Can you get Washington ESD unemployment with severance pay?

So I should wait until the severance period ends to file my initial claim? Or file now and just report the severance on my weekly claims?

You can file your initial claim right away to get the process started. The waiting period and benefit year start immediately. Just report the severance on your weekly claims during those weeks - you won't get benefits for those specific weeks but your claim stays active.

That's really helpful! Did you have any issues with Washington ESD understanding the severance situation, or was it pretty straightforward?

It was straightforward once I got through to someone to explain it. The hard part was actually reaching Washington ESD by phone to clarify how to report it properly. I ended up using Claimyr.com to get through - they have this system that calls for you and connects you when an agent picks up. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

No, severance doesn't disqualify you from unemployment. It just affects the timing of when you receive benefits. Think of severance as delayed wages from your previous job, not as current employment.

ok that makes sense. my company is doing layoffs next month and i was worried about losing out on benefits

Mine is definitely weekly payments through regular payroll. Should I mention in my initial application that I'm receiving severance, or just wait until the weekly claims?

Mention it in your initial application if there's a spot for it, but definitely report it on each weekly claim where you receive it. Be completely transparent - Washington ESD can verify employment records and you don't want any overpayment issues later.

Oh interesting, so you still have to do job searches during the severance period? I wasn't sure about that part.

Yeah, you have to stay in compliance with all the requirements to keep your claim active. It's annoying but I guess it makes sense since the benefit year has started.

That's correct - the job search requirement stays in effect. I think it's 3 job search activities per week in Washington. Keep good records because they do audits.

Good point! I do have a 90-day non-compete. I should probably check with a lawyer about how that affects the job search requirement.

Non-competes usually don't prevent you from SEARCHING for jobs, just from accepting certain positions. But definitely worth clarifying with your severance agreement.

How long did it take you to get through to someone at Washington ESD? I keep seeing people complain about the phone system.

Oh it was brutal - spent hours calling. Finally someone told me about Claimyr which basically calls for you and gets you connected to an agent. Saved me so much time and frustration. Worth checking out if you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD.

How would I know if they coded it wrong? And what should it say for a layoff with severance?

It should show as 'lack of work' or 'layoff' - definitely not 'quit' or 'terminated for cause'. You can see this in your online account once your claim is processed. If it's wrong, you'll need to appeal and provide documentation.

True, the job market is pretty competitive right now. Better to start early. Thanks for all the advice everyone - this has been really helpful.

Good luck! The severance + unemployment combo actually gives you a little breathing room to find something good instead of taking the first offer.

Yeah they're withholding all the normal taxes - FICA, state, federal. So sounds like it's treated as regular wages.

Exactly. That makes it straightforward for Washington ESD purposes. Just report it week by week as you receive it.

That makes sense. So there's no downside to filing early, just delayed benefits during the severance period?

Correct. Filing early also means if there are any issues with your claim that need adjudication, that process can start while you're still getting severance pay.

This is really good advice. Adjudication can take weeks sometimes, so starting early helps avoid gaps in income.

Your benefit amount is calculated based on your wages from before you were laid off, not affected by the severance. So you get the full calculated benefit amount once the severance period ends.

Thanks! I was worried the severance might somehow reduce the benefit calculation.

I keep seeing Claimyr mentioned. Is it worth the cost?

For me it was definitely worth it because I needed answers quickly and couldn't spend all day calling. It's way less stressful than the regular phone system.

Good point. I should read through the fine print more carefully. I know there's something about returning equipment and non-disclosure but I should check for employment restrictions.

Yeah definitely read it carefully. Some companies also require you to be available for consulting during the severance period, which could affect your availability for new work.

That's reassuring to hear. Did you have any issues with the transition from severance to receiving benefits?

No issues at all. The benefits started automatically the week after my severance ended. Just make sure you keep filing your weekly claims during the severance period even though you're not getting paid.

Great advice. I'll set up a folder for all the unemployment related documents. Thanks everyone for all the help!

You're welcome! Feel free to post again if you run into any issues during the process.