Can you collect unemployment after severance pay runs out in Washington?

Oh that's good to know! So I should file now even though I'm getting severance?

Yes, definitely file now. Washington ESD considers severance as wages in lieu of notice, so they'll calculate when your last effective work day was and start benefits after that.

What happens if you don't report the severance correctly? I'm paranoid about making mistakes on my claim.

If you underreport or don't report severance, Washington ESD will eventually find out through wage records and you could face an overpayment situation. Better to be honest upfront.

That's reassuring to hear! Did you have any trouble getting through to Washington ESD to confirm everything was set up correctly?

Actually yes, I couldn't get through on the phone for weeks. Eventually used this service called Claimyr that helped me reach an agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

How does that service work exactly? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for days with no luck.

Mine is a lump sum payment. Does that make it easier?

Yes, lump sum is actually cleaner. Washington ESD will divide it by your weekly salary to determine how many weeks of waiting period you have.

During your severance waiting period, you'll still need to file your weekly claims to keep your claim active, but you won't receive payments until the waiting period ends.

ok that makes sense i guess. just keep filing even though no money comes in?

You're required to be able and available for work and actively seeking employment from the day you file your claim, even during the severance waiting period.

Good to know. I was hoping to take a little break before jumping back into job hunting.

Yeah the job search requirement starts immediately. You need to log your job search activities in WorkSourceWA from day one.

That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier. They basically get you connected to an actual Washington ESD agent without the endless hold times. Worth trying if you're stuck.

I'll check that out, thanks. At this point I'll try anything to get through to someone who can explain my specific situation.

Oh no, I do have accrued vacation being paid out too. How do I calculate that?

Add your vacation payout to your severance total, then divide by your weekly wage. That gives you the total number of weeks you'll be in waiting status.

I agree the system is frustrating, but the rules around severance actually make sense. They don't want people double-dipping on wages and unemployment at the same time.

I get that, but they could at least make the information easier to find and understand.

What kind of documentation do they usually want?

Your termination letter showing severance details, pay stubs, and any HR documents explaining the severance package terms.

COBRA payments don't count as wages for unemployment purposes, so they won't extend your waiting period. Only actual wage replacement counts.

oh good thats one less thing to worry about thanks

Yeah that's what I was worried about. Filing this week for sure.

Same thing happened to my brother. The clock starts ticking on your benefit year whether you file immediately or not.

No, severance isn't included in the base period wages used to calculate your weekly benefit amount. Only regular wages from your base period quarters count for that calculation.

That's a relief. I was worried it might inflate my benefit calculation somehow.

Really? I've been trying to call for three weeks. How much does that service cost?

They don't charge upfront - you just pay after they successfully connect you. Way better than wasting hours on hold every day.

Good point. I'll have all my severance paperwork ready when I file online.

And if you're not sure about any part of it, better to call and ask rather than guess. Wrong information can really mess up your claim.

This is an important distinction. I was worried I wouldn't be eligible at all because of the severance.

Nope, you're still fully eligible. The severance just acts like you're still employed during that period, then your benefits kick in normally.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info. Going to file my claim this week and get everything started.