Does my previous employer pay unemployment benefits in Washington ESD system?

Oh that makes sense! So they're not writing a check specifically for my benefits then?

Exactly right - it's more like insurance premiums that employers pay in advance.

Wait, so me filing for unemployment could make their taxes go up? Should I feel bad about that?

Don't feel bad at all! That's literally what unemployment insurance is for. Employers know this is part of doing business and they budget for it.

exactly what @1 said. you paid into this system through your work too so dont worry about it

ugh tell me about it! I've been trying to reach them for weeks about my claim status. The phone lines are always busy or I get hung up on.

I actually found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to Washington ESD agents. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made calling so much easier for me.

Interesting, I'll have to look into that. Getting through to Washington ESD is such a nightmare.

This is really helpful info! I always wondered why some employers seem to fight unemployment claims so hard.

Exactly - they fight claims because each approved claim can potentially raise their future tax rates. It's a financial incentive for them to challenge claims even when they're legitimate.

That's awful! How did you prove you were fired and didn't quit?

I had to get witness statements from coworkers and show text messages. the whole process was stressful but worth it

This is why it's so important to document everything when you're let go. Save emails, texts, anything that shows what really happened.

Yeah my manager was definitely acting weird when they laid me off. Now I'm wondering if there's more to it.

Just make sure you're honest on your Washington ESD application about exactly what happened. They'll investigate if your employer disputes it.

Good question! You're probably seeing deductions for state disability insurance or other programs. In Washington, only employers pay unemployment insurance taxes - employees don't have UI deducted from their paychecks.

Ohhhh that makes sense. I was looking at the wrong line item. Thanks for clearing that up!

That's really interesting to hear from the employer side. Do you contest claims often?

We only contest when there's a legitimate reason - like if someone was fired for misconduct or actually quit. But for layoffs or business closures, we don't fight it.

Wish all employers were that reasonable. Mine contested my claim even though they eliminated my entire department.

There are caps on how high the experience rating can go, but mass layoffs definitely impact employers' future tax rates significantly. That's part of why there are additional programs for plant closures and mass layoffs.

I was part of a plant closure and Washington ESD had special programs for us. We got extra job search assistance and extended benefits in some cases.

Definitely file! You earned those benefits through your work history. The sooner you file, the sooner you can start receiving payments. Don't let guilt stop you from getting benefits you're entitled to.

And if you have trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask questions, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really helped me. Much easier than trying to call on your own.

Thanks everyone. I'm going to file my claim today.

Good to know! I haven't started my weekly claims yet but I'll make sure to stay on top of them.

Yeah the weekly claims are super important. Washington ESD is really strict about that - miss even one week and you have to explain why.

That's a really good way to think about it. Makes me feel less guilty about filing my claim.

Exactly! You wouldn't feel bad about using car insurance after an accident, right? Same principle here.