Should I apply for unemployment after layoff - Washington ESD filing timeline?

Good point about the waiting period. Do I need to wait until my severance runs out or can I apply now?

You can apply now, but your severance might affect when benefits start. Washington ESD considers severance as wages, so benefits typically begin after the severance period ends.

Their system has issues? That's concerning. How long did the whole process take you?

Initial application took about 45 minutes once I got through. Then about 2 weeks for approval since it was straightforward layoff. The weekly claims are pretty quick once you get the hang of it.

What kind of issues should I watch out for? My layoff was pretty straightforward - just budget cuts.

Sometimes employers contest claims or there are verification issues with your work history. Better to deal with these early rather than when you're desperate for benefits.

4 months?! That's way longer than I expected. The job market is really that tough right now?

Tech market has been brutal. Lots of competition from other laid-off workers. Don't assume it'll be quick, even with good experience.

Same here - took me 5 months to find something in my field. UI benefits were a lifesaver.

Interesting, never heard of that. Is it free?

It's not free but way cheaper than the time I was wasting trying to get through on my own. Check out claimyr.com for details.

I used something similar when I couldn't reach them about my adjudication issue. These services are legit - they just help you get in the phone queue.

Yikes, what kind of paperwork issue? Want to make sure I don't run into the same problem.

They needed additional verification of my employment dates because I had worked for a subsidiary company. Super annoying but eventually got resolved.

True, when you put it that way it seems like a no-brainer.

Exactly. I always tell people - apply for everything you might qualify for. You can always turn down benefits if you don't need them.

Yes, unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld or pay quarterly. Washington state has no income tax but you'll owe federal taxes.

Good to know, thanks for mentioning that.

Any other advice for someone in tech looking for work while on unemployment?

Document all your job search activities well - Washington ESD requires detailed job search logs. Also consider contract work while you're looking for permanent roles.

Good tip about having the info ready. I'll gather all that before I start the application.

Yeah, nothing worse than getting halfway through and realizing you need to dig up old pay stubs or tax forms.

What kind of issue with your employer?

They initially said I was fired instead of laid off. Had to provide documentation proving it was a layoff due to business reasons. Total pain.

Seems like that service gets mentioned a lot. Must actually work.

It does work. Used it when I was stuck in adjudication hell for 6 weeks. Got through to an agent in like 10 minutes.

How often do you have to file the weekly claims?

Every week, usually Sunday-Saturday filing period. You report any work you did, money earned, and job search activities. Takes maybe 10 minutes once you know the routine.

Good point. It was definitely a layoff - whole department got cut due to budget issues. Should be straightforward.

Perfect, then you should have no issues. Layoffs due to business reasons are the easiest UI claims to process.

That's a really good way to think about it. Takes some pressure off the job search process.

Exactly. I was so much more selective about job offers knowing I had UI benefits backing me up. Ended up with a better role than if I had taken the first offer out of desperation.