Can you collect unemployment if you have vacation time in Washington ESD?

So should I wait until after I get all my vacation pay to file my initial claim? Or file now and just report it week by week?

File your claim right away! You want to get the process started. Just make sure to report the vacation pay accurately on each weekly claim when you receive it.

Did it delay your benefits at all? I'm worried about how long the whole process takes.

It didn't delay my claim processing, but I didn't get any UI payments for the weeks I received vacation pay. Once that ended, my regular benefits kicked in.

Have you tried using Claimyr? It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. I used it last month when I couldn't reach anyone about my adjudication issue. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Never heard of that before. Is it legit? I'm desperate at this point because I really need to talk to someone about my specific situation.

Yeah it's real. They basically handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent picks up. Saved me hours of frustration.

This is exactly right. I work in HR and deal with this all the time. The vacation pay gets prorated across the weeks it covers, so if you get a lump sum, Washington ESD will spread it out.

Wait, so if I get all my vacation pay in one check, they spread it out over multiple weeks? That seems weird.

Yes, they calculate it based on your normal work schedule. So if you worked 40 hours a week and get 80 hours of vacation pay, they'll count it as wages for 2 weeks.

Don't be scared! It's better to file and report everything honestly than to wait. The worst thing that happens is they adjust your payments, but you won't get in trouble for reporting vacation pay.

ok thanks that makes me feel better. gonna try to file this weekend

Sick leave payout is treated differently than vacation pay. Generally, sick leave isn't considered wages for unemployment purposes unless you were able to work when you received it. You should definitely clarify this with Washington ESD though.

Thanks! I'll make sure to ask about that when I file my claim.

Good point! I'll make sure to save all my pay stubs and any paperwork from HR about the vacation payout.

Yes! I learned this the hard way. They asked me for proof of vacation pay 6 months after I filed and I had to scramble to find all the documentation.

That's what I was worried about! I didn't want to miss any filing deadlines or anything like that.

Exactly. The benefit year starts when you file, so delaying your filing just pushes everything back unnecessarily.

Did you ever have any issues with adjudication because of the vacation pay?

Nope, no adjudication issues. As long as you report it correctly on your weekly claims, it shouldn't cause any problems with your eligibility.

Oh wow, I wouldn't have thought of that. So even if I know I won't get benefits that week because of vacation pay, I should still file?

Yes! Always file your weekly claim, even if you expect zero benefits. It keeps your claim active and prevents gaps that could cause problems later.

Good question! The waiting week is separate from vacation pay issues. You'll still have to serve your waiting week, but it doesn't have to be the first week you file. It's just the first week you would have been eligible for benefits.

So if I don't get benefits for 3 weeks due to vacation pay, then week 4 would be my waiting week, and I'd start getting paid in week 5?

Exactly! The waiting week is the first week you're otherwise eligible for benefits, not necessarily the first week you file.

6 hours?! That's insane. I wonder if that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier would have saved you all that time.

Probably! I wish I had known about it then. I'll definitely keep it in mind if I need to call Washington ESD again.

True, but it can be frustrating when you're expecting unemployment benefits and then realize you won't get them for several weeks.

Yeah, I get that. I guess the important thing is knowing what to expect so you can plan accordingly.

My employer said they're paying it out over 3 weeks, so I guess I'll report it as I receive each payment?

Yes, report it as you actually receive it. Don't try to average it out or anything like that - just report the actual amounts on the weeks you get paid.

This is good advice, but honestly, trying to reach Washington ESD by phone is like winning the lottery. I've had better luck using services like Claimyr to actually get through to someone.

Fair point. Whatever method works to get accurate information is probably worth it.

Severance pay is a bit different than vacation pay. It depends on how it's structured and when you receive it. You should definitely get clarification from Washington ESD about your specific severance arrangement.

Thanks, I'll make sure to ask about that when I file my claim.

Thanks everyone! This has been super helpful. I feel much more confident about filing my claim now.

Good luck! The unemployment process can be stressful but at least you'll have some income from vacation pay while you're job hunting.

This is excellent advice! I never would have thought to save screenshots of my weekly claims, but that could really save you if there's ever a dispute. The Washington ESD system definitely has its quirks, so having that paper trail seems really smart. Thanks for sharing this tip!