Can I get Washington ESD unemployment if I got severance pay from my job?

So I should still file right away even though I'm getting severance? I don't want to wait too long and miss out on benefits later.

Definitely file as soon as possible. Your benefit year starts when you file, not when the severance runs out. Just make sure to report the severance income on your weekly claims.

The adjudication process can take time, especially when there's severance involved. They need to verify the details of your separation and how the severance affects your benefits.

yeah but i can't even get through to talk to anyone at washington esd to check on my claim status

Never heard of that before - is it legit? Seems weird to have someone else call for you.

Yeah I was skeptical at first too, but it worked. They don't need your personal info or anything sketchy - just helps you get connected to an actual Washington ESD representative.

That makes sense. So if my severance covers my full salary for 8 weeks, I probably won't get much in UI benefits during that time?

Exactly. But once the severance period ends, you'll get your full UI benefit amount assuming you're still unemployed and meet all other requirements.

wait i thought severance didn't affect unemployment at all? my friend said it doesn't count as wages

Your friend might be thinking of federal taxes or a different state. In Washington, severance is definitely considered income that reduces your UI benefits.

I agree their website could be more user-friendly. The information is there but it's buried in policy manuals that are hard to understand.

tell me about it... spent 2 hours on their site yesterday and still couldn't figure out my situation

Oh no, what happened? How did you fix the overpayment issue?

Had to appeal it and provide documentation from my employer about the severance terms. Took months to resolve but they eventually waived the overpayment.

This is exactly why I used Claimyr to talk to someone at Washington ESD about my severance situation upfront. Better to get it right the first time than deal with overpayment headaches later.

That's encouraging to hear! How long did it take for your claim to get approved?

About 10 days, but I think that was pretty fast. No complications with my separation so the adjudication went smoothly.

Good point. I also took screenshots of everything in case I need to reference it later.

Thanks for the reminder! I have the separation letter but should probably ask HR for more detailed documentation about the severance terms.

Yes, you still need to meet all the usual requirements including job search activities, even if your UI benefits are reduced due to severance.

Ugh that seems like a lot of work for reduced benefits... but I guess it makes sense since you're still technically unemployed

Same here! It's so frustrating. I finally gave up and just filed my weekly claims online and hoped for the best.

That's why services like Claimyr exist - the phone system is broken and people need alternatives to actually reach someone. I watched their demo video and it actually looks pretty helpful for situations like this.

That's great to hear! I'm going to file mine this week. Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice.

Glad it worked out for you! Honesty is definitely the best policy with these things.

For UI purposes, Washington ESD will prorate it the same way regardless of how you receive it. The choice might affect your taxes though, so you might want to consult a tax professional about that aspect.

I took the lump sum and just had to report it spread over the weeks it was supposed to cover. Worked fine.