Can you get severance and unemployment benefits in Washington - confused about eligibility

Do I report it all at once or spread it out over the weeks it would have covered?

Report the full amount when you receive it. Washington ESD will calculate how it affects your benefits based on their formula.

That's risky - if you reported incorrectly you could face an overpayment demand later. Better to get proper guidance upfront.

Yeah I know, I was just desperate to get some income coming in. Luckily it worked out okay but you're right.

I had similar issues reaching Washington ESD by phone until I found Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to actual agents instead of waiting on hold for hours. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

How do I know which category mine falls into? The HR paperwork just says 'severance package'.

Look at the specific language in your severance agreement. Does it mention covering a specific time period or is it just a lump sum separation benefit? That distinction matters to Washington ESD.

Definitely not planning to hide it, just want to make sure I report it correctly the first time.

Good call. The overpayment notices are no joke and they charge interest too.

So if my severance equals 4 weeks of pay, I won't get any UI benefits for 4 weeks?

Not necessarily eliminated entirely, but significantly reduced. It depends on your weekly benefit amount versus the prorated severance amount per week.

This is exactly why I needed to talk to someone at Washington ESD directly when I had severance questions. Used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and got through in like 10 minutes instead of calling all day.

Vacation pay is usually considered wages for services already performed, so it often delays your claim start date rather than reducing weekly benefits.

Wish I had known that distinction earlier. The whole system is unnecessarily complicated.

Mine would be paid about a week after my last day. Does that help or hurt?

Usually better because it's clearly separation pay rather than wages. But definitely confirm this with Washington ESD when you file your claim.

Yes, ongoing severance payments are treated as wages and will likely make you ineligible for UI benefits during the period you're receiving them.

That's what I was afraid of. Might need to negotiate for a lump sum instead.

Good point. I'll make sure to get a detailed breakdown from HR.

also keep records of when you actually receive the money not just when its promised

That's exactly why services like Claimyr exist. Sometimes you just need to talk to an actual person who knows the current rules instead of guessing from outdated website info.

Yeah, I should have done that from the start. Would have saved me a lot of stress.

What's the earnings disregard amount in Washington?

Currently it's the greater of $5 or 25% of your weekly benefit amount. So if your weekly benefit is $400, you can earn up to $100 before it affects your benefits.

True, $8000 is $8000 even if it delays my unemployment for a bit.

Exactly. And unemployment benefits extend your total benefit year anyway, so you're not really losing weeks.

Good catch. I think they're continuing my health coverage for 2 months as part of the package.

The health insurance continuation usually doesn't affect UI benefits, but report it anyway to be safe.

Non-competes shouldn't directly affect UI eligibility in Washington, but they might impact your job search requirements. You'll still need to be actively seeking work.

That makes sense. I can still apply for jobs outside my restricted industry.

That's reassuring. I was worried they'd just deny my claim if I mentioned the severance.

No, they expect people to receive severance. It's a normal part of layoffs. They just need accurate information to calculate your benefits properly.

You can definitely appeal if you think there's an error. You have 30 days from the determination notice to file an appeal. Just make sure you have documentation to support your position.

I have all the paperwork from my employer. Might be worth a shot.

Thanks everyone. This has been really helpful. I feel much more confident about handling this properly now.

good luck with everything! unemployment sucks but at least youll have some extra cushion with the severance

Will do. Better to over-communicate than under-communicate with these things.

Exactly right. Transparency is always the best policy with unemployment claims.

Is it expensive? I'm already tight on money with the layoff coming.

Much cheaper than the time and stress of calling Washington ESD dozens of times. Plus if you get incorrect information by guessing, it could cost you way more in overpayments later.

Definitely. I'm going to bookmark this thread for reference when I actually file my claim.

same here, wish this info was easier to find on the official washington esd website

@Amy Fleming The same proration method applies regardless of the severance amount - I had a $15,000 package last year and Washington ESD handled it the same way everyone else described. They divided it by my weekly gross wages which worked out to about 6 weeks of coverage. During those weeks I still got partial UI benefits, just reduced by the weekly severance portion. The larger amount doesn t'change the calculation method, just means it might be spread over more weeks. Definitely report it upfront like others said - I learned that lesson the hard way when I delayed reporting mine initially. The phone system is frustrating but stick with it or try that Claimyr service people mentioned. You ll'definitely come out ahead taking both the severance and UI benefits even with the temporary reduction.