Can I get severance and unemployment benefits at the same time in Washington?

Yes, you can receive both but there are some important rules about how Washington ESD handles severance pay. The key thing is whether your severance is considered wages or a lump sum payment. If it's paid out weekly like regular wages, it might affect your weekly benefit amount.

I went through this exact situation last year. The important distinction is whether your severance is tied to your work week or not. Washington ESD has specific rules about 'wages in lieu of notice' versus true severance payments. You'll need to report it when you file your weekly claims.

I had such a hard time getting through to Washington ESD to get a clear answer about this when I was in your situation. Spent hours on hold and kept getting disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually reach an agent who could explain exactly how my severance would be handled. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

wait so if I get severance I can't get unemployment at all?? That doesn't seem right

The Washington ESD handbook says that severance pay is generally not considered wages unless it's paid in lieu of notice or as compensation for a specific work period. But the reality is more complicated than what's written. Each case gets evaluated individually based on the terms of your severance agreement.

This is exactly why I hate dealing with unemployment stuff. They make everything so confusing and then you can't even reach anyone to get answers. The whole system is a mess.

Here's what I'd recommend: 1) Read your severance agreement carefully to see if it mentions anything about wages or notice periods, 2) File for UI benefits as soon as you're eligible, 3) Report the severance income accurately on your weekly claims, 4) Be prepared that your weekly benefit might be reduced during the weeks you receive severance.

I'm dealing with something similar but my severance is a lump sum payment. Does anyone know if that's handled differently than weekly payments?

My brother just went through this and used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. He said it was super easy and the agent he spoke with knew exactly how to handle his severance situation. Saved him a lot of stress trying to figure it out on his own.

This whole thread is making me realize I need to understand this better too. My company has been talking about layoffs and I have no idea what to expect with severance and unemployment.

Update: I decided to use Claimyr to get a definitive answer before signing my severance agreement. The Washington ESD agent explained that since my severance is being paid weekly and is specifically labeled as 'wages in lieu of notice' in my agreement, it will reduce my UI benefits dollar-for-dollar during those 8 weeks. At least now I know what to expect!

For anyone else reading this thread, the key takeaway is that severance doesn't disqualify you from unemployment benefits, but it might affect the amount you receive depending on how it's structured. Always report it accurately on your weekly claims to avoid overpayment issues later.

Glad this thread helped some people! The whole severance and unemployment question is way more common than people realize, especially with all the layoffs happening lately. Having a clear answer makes such a difference when you're already stressed about losing your job.

Just want to add that vacation pay is handled similarly to severance in many cases. If you're getting paid out for unused vacation time, that might also affect your UI benefits depending on how your employer codes it.

The bottom line is that Washington ESD wants to know about all income you receive while claiming benefits. It's always better to over-report than under-report. They can adjust your benefits if needed, but unreported income can lead to serious consequences.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm also facing a potential layoff situation and had no idea that the way severance is structured and labeled in the agreement makes such a big difference. It sounds like the key is really understanding whether it's considered "wages in lieu of notice" versus a true severance payment. I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - it's given me a much better roadmap for navigating this if it happens to me. The advice about filing for UI benefits right away and reporting everything accurately seems crucial.