Can you draw unemployment if you get a severance package from Washington ESD?

Severance doesn't automatically disqualify you from unemployment in Washington, but the timing matters. If they're paying it as a lump sum vs. continuing your regular paychecks makes a difference. You should still file your claim right away.

I had this same situation last year. Got $5k severance and still qualified for unemployment. The key is being honest about it on your application.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone, you might want to check out Claimyr at claimyr.com. They help people get through to agents faster. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really helpful when you need to clarify these kinds of situations.

SEVERANCE IS NOT THE SAME AS WAGES! Washington ESD knows the difference. Severance is compensation for job loss, not payment for work performed. You should be fine to collect unemployment.

wait does this mean if I got a severance I should have filed for unemployment? I thought I had to wait until the money ran out

Just be prepared for potential delays in processing. My claim went into adjudication when I reported severance, took about 3 weeks to resolve.

The Washington ESD website has info about this but it's buried in their FAQ section. Basically severance doesn't count as wages for unemployment purposes.

My company tried to tell me I couldn't file for unemployment because of severance. Total BS. Filed anyway and got approved.

Question - does the amount of severance matter? Like if it's a huge amount vs. small amount?

Make sure you report the severance correctly on your weekly claims. Don't try to hide it or you'll get in trouble later.

i got severance and unemployment at the same time no problem. washington esd didn't even question it

If you do run into issues with Washington ESD during the process, definitely consider using Claimyr to get through to an agent. Sometimes you need to speak to someone directly to clarify these severance situations.

Pro tip: File your claim online late at night or early morning. The system is less busy and you're more likely to get through without errors.

Don't overthink this. Severance and unemployment serve different purposes. You lost your job, you're eligible for benefits. Period.

My adjudication took forever because I didn't report my severance initially. Be upfront about everything from the start.

The unemployment system is already confusing enough without companies giving bad advice about severance. Glad you asked here first!

One thing to watch out for - if your severance includes continuation of health benefits, that might affect other eligibility. But shouldn't impact unemployment.

UPDATE: For anyone else reading this, I used Claimyr last week to get through to Washington ESD about a different issue. Worked great and saved me hours of calling.

Bottom line - file your unemployment claim as soon as you're laid off, regardless of severance. The worst they can do is say no, and based on everyone's experiences here, they probably won't.