Does Amazon pay unemployment benefits in Washington state?

You're right that unemployment benefits come from Washington ESD, not directly from Amazon. What you might be thinking of is that Amazon (like all employers) pays unemployment taxes to fund the system. When you file for UI, the benefits come from the state fund that employers like Amazon contribute to through their payroll taxes.

Oh that makes more sense! So I would still file with Washington ESD like anyone else?

Exactly - you file through the regular Washington ESD system at esd.wa.gov

i worked at amazon too and got laid off in december. filed my claim right away and it went through fine. amazon doesn't fight unemployment claims usually unless there's misconduct involved

That's good to know! How long did it take for your claim to get approved?

took about 2 weeks but that was during the holidays so might be faster now

Large employers like Amazon typically have their unemployment tax rates calculated based on their layoff history. Amazon actually has a pretty good track record of not contesting legitimate unemployment claims from layoffs. The key is making sure you were laid off and not terminated for cause.

It was definitely a layoff - they eliminated my whole department. Should I mention that specifically when I file?

Yes, be clear about the reason being layoff/reduction in force when you file your initial claim.

Man the Washington ESD phone system is impossible to get through to though. I've been trying to call them for weeks about my claim status and just get busy signals or hung up on after waiting forever.

I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr that calls Washington ESD for you. They have some kind of system that gets through faster than calling yourself. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Really? That actually works? I'm so tired of wasting hours trying to get through.

Yeah it's legit. They basically do all the waiting and calling for you, then connect you when they get an agent on the line.

WAIT A MINUTE - are you sure Amazon doesn't pay unemployment directly? I swear I heard they have some special arrangement because they're so big...

No, that's not how it works. Even the biggest companies in Washington go through the state ESD system for unemployment benefits. What you might be thinking of is that some very large employers are self-insured for workers comp, but unemployment is always through the state.

Oh okay, I must have been confusing it with something else. Thanks for clarifying!

OP, just make sure you have all your Amazon employment info ready when you file - dates of employment, final day worked, reason for separation, etc. Amazon is usually pretty good about responding to Washington ESD requests for wage verification quickly.

Good point, I should get my final paystub and any layoff paperwork together first.

This is confusing me too. If Amazon pays into the unemployment fund, why do some people get denied benefits? Shouldn't it be automatic if you worked there?

The employer paying into the fund doesn't guarantee approval. You still have to meet all the regular Washington ESD eligibility requirements - like being able and available for work, actively seeking work, and not being disqualified for misconduct.

Ah okay, so it's not just about having worked somewhere that pays taxes.

I got laid off from Amazon last year and my claim got stuck in adjudication for like 6 weeks. Turns out they needed to verify some employment dates. Super frustrating but it eventually got resolved.

6 weeks?! That's scary. How did you finally get it resolved?

I actually used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above to get through to an agent who could check on my case. Turned out Amazon had sent the wrong employment start date and it was holding up my claim.

Okay now I'm definitely checking out this Claimyr thing. Sounds like it might actually be worth it.

Just to be super clear for anyone reading this - unemployment benefits in Washington state ALWAYS come from Washington ESD, regardless of where you worked. The employer just pays taxes to fund the system and provides wage information when requested.

Perfect, that's exactly what I needed to understand. Thank you!

btw amazon usually doesn't contest unemployment claims from layoffs but they might if you were fired for attendance or performance issues. just something to keep in mind

Mine was definitely a layoff so I should be good on that front.

update: i just got my first unemployment payment this week! the whole process took about 3 weeks from filing to first payment. not too bad considering

That's encouraging! I'm going to file my claim this weekend.

Nice! How much did you end up getting if you don't mind me asking?

about 60% of what i was making at amazon, which is what i expected

Does anyone know if Amazon seasonal workers are eligible for unemployment when their season ends? Or is that considered a temporary job ending?

Seasonal workers can potentially qualify if they meet the wage requirements and are available for other work. The key is whether they're truly available for non-seasonal work or if they plan to return to seasonal work.

That makes sense. I guess it depends on your specific situation.

The whole system is so confusing. I wish there was just one clear place that explained everything about filing unemployment after working at big companies like Amazon.

The Washington ESD website actually has pretty good info, but I know it can be overwhelming to navigate all the different sections.

Yeah I tried looking there but got lost in all the different pages and forms.

I think part of the confusion comes from people mixing up unemployment insurance (UI) with other benefits. Amazon definitely provides good health insurance and PTO, but unemployment benefits are a state program.

That's probably where some of the confusion comes from - thinking about all the different benefits together.

Pro tip: when you file your Washington ESD claim, make sure you have your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment information for the last 18 months ready. Amazon should be easy since they have good record keeping.

Good advice! I'll make sure to gather all that before I start the application.

This thread has been super helpful! I was confused about the same thing. Glad to know it's just the regular Washington ESD process regardless of employer size.

Same here! Everyone's responses really cleared things up for me.

One more thing - don't wait to file if you're eligible. The sooner you file after your last day of work, the sooner your claim can be processed and you can start receiving benefits.

Definitely filing this weekend then. Thanks everyone for all the helpful info!

Glad this thread helped clear things up! And if anyone runs into issues getting through to Washington ESD by phone during the process, definitely check out that Claimyr service I mentioned. It's been a lifesaver for actually talking to real people at ESD when you need help.

Seconding this - Claimyr really does work for getting through to ESD agents when you need to talk to someone.

I might need to try this too. I've been trying to call ESD for days about my job search requirements and can't get through.

Thanks for asking this question OP! I was wondering the same thing about my situation with a different large employer. Good to know the process is the same regardless of company size.

You're welcome! This community has been so helpful in explaining everything.

Just wanted to add that if you worked at Amazon for 8 months, you should definitely meet the minimum earnings requirements for Washington unemployment. Amazon pays well above minimum wage so your base year earnings should qualify you easily. The main thing is just making sure you file accurately and have all your employment dates correct. Good luck with your claim!