently and it affects when your benefits can start.
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Giovanni Colombo
•Mine is being paid out monthly, not a lump sum. Does that matter?
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Sofia Torres
•Yes, that matters. Monthly severance payments extend your ineligibility period, while a lump sum is allocated over a specific timeframe.
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
•Good catch. The allocation rules for lump sum vs. periodic severance are completely different.
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StarStrider
honestly the whole system is set up to make you wait as long as possible before getting benefits. they hope you find a job before you ever collect a dime
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QuantumQuasar
•That's a bit cynical but I see your point. The paperwork alone is enough to discourage some people.
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StarStrider
•not cynical just realistic. been through this twice now
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Zainab Omar
Make sure you have all your documentation ready when you file. Washington ESD will want your separation notice, pay stubs, and severance agreement details. Having everything organized upfront prevents delays.
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Giovanni Colombo
•I have the severance agreement but not sure about the separation notice. Is that something my employer should have given me?
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Zainab Omar
•Yes, employers are supposed to provide separation notices to Washington ESD and give you a copy. If you don't have one, contact your HR department.
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Connor Gallagher
Been there! Filed while on severance and it worked exactly like others described. The key is being consistent with your weekly claims and not overthinking it.
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Giovanni Colombo
•Any other tips for someone going through this process?
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Connor Gallagher
•Just stay on top of your weekly claims and don't skip weeks even if you're not getting paid yet. Consistency is important.
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Yara Sayegh
I'm dealing with something similar but my severance includes healthcare continuation. Does that affect unemployment eligibility at all?
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
•Healthcare continuation shouldn't affect your unemployment benefits. Washington ESD looks at cash payments, not benefit extensions.
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Yara Sayegh
•Good to know, thanks. I was worried that might complicate things.
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Keisha Johnson
Question about job search requirements - do I need to be actively looking for work while still receiving severance, or can I wait until benefits start?
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
•You're not required to do job searches while ineligible due to severance, but starting early doesn't hurt and you'll need to begin once benefits start.
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Keisha Johnson
•Makes sense. Might as well get a head start on networking while I have the time.
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Paolo Longo
Whatever you do, don't try to hide the severance payments. Washington ESD will find out eventually and then you'll have overpayment issues to deal with.
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Giovanni Colombo
•Oh wow, I hadn't even thought about that. Good reminder to be completely honest on all the forms.
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Paolo Longo
•Exactly. The penalties for overpayments are severe and not worth the risk.
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CosmicCowboy
I had a friend who tried to game the system with severance and it backfired badly. Just be honest and follow the rules - it's not worth the headache.
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QuantumQuasar
•What kind of penalties are we talking about? Just paying back the money or worse?
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CosmicCowboy
•Paying it back plus penalties and interest. And they can garnish wages or tax refunds to collect.
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Amina Diallo
Pro tip: when you do start collecting benefits, keep detailed records of everything. Job search logs, payment dates, any communication with Washington ESD. You never know when you might need to reference something later.
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Giovanni Colombo
•Good advice. I'll start a folder now while I'm thinking about it.
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Amina Diallo
•Smart move. Organization saves so much stress later on.
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Oliver Schulz
Does anyone know if you can do part-time work while receiving severance? Or does that mess up the unemployment claim even more?
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
•Part-time work while on severance gets complicated. You'd need to report both the severance and the part-time wages, which might affect your benefit calculation later.
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Oliver Schulz
•Ugh, sounds like more complications. Maybe I'll just wait until the severance ends.
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Natasha Orlova
The timing worked out perfectly for me - filed early, severance ended, benefits started the next week. No gap in income and no stress about reaching Washington ESD during the busy periods.
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Giovanni Colombo
•That's exactly what I'm hoping for. Sounds like filing early is definitely the way to go.
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Dylan Campbell
•And if you do run into any issues reaching them, remember claimyr.com is there as a backup option.
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Javier Cruz
Just want to add that the Washington ESD website has a severance calculator tool that can help you figure out exactly when your benefits would start. Might be worth checking out.
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Giovanni Colombo
•Oh that sounds helpful! Do you remember where on the site it is?
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Javier Cruz
•I think it's under the 'File a Claim' section, but the site layout changes sometimes. You might need to search for 'severance calculator'.
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Emma Wilson
Bottom line - file now, be honest about the severance, keep up with weekly claims, and don't stress too much about it. The system handles this situation all the time.
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Giovanni Colombo
•Thanks everyone for all the advice! I feel much better about the process now. Going to file my claim this week.
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Emma Wilson
•Good luck! You've got this.
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
•Feel free to come back if you run into any issues. This community is pretty good about helping each other out.
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