What does wages lieu of notice mean for Washington ESD unemployment claim?

Wages in lieu of notice is basically severance pay that replaces your notice period. You need to report this to Washington ESD because it can affect when your benefits start. If you received pay for weeks you didn't work, those weeks might be considered 'disqualifying' weeks where you can't collect UI.

I had the same situation last year. You definitely need to report any severance or pay in lieu of notice on your initial claim. Washington ESD will calculate if this creates a 'disqualifying period' where you can't receive benefits. The formula is based on your weekly benefit amount - if the severance covers more than your weekly benefit, you'll have to wait.

Had similar issues trying to get through to Washington ESD about this exact question. Spent hours on hold trying to clarify how to report my severance package correctly. Finally found claimyr.com which helped me get connected to an actual agent who explained everything clearly. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works - basically gets you past the busy signals.

wait so if I got 4 weeks severance I have to wait 4 weeks before I can file for unemployment?? that doesn't seem right

You can file your claim right away - Washington ESD will do the calculations. The important thing is to be honest about all payments received from your employer. Don't try to hide severance or wages in lieu of notice because they'll find out anyway when they verify your employment.

The whole system is rigged against workers. You lose your job through no fault of your own, then they penalize you for receiving a tiny bit of severance. Meanwhile rich people get bailouts left and right.

Pro tip: When you report wages in lieu of notice, make sure you have the exact dates and amounts. Washington ESD gets picky about details and any discrepancies can trigger an adjudication review which adds weeks to your claim processing.

Just went through this exact situation 2 months ago. Got 3 weeks pay in lieu of notice and had to wait 3 weeks before my benefits started. The waiting period begins from your last day of work, not from when you file your claim. So file ASAP even if you know you'll have a waiting period.

Another thing to watch out for - if your employer calls it 'severance' but it's really just pay for your notice period, make sure Washington ESD understands what it actually is. The terminology matters for how they calculate the waiting period.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD to clarify this stuff, I had success with that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Paid for itself just in saved time and stress. Their system actually got me through to a real person who could look at my specific situation.

The key thing is don't panic if you have a disqualifying period. Your benefits will eventually start, and you can still look for work during the waiting period. Just keep filing your weekly claims and meeting job search requirements.

Also make sure you understand Washington ESD's job search requirements during any waiting period. You still need to be actively seeking work and keeping records even if you're not receiving benefits yet.

Been dealing with this for weeks now. My employer gave me 6 weeks severance and Washington ESD calculated a 8 week waiting period based on my benefit amount. Finally got through to someone who explained that the waiting period can be longer than the actual severance if your weekly benefit is low.

For anyone still confused about this, Washington ESD has a worksheet that helps calculate disqualifying income. It's not just wages in lieu of notice - vacation payouts, unused sick time, and other final payments can also create waiting periods. Be thorough when reporting.

One more tip - if you disagree with Washington ESD's calculation of your disqualifying period, you can appeal their determination. Sometimes they make mistakes or misunderstand the nature of your final payments. Don't just accept it if something seems wrong.

Just want to add that if you're really struggling to get answers about this stuff, that Claimyr service mentioned earlier actually worked for me too. I was going in circles trying to understand how my severance affected my claim timing. Got connected to an agent who walked through the whole calculation with me.

Bottom line - be honest about all final payments from your employer, keep good records, and don't be discouraged if you have a waiting period. Your benefits will start eventually and you can usually get through the process if you stay on top of your weekly filings.

This is such valuable information! I'm in a similar situation where I received 3 weeks of pay in lieu of notice and was completely confused about how to report it. Reading through everyone's experiences really helps clarify that I need to be upfront about it even though it might delay my benefits. It's frustrating that the system works this way, but at least now I understand the logic behind it. Going to make sure I have all my documentation ready before I complete my application. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences!