How does severance pay affect unemployment benefits in Washington ESD?

That's a relief! So I don't have to wait the full 8 weeks to start my claim?

Nope, file as soon as you can. The key is that you're unemployed and actively seeking work, regardless of the severance.

You do have to report severance pay on your weekly claims, but it typically doesn't reduce your unemployment benefits in Washington. It's different from regular wages or vacation payouts.

I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr - it's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com, they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. I was skeptical at first but it actually got me connected to someone who could answer my severance questions.

The guidelines are actually pretty clear - severance pay doesn't disqualify you from benefits. The confusion usually comes from mixing up severance with other types of separation pay.

This is super helpful, thank you! Do I need any special documentation from my employer about the severance?

It's good to have your severance agreement handy in case Washington ESD has questions, but you don't need to submit it with your initial claim.

Oh no, that's exactly what I was worried about! Good thing I asked here first.

Yeah, that's a common mistake. Always file immediately - worst case they'll tell you to wait, but usually you can start collecting right away.

That's encouraging! How long did your severance last?

12 weeks. Really helped bridge the gap while I was job hunting. The unemployment plus severance made the transition much less stressful.

The amount of severance doesn't typically affect your eligibility for unemployment benefits in Washington. Whether it's $5,000 or $50,000, the rule is the same - it's separation pay, not wages.

Nope, doesn't matter if it's lump sum or periodic payments. You still report it on your weekly claims but it shouldn't affect your benefit amount.

Thank you for the professional perspective! That makes me feel much more confident about filing right away.

Wish Washington ESD would hire more people like you to answer phones! Still can't get through to anyone there.

Have you tried that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier? I used it last month when I couldn't get through to Washington ESD about my adjudication issue. Worth checking out their demo video if you're stuck.

Good point! I am getting vacation payout too. Should I be worried about that?

Vacation payout is treated as wages and might affect your benefits differently than severance. You'll want to report both separately on your weekly claims.

You can still file! Washington ESD allows you to backdate your claim in certain circumstances. You might lose some benefits from the delay, but definitely still worth filing.

How many jobs do I need to apply to each week?

It's typically 3 job search activities per week, but check the specific requirements on your claim. Can include applications, networking, job fairs, etc.

That seems to be the consensus here. I'm filing my claim tomorrow morning. Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice!

Smart move! And if you run into any issues with Washington ESD not answering phones, remember that Claimyr option. Saved me tons of frustration when I needed to talk to someone about my claim status.

Thanks! Feeling much more confident about the whole situation now.

That's really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the exact same situation! I was definitely leaning towards waiting but this thread has convinced me otherwise. Did you have any issues with the weekly claim reporting process, or was it pretty straightforward to report the severance payments?