Does Washington ESD take out child support from unemployment benefits automatically?

That's a relief! Do you know if it happens automatically or if I need to contact someone to set it up?

It should happen automatically if your employer was already withholding support. The system is supposed to track your SSN across different income sources.

Good to know there might be a delay. Did you have to make separate payments during those first few weeks?

I called DCS to let them know about the job loss and they worked with me on the timing. Better to be proactive than let it go.

Thanks for the suggestion! I'll definitely look into that if I can't get through on my own.

Never heard of Claimyr before but sounds like it could be helpful. The ESD phone lines are always busy.

That makes sense. I hadn't thought about how the percentage would work with a lower benefit amount.

Yeah, it's usually a percentage of income so it should adjust automatically. But double check your court order to be sure.

Absolutely, I have no intention of trying to dodge my responsibilities. Just wanted to make sure everything would continue smoothly.

Smart approach. Being upfront about changes in your employment status usually works in your favor.

That's exactly what I want to avoid. How long did it take to resolve once you got them talking to each other?

About two weeks once I got the right people on the phone. The hard part was actually reaching someone who could help.

This is exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier - situations like this where you need to actually talk to an ESD representative instead of just using the website.

Good advice. I'll make sure to monitor my account closely once I start receiving benefits.

Yes! I caught an error in my deductions by checking my account weekly. Saved me from a bigger headache later.

Both can be withheld from UI benefits. If you owe back support, they'll typically take the current amount plus something toward the arrears.

Yeah, they can take up to 50% of your unemployment for child support including back payments, but there are federal limits.

Good point. I just moved recently so I'll double check that both agencies have my current address.

Online account updates are usually faster than calling for address changes, just FYI.

That's tough. Have you been able to contact DCS to explain the situation?

Tried calling but keep getting put on hold for hours. Might try that Claimyr service someone mentioned to get through to ESD first.

Definitely worth trying Claimyr if you're stuck. Sometimes getting your UI claim moving is the first step to getting everything else back on track.

That's smart. I'll make sure to download and save all my payment statements.

Screenshot everything! Paper trails are your friend when dealing with government agencies.

No, you don't report the child support withholding when filing your weekly claims. That's handled automatically by the system.

Good to know! One less thing to worry about when filing my weekly claims.

Glad the thread was helpful! Seems like the key is just making sure both agencies are communicating properly.

Yeah, and being proactive about staying in touch if anything seems off with the payments.

That's something I hadn't considered. How long does that process usually take?

It varies by case, but you'd need to petition the court. Might be worth consulting with a family law attorney if unemployment drags on for several months.