Can I get Washington ESD unemployment after severance pay ends?

You can definitely file for unemployment after severance ends. The key thing is that Washington ESD considers you unemployed from your actual termination date, not when severance stops. You should file your claim as soon as possible after your last day of work, even if you're still receiving severance payments.

I went through this exact situation last year. Filed my Washington ESD claim immediately after termination while still receiving severance. You'll report the severance payments on your weekly claims and Washington ESD will hold your benefits until the severance stops. The important thing is getting your claim established early so there's no gap in coverage.

Don't wait! I made the mistake of waiting until my severance ended to file and it took Washington ESD 3 weeks to process my claim. If you file now, your claim will be ready to go when severance stops. The system is designed to handle severance situations - you just won't receive UI payments during the severance period.

Had a similar situation but kept getting stuck trying to reach Washington ESD to ask questions about reporting severance correctly. The phone lines are impossible. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Made the whole process so much easier when I could actually talk to someone at Washington ESD.

Wait, I'm confused. If I'm getting severance am I really unemployed? My HR department said I might not qualify for unemployment while receiving severance payments. This is all so confusing.

File immediately! The worst thing you can do is wait. Washington ESD has specific procedures for handling severance and they're used to these situations. Your weekly benefit amount will be calculated based on your wages before termination, not including the severance.

Does it matter if the severance is paid as a lump sum vs weekly payments? My company is giving me the option to choose.

Just want to add - make sure you're doing your job search activities even during the severance period. Washington ESD still requires you to be actively seeking work to maintain your claim, even if you're not receiving payments yet.

One more tip - when you file your weekly claims during severance, be very specific about the dates and amounts. Washington ESD needs exact information to properly calculate when your benefits should start.

The Washington ESD system is actually pretty good at handling severance situations once you understand the process. Don't overthink it - file your claim now and report honestly on your weekly claims. The system will take care of the timing automatically.

I had to deal with a similar situation but also had complications because my severance included stock options. If anyone has additional complications like that, definitely try to speak with a Washington ESD agent directly. I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier - really helped me get through the phone maze.

Quick question - if my severance is being paid over 12 weeks, do I have to wait the full 12 weeks before getting unemployment, or can I get partial benefits?

Make sure to keep all your severance documentation! Washington ESD might ask for proof of the severance terms during your claim review. Better to have everything organized upfront.

This thread is gold! I'm in the exact same boat - got laid off with 6 weeks severance and wasn't sure about the timing. Definitely filing my Washington ESD claim this week.

Has anyone had issues with Washington ESD questioning the severance amount or terms? I'm worried they might think I'm trying to game the system somehow.

Don't forget that your severance might affect your taxes too. Make sure you understand the tax implications of both the severance and unemployment benefits.

The key takeaway here is FILE EARLY. Whether you're getting severance or not, getting your Washington ESD claim established should be your first priority after job loss. Everything else can be sorted out later.

Just wanted to share my experience - I tried calling Washington ESD multiple times about severance questions but kept getting busy signals. Finally used Claimyr to get through and spoke with an agent who cleared up all my confusion. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to understand your specific situation.

Bottom line: File your Washington ESD claim now, report your severance accurately on weekly claims, keep good records, and don't overthink it. The system is designed to handle these situations smoothly.