Does military retirement pay affect Washington ESD unemployment benefits eligibility?

That's a relief to hear! So I should be able to file my initial claim without any issues then?

Yes, but make sure to report it accurately on your application. They'll ask about other income sources during the filing process.

Did you have any trouble getting through to talk to someone at Washington ESD? I'm trying to call but keep getting busy signals.

Oh man, calling Washington ESD is a nightmare. I must have tried 200+ times before getting through. Took me weeks to get answers.

Have you tried using Claimyr? I found it through this video demo https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ and it actually got me connected to a Washington ESD agent in under 10 minutes. Way better than spending hours redialing.

Not all income is the same. Work wages get deducted from your weekly benefit amount, but pensions and retirement pay don't. There's a big difference between earned income and pension income.

Oh okay that makes sense. So it's only if you're working part-time or something that they reduce your benefits?

Exactly. If you work and earn wages while collecting unemployment, those wages can reduce your weekly benefit. But military retirement, social security, or other pensions don't count the same way.

The confusion comes from people mixing up different types of income. Military retirement pay is specifically excluded from the calculation of unemployment benefits in Washington state.

Where can I find that in writing? I want to make sure I'm giving my brother correct information.

I totally agree! The website has so much information but it's hard to find specific answers to these kinds of questions.

exactly! and good luck calling them to ask... I've tried like 50 times this week

Thank you for the clarification! Do you know if there's a specific RCW section that covers this?

It's covered under RCW 50.20.050 which deals with disqualifying income. Military retirement pensions are specifically excluded from the definition of disqualifying income.

This is exactly what the Washington ESD agent told me when I finally got through to them. Wish I had found this information sooner!

Is it expensive? I'm already stressed about money since I lost my job.

It's totally reasonable for what you get. Way better than losing days of work trying to call on your own. The peace of mind is worth it.

I might try this too. I've been trying to call about my adjudication for weeks with no luck.

You report it on your initial application and then it's in your file. You don't need to report it again on weekly claims since it's not changing and it's not earned income from work.

Got it, thanks! That makes the weekly filing process easier.

Correct. The amount doesn't matter - whether it's $500/month or $5000/month, military retirement pay is treated the same way under Washington unemployment law.

Awesome, that's really good to know. I was worried I might not qualify because my retirement pay is pretty decent.

Good point! So it's really about whether the income is from current work vs. past service.

Exactly! Current work earnings get deducted, but past service pensions don't.

Yeah, this thread has been really reassuring. I'm going to file my claim this weekend now that I know it won't be an issue.

Same here. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

Perfect summary! This should be pinned somewhere for other veterans to find.

Seriously, this thread answered more questions than the entire Washington ESD website!

VA disability is also generally not counted as disqualifying income, but that's a separate category from military retirement pay. Both are usually fine but always good to double-check.

Thanks! I get both so wanted to make sure I understood correctly.

Glad it worked for you too! It's been a game-changer for actually getting through to Washington ESD when you need real answers.

Okay you guys have convinced me. Going to try Claimyr tomorrow for my adjudication question.

Great to hear! The hardest part is usually just getting accurate information upfront.

Awesome! I'm filing mine this weekend. Thanks for the update.

Good reminder! I've been tracking my applications in a spreadsheet since I started my job search.

Smart approach. Washington ESD can ask for proof of your job search activities so it's good to stay organized.

Welcome to the thread! I'm so glad this discussion has been helpful for you. It's really frustrating how unclear the official resources can be about these specific situations. Your 22 years of Army service definitely qualifies you for retirement benefits that won't interfere with your unemployment claim. Good luck with your tech job search - the market is tough right now but having that steady retirement income should help reduce some of the financial stress while you're looking. Let us know if you run into any issues when filing!

Absolutely agree! This thread has been a lifesaver. I went through the same anxiety when I first got laid off - you'd think after serving our country for decades, the benefits process would be more straightforward. The tech job market is definitely challenging right now, but at least we don't have to worry about our military retirement affecting our UI eligibility. Make sure to mention your military experience and any security clearances you have when applying for tech positions - a lot of defense contractors and government agencies value that background. Best of luck with your claim and job search!

Thank you for serving! I completely understand that anxiety - I went through the exact same worry when I first got laid off. This community has been amazing for getting real answers that you just can't find on the official websites. The tech sector has been brutal lately, but having that military retirement as a safety net definitely helps with peace of mind during the job search. Make sure when you file your claim to be thorough about reporting your retirement pay upfront - it shows transparency and there won't be any surprises later. Also, if you need to actually speak with someone at Washington ESD (which you probably will at some point), definitely check out that Claimyr service others mentioned - it's been a real game changer for getting through their phone system. Keep us posted on how your filing goes!

That's really helpful to know about the dropdown menu option! It sounds like Washington ESD has definitely streamlined the process for military retirees, which is great to hear. I was wondering if there would be confusion during the application process, but having a specific selection for military retirement pay shows they understand this is a common situation. Thanks for sharing your experience - it's reassuring to know the actual filing process went smoothly for you. I'm feeling much more confident about moving forward with my claim now!

Welcome and thank you for your service! It's so great to see another Marine finding this thread helpful. I totally understand that hesitation - the whole system can feel really intimidating when you're not sure how different types of income will be treated. But you're absolutely right that Washington state seems to have figured this out pretty well for military retirees. That weekend filing plan sounds perfect - you'll have more time to go through the application carefully without rushing. And honestly, once you get through the initial filing, the weekly claims are pretty straightforward. Make sure to have all your employment information handy from your civilian job when you file. Good luck with everything, and definitely let us know how it goes!

Thank you so much for your 24 years of Coast Guard service! I'm really glad this thread could help ease your worries - I know exactly how stressful it is when you're trying to figure out these systems while already dealing with job loss. Your maritime background combined with military experience should be a real asset in your job search. It's wonderful to see how this discussion has grown into such a supportive resource for military retirees. The fact that you mentioned the specific RCW statute really shows how thorough this community has been in providing actual legal backing for the information. Best of luck with filing your claim tomorrow - you've got all the knowledge you need now, and that $2,400/month retirement pay will stay completely separate from your unemployment benefits. Keep us posted on how the process goes!

Thank you for sharing such detailed and reassuring information! Your experience as a 26-year Air Force veteran really validates everything we've been discussing here. It's incredibly helpful to hear from someone who actually went through the process with a similar retirement pay amount and had no issues whatsoever. The tip about having all documentation ready beforehand is excellent - I'll make sure to gather my DD214 and LES statements before filing. It's so reassuring to know that both our military retirement and civilian unemployment benefits are completely separate entitlements that we've rightfully earned. This thread has truly become an invaluable resource for our veteran community, and your real-world confirmation gives me complete confidence to move forward with my claim. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience and encourage others!

Thank you for your 20 years of Navy service! I'm so glad this thread has been helpful for you too. It really is amazing how much more clarity we've gotten from sharing real experiences compared to trying to decode official resources. Your plan to file this week sounds perfect - you've got all the information you need now and can feel confident that your military retirement won't interfere with your unemployment benefits at all. It's been incredible to see how this discussion has grown into such a comprehensive resource for our veteran community. The fact that we've all been able to support each other through these confusing bureaucratic processes really shows the value of peer-to-peer knowledge sharing. Best of luck with your filing and job search - you've definitely earned both your retirement benefits and unemployment eligibility!