Can you collect unemployment if you are getting severance pay from Washington ESD?

That makes sense, thanks! Do I report the severance amount on my weekly claim?

Yes, you have to report it as earnings when you file your weekly claim. Be honest about it or you could face an overpayment later.

Did you have any issues with your claim being delayed because of the severance?

Nope, went through smoothly as long as I reported the severance amounts each week on my claim.

Good point about staying in the system. I'll file this week then.

This is exactly right. Plus if your severance is less than your weekly benefit amount, you'll still get some UI money.

I actually discovered this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an Washington ESD agent. They have a system that keeps calling until they connect you. Check out claimyr.com - they even have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

Interesting, I'll check that out. I'm getting desperate trying to reach someone at Washington ESD.

Never heard of that service but if it actually works I might try it too. Been calling for days.

That's correct. If your severance exceeds your weekly benefit amount, your UI payment for that week would be $0. But you should still file your weekly claim to keep your claim active.

ugh that sucks but I guess it makes sense from their perspective

Where can I find this handbook? I want to read the official rules myself.

It's on the Washington ESD website under the claimant handbook section. Really detailed info about all the rules.

Mine is weekly payments, so I'll report it each week as I receive it.

Yeah timing is everything with Washington ESD. They're very specific about when income was received vs when it was earned.

Vacation pay is treated differently than severance. It's usually allocated to the period it would have been taken, not when you receive it. But you should definitely report it and let Washington ESD sort out how it affects your benefits.

Thanks, that's helpful. This is all so confusing.

Yes, you still have to meet the job search requirements and report your work search activities on your weekly claims, even if you're getting severance pay. The requirements don't change based on other income.

Got it, thanks. I've been applying anyway but wanted to make sure I was following the rules correctly.

Exactly! Better to file now and get what you can than to wait and lose out on potential benefits.

Makes sense. I'll start my application tonight.

That sounds like a nightmare. How did you eventually get it resolved?

Had to provide documentation about the severance terms from my employer. Took forever to get through to someone at Washington ESD to explain the situation.

This is another situation where Claimyr could be helpful for getting through to an agent quickly to resolve documentation issues.

Non-compete clauses don't typically affect UI eligibility as long as you're able and available for work in general. But if it significantly limits your job search, it could be an issue. You'd want to discuss this with Washington ESD.

Good to know. I can still work in the industry, just not for direct competitors, so I think I should be fine.

What kind of documentation do you recommend keeping?

Pay stubs, bank statements, the severance agreement itself, and screenshots of your weekly claim submissions. Basically anything that shows when and how much you received.

As long as you keep filing your weekly claims throughout the severance period, there shouldn't be any gaps. The system should automatically adjust your benefit amounts as your other income changes.

That's reassuring, thanks. I was stressed about having to refile or something.

This is so important! I know someone who got hit with a huge overpayment bill because they didn't report their severance correctly.

Exactly. The penalties and interest on overpayments are no joke.

It varies a lot by company and position. I got 4 weeks but I know people who got nothing. At least you got something!

True, I guess I should be grateful for what I got.

Good luck with your claim! Remember to report everything accurately and you should be fine.

Will do! Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences.

I actually tried Claimyr after seeing it mentioned here and it worked great. Got connected to an agent within an hour instead of calling for days on my own.

Might have to give that a try. I've been calling Washington ESD for weeks with no luck.

Same here! This thread probably saved me from missing out on weeks of benefits.

That's exactly why it's important to file right away. You never know what you're eligible for until you apply.

Thanks for sharing your experience! This is really helpful to hear from someone who actually went through it. I was worried about the process being complicated but it sounds like the online portal handles most of the calculations. Going to file my claim tomorrow morning.