Washington ESD unemployment eligibility after receiving severance package - confused about the rules

You can actually file for unemployment right away even with severance in Washington state. The key thing is HOW the severance is paid out. If it's a lump sum, Washington ESD typically won't count it against your weekly benefits. But if it's paid out weekly like regular wages, then it might reduce your weekly benefit amount.

I went through this exact situation last year. Got a $12k severance and was able to collect full unemployment benefits from Washington ESD. Like the previous poster said, lump sum severance doesn't affect your weekly benefits in Washington. Just make sure you report it honestly on your application.

Be careful though - if you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to clarify this, I'd recommend using Claimyr. It's a service that helps you actually reach an ESD agent by phone. I found out about it at claimyr.com and there's even a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Really helpful when you need to get specific questions answered about complex situations like severance and unemployment.

wait im confused... i thought any money you get from your employer would count against unemployment? my friend told me she had to wait until her severance ran out before she could file

This is exactly why the unemployment system is so frustrating! The rules are different everywhere and even Washington ESD's own website doesn't explain these scenarios clearly. I spent hours trying to figure out if my vacation payout would affect my benefits last year.

Just file your claim and be honest about the severance. Washington ESD will figure out if it affects your benefits or not. Don't overthink it - you're entitled to unemployment if you lost your job through no fault of your own.

One thing to keep in mind - even though your severance won't affect your weekly benefit amount, you still need to be actively looking for work and meeting all the other Washington ESD requirements. Don't slack on the job search just because you have some severance money.

I'm dealing with something similar but my severance is being paid out over 6 months as regular paychecks. I'm assuming this will affect my unemployment benefits differently than a lump sum?

The Washington ESD handbook says severance pay doesn't disqualify you from benefits but it might affect the timing or amount. I think the key is whether it's considered 'wages' or just a one-time payment.

can you get unemployment if you quit your job but got severance? asking for a friend lol

I worked in HR for years and dealt with this question a lot. In Washington state, lump sum severance payments typically don't affect unemployment eligibility or benefit amounts. The confusion often comes from people mixing up Washington rules with other states that have different policies.

JUST WENT THROUGH THIS!! Got laid off in December with a $15k severance package. Filed for unemployment the same week and had no issues. Washington ESD approved my claim and I've been getting full benefits. The severance was reported but didn't affect anything.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses! Sounds like the consensus is that I can file for unemployment right away and the lump sum severance won't affect my benefits. I'm going to go ahead and submit my application today. Really appreciate this community for clearing up my confusion!

One more tip - when you file your weekly claims, you'll probably see a question about receiving any other income. Just report your severance there too, even though it shouldn't affect your benefits. Better to over-report than under-report with Washington ESD.

my company is doing layoffs next month and I might be affected. this thread has been super helpful for understanding how severance works with unemployment. saving this for reference!

The system is so broken though. Why should people have to use third-party services just to talk to Washington ESD? The whole unemployment office is understaffed and impossible to reach when you actually need help.

Does anyone know if severance affects the maximum benefit period? Like if I get 26 weeks of unemployment, does severance change that at all?

this whole thread has been really informative. i had no idea that lump sum severance didn't affect unemployment benefits in washington. learned something new today!

For what it's worth, I tried to call Washington ESD about this exact question last month and could never get through. Ended up just filing my claim and figuring it out as I went. Everything worked out fine, but would have been nice to get confirmation upfront.

Quick update for anyone following this thread - I filed my claim yesterday and it went smoothly. There was a specific section asking about severance pay where I reported the lump sum amount. No red flags or issues so far. Hoping to get approved soon!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm potentially facing a layoff situation myself and was completely confused about how severance would interact with unemployment benefits. It's really reassuring to see so many people confirm that lump sum severance doesn't affect eligibility in Washington state. The fact that you still need to report it but it won't reduce your weekly benefits makes total sense. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's way more helpful than trying to decipher the official ESD website!