Washington ESD supplemental unemployment benefits - what exactly are these?

Supplemental unemployment benefits usually refer to additional payments that come from sources other than the standard state UI program. In Washington, this could include things like union-negotiated benefits, employer-provided supplemental payments, or sometimes federal add-ons during special circumstances. They're separate from your regular Washington ESD weekly benefit amount.

I think you might be confusing this with something else. Most people just get regular unemployment insurance through Washington ESD. Unless you were in a union or your company had some special program, there probably aren't any supplemental benefits available.

Had a similar question a few months ago and spent forever trying to get through to Washington ESD to ask about it. If you need to talk to someone there about supplemental benefits or any other claim questions, I found this service called Claimyr that actually gets you connected to ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

There are different types of supplemental benefits depending on your situation. Some are through private insurance, some through employer programs, and some might be available if you qualify for other assistance programs. You'd need to check with Washington ESD directly about what applies to your specific case.

The term 'supplemental unemployment benefits' is actually pretty specific in employment law. It typically refers to employer-funded programs that supplement state unemployment insurance. These are voluntary programs that companies can set up, often as part of collective bargaining agreements. They're not administered by Washington ESD - the employer handles them separately.

ugh the washington esd system is so confusing, they should make this stuff clearer on their website instead of making us guess about what benefits exist

I work in HR and can confirm that supplemental unemployment benefits are employer-sponsored programs. Most small to medium businesses don't offer them because they're expensive to maintain. Large corporations or unionized workplaces are more likely to have these programs. If you didn't hear about it during your employment, your company probably didn't offer it.

Maybe you're thinking of the extra federal unemployment money that was available during COVID? That was technically supplemental to regular state benefits, but those programs ended a while ago.

If you're really unsure about what benefits you might qualify for, you could always call Washington ESD directly. Though good luck getting through - I tried calling them last week about my own claim and gave up after two hours on hold.

Just to be completely clear - Washington ESD administers regular unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. Supplemental unemployment benefits are separate programs run by employers or unions, not by the state. If Washington ESD approved your claim and you're receiving weekly payments, that's your standard unemployment benefit. Any supplemental benefits would come from a different source entirely.

One thing to keep in mind - if you do somehow have access to supplemental unemployment benefits from a former employer, you may need to report that income to Washington ESD. Any additional unemployment-related payments could affect your regular UI benefits.

I looked into this same thing last year when I was laid off. Turns out my company didn't have any supplemental programs, but some of my friends who worked at Boeing and Microsoft had employer-sponsored benefits that supplemented their regular Washington ESD payments. It's really company-specific.

honestly this whole system is so complicated. why cant they just have one simple program instead of all these different types of benefits that may or may not exist

Final answer: unless your former employer specifically told you about a supplemental unemployment benefit program during your employment, you probably don't have access to one. Focus on your regular Washington ESD benefits and don't worry about missing out on something that likely doesn't exist for your situation.