Pension deductions from ESD unemployment benefits - how does it work?

Yes, Washington State does generally deduct pension payments from unemployment benefits if the pension is from a "base year employer" (meaning an employer that you worked for during the base year used to establish your claim). Since you mentioned you worked there for 22 years and were recently laid off, your former employer would definitely be a base year employer. Their formula is that they deduct the prorated weekly amount of your pension from your weekly benefit amount. So if your monthly pension is $1,850, they would calculate that as about $427 per week ($1,850 × 12 months ÷ 52 weeks) and reduce your weekly benefit by that amount. Importantly, this reduction applies to ALL weeks, not just the week you receive the pension payment. They prorate it across the month because the pension is considered ongoing income.

when i got laid off last year they took my pension too. COMPLETELY UNFAIR!!! you work your whole life and then they take it away when you need it most. i had to sell my car because of this stupid rule.

The pervious person is correct about deductions. But you need to make sure you report it properly on your weekly claim! When you file your weekly claim there will be a question specifically asking if you received or will receive pension payments. Make sure you answer yes and provide the amount. If you don't report it properly, they will eventually find out and hit you with an overpayment notice, which is a HUGE headache!!! Trust me - been there, done that, spent months fixing it. Also, if you havent reported it yet, you should call ESD immediatly to correct it before they catch it. Better to be proactive.

I've dealt with this EXACT situation. Let me clarify a couple important points: 1) Yes, pensions from base year employers reduce your benefits 2) The reduction applies to ALL weeks, not just when you receive the payment 3) BUT - this is important - if you contributed to the pension yourself, only the employer-contributed portion gets deducted! For example, if you contributed 40% to your pension and your employer contributed 60%, then only 60% of the prorated weekly amount gets deducted from your benefits. You should check your pension statement to see the breakdown. Also, if you're having trouble getting through to ESD to report this, try calling right when they open at 8am. That's when I've had the most success.

don't they have a minimum benefit amount? i thought even with deductions you still get something like $235 per week minimum??? anyone know?

I went thrugh this in 2023 after getting laid off from Boeing. I recieve a pension from them and also got unemployment. Here's exactly what happened: 1. I reported my pension on my intial application 2. My WBA was reduced by the weekly eqivalent of my pension 3. They reduced EVERY week, not just the week I got paid 4. After 6 months I found a new job making less than before 5. I'm still getting my pension plus my new lower salary One thing to keep in mind: If you get a job that pays less than your previous job, you might qualify for something called "partial unemployment" even while working full-time. Worth looking into as you job search!!

To directly answer your original questions: 1. Yes, Washington does deduct pensions from unemployment benefits when the pension is from a base year employer 2. No, they don't deduct pensions if they're from a completely different employer outside your base year 3. No, it's not just the week you receive the payment - they prorate it across all weeks When you report your pension, ESD will ask for documentation showing the monthly amount and may ask for information about contribution percentages. They'll calculate the reduction and apply it automatically to future payments. One more thing - if your pension amount changes at any point, you need to report that change to ESD right away.

I went through something similar when I got laid off from my state job in 2022. One thing that might help reduce the financial impact - if you haven't already, check if your pension allows for any temporary suspension or deferment options while you're unemployed. Some pension plans (especially government ones) have provisions that let you delay payments for a few months if you're actively job searching. It won't eliminate the deduction issue entirely, but it could give you some breathing room while you find new employment. Also, make sure when you do report the pension to ESD that you emphasize the employee contribution percentage - that 35% you mentioned could save you about $150 per week in deductions. Good luck with the job search!