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

It's being paid out over 4 months, so $2,000 per month. Does that make a difference?

That payment schedule could be treated as deductible income depending on how your employer codes it. You'll want to get clarification from HR about whether it represents payment for specific work weeks.

Did you have to do anything special when filing your claim to explain the severance situation?

Yeah, I had to provide documentation from my employer explaining the severance terms. The adjudication process was longer because they had to determine if it affected my weekly benefit amount.

Is that service legit? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks about my own severance question.

Yeah, it worked for me. Way better than spending hours on hold or getting disconnected. They handle the calling process and connect you when an agent is available.

This is exactly what happened to me. My severance was considered a 'dismissal payment' and didn't affect my UI at all.

How do I make sure Washington ESD understands it's true severance and not payment in lieu of notice?

You'll need documentation from your employer clearly stating the nature of the payment. The separation notice they send to ESD should specify this.

I get the frustration, but it's actually pretty straightforward once you understand the basic rule: if the severance is for past work or general dismissal, you're usually good to go.

I guess... I just wish they made this clearer on their website instead of having to dig through handbooks.

Perfect! That should make your claim process much smoother. You'll still need to report the severance payments on your weekly claims, but they shouldn't reduce your benefits.

Glad you got clarification! Having that documentation from HR will definitely help if any questions come up during processing.

The amount doesn't disqualify you, but if it's structured as payment for future weeks of work, it could delay your benefits for however many weeks that represents.

It's a lump sum, not weekly payments. Sounds like I should be okay then?

Most likely, yes. Just make sure you report it accurately when filing your claim and have documentation about its nature.

If you're still stuck in adjudication, definitely consider using Claimyr to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD. Sometimes these issues need direct agent contact to resolve.

Thanks, I'll check that out. Getting pretty desperate to resolve this.

That's reassuring! Did you have to do anything special during your weekly claims process?

Just reported the severance payments accurately each week. Washington ESD didn't reduce my benefits since it was classified as dismissal pay, not wages.

Not all income is treated the same. Severance payments that aren't tied to specific work weeks are often not deductible. Work wages, on the other hand, definitely affect your weekly benefit amount.

Good to know! I've been avoiding applying for benefits because I thought my severance would disqualify me completely.

Absolutely planning to be transparent about everything. Better to deal with any delays than risk disqualification.

This is why the system is so scary though - you never know if you're doing something wrong.

Smart to research this ahead of time. Make sure you get clear documentation about any severance package before you actually need to file for benefits.

Will do. Sounds like the key is having HR specify exactly what type of payment it is.

That's exactly right. The issue isn't receiving both - it's whether the severance represents payment for future work weeks or just a dismissal benefit.

Makes sense. Thanks for clarifying the distinction.

You should be fine with what you've described. Good luck with the job search!

Hope your claim processes smoothly. Feel free to update us on how it goes!

Even if you already accepted it, you can still apply for benefits. Just be prepared to explain the severance terms during the application process.

Good point. I'll gather my paperwork and give it a shot.

I keep seeing Claimyr mentioned. Is it worth it for basic questions or mainly for complex situations?

I'd say it's most valuable when you have specific questions that generic website info can't answer, like severance impact on your particular situation.

Yeah, there are definitely more exceptions and special cases than most people realize. The key is understanding the logic behind the rules.

Makes sense. Better to be informed ahead of time than scrambling to figure it out when you actually need benefits.

Yes, that can make a big difference. Salary continuation might be treated as wages for specific weeks, while a lump sum dismissal payment typically isn't deductible from benefits.

Good to know. I'll make sure to clarify that with my employer if I'm ever in this situation.

Definitely apply! Worst case scenario, they'll clarify any issues during processing. You might be missing out on benefits you're entitled to.

You're right. I'll file this week and see what happens.

How long did it take for them to connect you with an agent?

Way faster than calling myself. They handled all the waiting and just called me back when someone was available. Saved me hours of frustration.