Is the employer responsible for paying unemployment benefits in Washington ESD?

No, your employer doesn't pay your unemployment benefits directly. Washington ESD pays benefits from the unemployment insurance trust fund, which is funded by payroll taxes that employers pay on behalf of all their employees. So while your employer did contribute to the system through taxes, they're not writing you a check each week.

The employer pays unemployment taxes to Washington ESD, but those taxes go into a big pool that funds everyone's benefits. However, if you file a claim, it can affect your employer's experience rating and potentially increase their tax rate in the future. That's probably why your boss was concerned.

I've been struggling to get through to Washington ESD to ask about this exact question for weeks! Their phone lines are always busy and I keep getting disconnected. Has anyone found a better way to reach them? I need to understand how this affects my former employer before I proceed with my claim.

To clarify the tax structure: Washington employers pay both state unemployment insurance (SUI) taxes and federal unemployment tax (FUTA). The state portion funds your weekly benefits, while the federal portion helps fund the overall system and extended benefits during high unemployment periods.

Your employer can't prevent you from filing for unemployment, but they can contest your claim if they believe you're not eligible. Common reasons include misconduct, voluntary quit, or insufficient work history. If they contest, Washington ESD will investigate and make a determination.

The experience rating system is designed to make employers with higher turnover pay more into the system. So if an employer frequently lays people off or has high turnover leading to many UI claims, their tax rate increases. This creates an incentive for employers to retain workers and only terminate for valid reasons.

I'm a small business owner and yes, we pay quarterly unemployment taxes to Washington ESD. The rate depends on our industry and claim history. When employees file claims, we get notified and can provide information about the separation, but we don't pay the benefits directly. The money comes from the state trust fund.

wait so if my boss fires me he doesn't have to pay me unemployment? i thought that was the whole point

The whole system is basically insurance - employers pay premiums (in the form of payroll taxes) and employees who lose their jobs through no fault of their own can collect benefits. It's similar to how car insurance works, except it's mandatory for employers and covers unemployment instead of accidents.

I had to call Washington ESD multiple times to understand how employer charges work when I was dealing with an overpayment issue. Could never get through until someone told me about Claimyr. Now I actually understand that my former employer wasn't being charged directly for my benefits - it was all coming from the trust fund they'd been paying into.

Important note: while employers don't pay benefits directly, they do have to provide wage and separation information to Washington ESD when you file a claim. This helps determine your benefit amount and eligibility. Some employers are slow to respond, which can delay your claim processing.

My employer told me they would "fight" my unemployment claim. I was really worried they could somehow prevent me from getting benefits, but now I understand they can only contest it - they can't actually stop Washington ESD from paying if I'm eligible.

The trust fund system is actually pretty smart - it spreads the cost across all employers rather than making individual companies pay for each former employee's benefits. This way, even small businesses aren't bankrupted by a few unemployment claims.

One thing to remember is that unemployment insurance is an earned benefit - you and your employer both contributed to the system while you were working. You're not asking for charity; you're collecting on insurance you helped pay for through your work.

For anyone dealing with employer contests or adjudication issues, I found that having all your documentation ready really helps. Pay stubs, termination letters, any written communication about your job loss - Washington ESD will want to see it all.

Bottom line: your employer pays taxes into the unemployment system, Washington ESD pays your benefits from that fund, and your claim may affect your employer's future tax rates. But they're not writing you checks directly, and they can't prevent you from filing if you're eligible.