How does severance pay affect Washington ESD unemployment benefits - confused about timing

That's a relief! So I should report the severance on my weekly claims but it won't reduce my benefits?

Exactly. Report it but it shouldn't affect your benefit amount. Washington ESD treats severance differently than regular wages.

That's a common misconception. Severance pay is specifically excluded from affecting Washington ESD benefits as long as it's truly severance and not payment in lieu of notice or continuation of salary.

Good to know! I should probably file my claim then instead of waiting.

How did you manage to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD? I've been trying to call for days and keep getting disconnected.

Oh man, that was a nightmare. I probably called 100 times before getting through. There's actually this service called Claimyr that helped me get connected faster - you can check it out at claimyr.com. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Never heard of that service but anything that helps with Washington ESD phone system sounds useful. Those wait times are brutal.

How do I know which one mine is? The paperwork just says 'severance package' but doesn't specify.

Check if it mentions anything about 'payment in lieu of notice' or if it's tied to a specific notice period. If it's just a lump sum based on years of service or company policy, it's likely true severance.

Good point. Also look at how it's being paid out - if it matches your regular pay schedule, it might be payment in lieu of notice.

The information is actually on their website under the 'Deductible Income' section, but it's buried pretty deep and written in bureaucratic language that's hard to understand.

yeah exactly... who has time to dig through all that legal jargon when you just lost your job

Good for you! I'm going to file mine today too after reading all this.

Smart move. The sooner you file, the sooner your benefit year starts, even if there are any delays in processing.

Mine includes COBRA coverage for 3 months. Do I need to report that as income?

COBRA coverage itself isn't income, but if your employer is paying for it as part of your severance package, that payment might need to be reported. I'd call Washington ESD to clarify.

Yeah, calling can be tough though. That Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really helped me get through when I had questions like this.

Ouch, that's expensive! Were you able to get any of those benefits back?

Nope, you can't backdate unemployment claims in Washington. Once you miss that window, it's gone. That's why I always tell people to file immediately now.

Exactly right. Washington ESD allows you to correct mistakes or provide additional information, but they won't backdate benefits to before your filing date.

This thread has been so helpful. I feel much more confident about my situation now.

For unemployment purposes, no. What matters is that it's truly severance pay rather than wages. The payment schedule doesn't change how Washington ESD treats it.

thanks! mine is being spread over 4 months so was worried about that

How long did it take for your claim to get approved?

About 10 days from filing to first payment. Pretty standard processing time for a straightforward claim.

What should I look for on my pay stub?

It should be clearly marked as severance pay, not regular wages. If it's coded wrong, contact your HR department to get it corrected before you file your unemployment claim.

I hear you, but once you understand the basics it's not too bad. The severance rule is actually pretty straightforward - it just doesn't get explained well.

i suppose... still wish it was simpler though

That's exactly what I needed to hear. Thanks for sharing your experience!

No problem! This community helped me when I was stressed about the same thing.

Good point. I'll make sure to report everything accurately.

Yes, always report but don't stress about it affecting your benefits if it's true severance pay.

Same boat here. It's an expensive lesson but hopefully our mistakes help other people avoid the same problem.

exactly why i try to share this info whenever i see these posts

Yeah, that's where Claimyr really came in handy for me. Saved me hours of redialing and actually got me connected to someone who could answer my questions.

I'll have to check that out if I ever need to call them again. The phone system is definitely their weak point.

Mine is being paid out monthly, so I should report each payment in the week I receive it?

Exactly! Report each payment when you actually receive it, not when it was originally allocated or anything like that.

Thanks everyone! This thread gave me the confidence to file right away. Really appreciate all the advice and shared experiences.

Glad we could help! That's what this community is for - helping each other navigate these confusing systems.