Can I get Washington ESD unemployment if I take a severance package?

Thanks! It's definitely a layoff situation - they're eliminating our whole department. I just wasn't sure if accepting the package would count as voluntary.

Make sure you get documentation from HR that it's a reduction in force, not a voluntary resignation. That paperwork will be important for your UI claim.

What do you mean by timing? Would I have to wait until the severance runs out to file?

You can file your claim right away, but Washington ESD might consider the severance as wages in lieu of notice. This could delay when your benefits start, but you'd still be eligible once the severance period ends.

It's being paid weekly over 8 weeks, not a lump sum. So I should still be eligible after the severance period ends?

Right, weekly severance payments can delay your eligibility week by week. Each week you receive severance pay might make you ineligible for that specific week of unemployment benefits.

Really? I've been trying to call for days and can't get through. How does that service work exactly?

They basically call for you and get you connected to a real person at Washington ESD. Saved me so much time and frustration. I was able to get all my questions answered about the severance situation.

Never heard of that but sounds useful. I've been trying to reach someone at Washington ESD for weeks about my own claim issues.

That makes sense. Did you have any trouble getting your claim approved after the severance period ended?

No issues at all. Just make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even during the weeks you're not eligible due to severance. Washington ESD needs that continuous filing history.

Good point. I definitely don't want to get in trouble for not reporting something I should have.

Yes! I made the mistake of not reporting some income properly and ended up with an overpayment notice. Not fun to deal with.

That's not necessarily true. If the company is eliminating positions and offering severance to avoid formal layoffs, it's still considered involuntary separation.

I guess it depends on how the company structures it. OP should definitely get clarity on whether this is truly a RIF situation or just voluntary departure with benefits.

How much does that service cost? I'm already stressed about money.

It's worth it to get accurate info rather than guessing. The peace of mind knowing you're doing everything correctly is huge when you're dealing with severance and unemployment timing.

Never heard of that service but honestly anything that gets you through to Washington ESD faster sounds good to me

Vacation payout is typically considered wages for unemployment purposes too. You'll need to report both the severance and the PTO payout to Washington ESD.

ugh this is so confusing. why can't they just make it simple

My severance letter says it's 'in lieu of 8 weeks notice' so I guess that means it covers 8 specific weeks?

Exactly. That language makes it clear which weeks the severance is intended to cover, so those would be the weeks you're likely ineligible for unemployment benefits.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr to get through to someone. The website info is so general and doesn't cover edge cases.

Maybe I should try that too. Getting tired of sitting on hold for hours just to get disconnected.

Good point. I need to keep track of my job search efforts in WorkSourceWA even during the severance weeks.

Yes! And make sure you're meeting the minimum job search requirements each week. The fact that you're receiving severance doesn't change those obligations.

For severance based on years of service without specified weeks, ESD typically divides the total amount by your weekly wage to determine how many weeks it covers.

That makes sense. So if I made $1,200/week and got $9,600 severance, that would cover 8 weeks starting from my termination date?

That's the general formula, but definitely confirm with Washington ESD since every situation can have unique factors.

That's reassuring to hear. Did you have any issues during the application process?

Nope, went pretty smoothly. I think because it was clearly a business decision to eliminate roles, not me choosing to leave. Just be honest about everything when you file.

Good point about the benefit continuation. I need to read through all the fine print on this offer.

Definitely read everything carefully. Some severance agreements have clauses that could complicate your unemployment claim.

That makes sense. I think I have emails from management about the department restructuring that would show it wasn't really voluntary.

That's good advice. I was thinking about waiting until after the severance ended to file, but sounds like I should file right away.

Definitely file right away. There's a time limit on when you can file after losing your job, and you don't want to miss that window.

I feel your frustration but the severance rules actually make sense when you think about it. You can't collect unemployment for weeks when you're essentially still being paid by your employer.

Easy for you to say. Some of us have bills to pay and kids to feed.

The severance is structured as continued regular pay for 8 weeks, not a lump sum. Would that make a difference?

Yes, that structure means Washington ESD will likely treat those 8 weeks as a continuation of employment for benefit calculation purposes. You'd probably start receiving UI benefits after that period ends.

I didn't know partial benefits were possible with severance. How does that work exactly?

It depends on your weekly benefit amount and how much severance you receive each week. If the severance is less than your weekly benefit amount plus your earnings allowance, you might get a reduced payment.

Did they help you figure out exactly which weeks you'd be eligible vs ineligible?

Yes, the agent walked through my specific severance terms and explained exactly how it would affect my weekly claims. Made the whole process much clearer.

Good reminder. I'll scan everything and keep both digital and paper copies.

smart move. also screenshot your weekly claim submissions showing the severance amounts in case there are any disputes later

The timing of when you actually receive the severance payment can affect when it impacts your UI eligibility. But this gets into complex territory that's best discussed with Washington ESD directly.

Yeah, I figured this might be too specific for a forum discussion. Sounds like I need to talk to an actual agent.

Yikes, that sounds like a nightmare. I definitely plan to report everything accurately on my weekly claims.

Smart. It's not worth the risk of having to pay back money later or deal with fraud allegations.

COBRA continuation is separate from severance pay for unemployment purposes. The health insurance continuation shouldn't affect your UI eligibility calculations.

Thanks, that's one less thing to worry about in this whole process.

Glad it's helping you too! It's reassuring to know others are dealing with the same questions.

Definitely. Sometimes you feel like you're the only one who doesn't understand how all this works.

Good point. My severance does have a 6-month non-compete clause. I should mention that when I file my claim.

Yes, because it could affect whether you're considered 'available for work' in certain industries or roles.

Perfect summary. I feel much clearer about how to handle this now. Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice!

You're welcome! The Washington ESD system can be confusing but it's manageable once you understand the rules.

I'll keep that in mind if I run into any problems. Sounds like having that option available is really valuable.

It really is. Takes all the stress out of trying to reach Washington ESD when you have urgent questions.

Good reminder. I'll need to start job searching right away even if I'm getting severance pay.

Good luck getting through to them though. I've been trying for weeks with no luck. The hold times are insane.

That's where Claimyr really helped me out. Worth every penny to actually talk to someone who could give me real answers instead of guessing.

That's a really good point. The severance would definitely take some pressure off the job search.

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's exactly the kind of real-world example I needed to hear.

Same here. As long as the company doesn't try to code it as voluntary resignation, you should be fine.

Absolutely. I'm going to make sure I get everything in writing from HR about the department elimination.