Who pays Washington ESD unemployment for federal workers - confused about coverage

Federal employees are covered under UCFE which is administered by the state but funded by the federal government. You still file through Washington ESD like any other claimant, but the feds reimburse the state for your benefits. The process is basically the same from your perspective.

I went through the same thing when I got furloughed from the VA hospital last year. The paperwork is confusing but you definitely file with Washington ESD. They handle everything even though technically the federal government is paying for it.

Had the same confusion when I left my postal service job. Spent hours trying to call Washington ESD to get clarity on this exact question. Finally found claimyr.com which helped me get through to an actual agent who explained the whole UCFE process. There's even a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Way easier than sitting on hold for hours.

The key thing to understand is that while the federal government ultimately pays for UCFE benefits, Washington ESD administers the program under federal guidelines. Your benefit amount is calculated the same way as regular UI but based on your federal wages. Make sure you have your SF-8 form from your agency showing your earnings.

this is so confusing why cant they just make it simple. i worked for forest service and had no idea about any of this UCFE stuff until after i filed

I'm currently dealing with an adjudication issue on my UCFE claim. Washington ESD is saying they need additional verification from my federal employer but my agency is being slow to respond. Anyone else have delays like this?

Important clarification - UCFE claims follow federal eligibility rules, not Washington state rules. So things like job search requirements and disqualification reasons might be slightly different than regular UI claims. The Washington ESD website has a specific section about federal employee claims that explains these differences.

Wait so if I worked for both federal and state agencies in the past year, how does that affect my claim? Do they combine the wages or keep them separate?

Just a heads up - make sure you report any federal pension or retirement payments you might be receiving. UCFE rules are pretty strict about deducting retirement income from benefits, even more so than regular UI.

One more thing about getting help - when I needed to speak with someone about my UCFE claim specifics, regular customer service couldn't always answer federal employee questions. Had to use that claimyr service again to reach someone in the federal claims unit who actually knew the UCFE rules.

thanks everyone for the info this thread helped me understand my situation better. filing my claim today

still think they should just have one system instead of making federal employees jump through different hoops

Update: I filed my claim through Washington ESD and it went smoothly. Thanks everyone for clarifying that I just use the normal process even though it's federally funded. Really appreciate all the help!

For anyone else reading this later - make sure you select 'federal employee' when it asks about your employer type during the filing process. That helps Washington ESD route your claim correctly from the start.

Quick update on my adjudication - finally got resolved after my agency sent the verification paperwork. Took 5 weeks total but my benefits were backdated. Patience is key with federal claims apparently.

One last question - if I find new federal employment while on UCFE, do I report it the same way as any other job? Through the weekly claim certification?

Just want to mention one more time for anyone still struggling to get through to Washington ESD about federal claims - that claimyr service really does work for reaching the right agents who know UCFE rules. Worth checking out if you're stuck.

Final thought - while UCFE is federally funded, you still need to meet Washington state's able and available requirements for work. Don't assume federal employment gives you different work search obligations.

This whole thread was super helpful. I had no idea about the UCFE program until I needed it. Government employment has so many rules!

wish i had found this thread before spending 3 hours on hold with washington esd trying to get answers about my federal job claim