Who pays for unemployment benefits in Washington - employer or state?

Unemployment benefits in Washington are paid from the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, which is funded by employer payroll taxes. Your employer doesn't pay your benefits directly - they pay into the state fund through quarterly UI taxes based on their payroll and experience rating.

Your employer pays unemployment taxes to fund the system. It's called SUTA (State Unemployment Tax Act) in Washington. They pay quarterly based on their payroll and experience rating.

Unemployment insurance in Washington is funded through payroll taxes paid by employers, not employees. Your former employer doesn't directly pay your benefits - they pay quarterly taxes to Washington ESD based on their payroll and experience rating. The state manages the trust fund that actually pays out benefits.

Your unemployment benefits are funded through employer payroll taxes, not your personal taxes or state general funds. Every employer in Washington pays into the unemployment insurance trust fund based on their payroll and their experience rating. Don't feel bad about filing - you earned this protection through your work.

Your employer doesn't pay your benefits directly. Washington ESD unemployment benefits are funded through payroll taxes that employers pay quarterly. It's called the State Unemployment Tax Act (SUTA) tax. Employers pay into a fund based on their payroll and their experience rating - companies with more layoffs pay higher rates.

employers pay unemployment taxes every quarter to Washington ESD, its not like they get a surprise bill when you file. The rate they pay depends on how many former employees have filed claims but they budget for this stuff

employers definitely pay for it through taxes but the amount they pay depends on how many former employees file claims. companies with more layoffs pay higher rates

Your employer pays unemployment taxes to fund the system, but they don't pay your specific claim directly. Washington ESD collects taxes from all employers and uses that pool to pay benefits. Your boss is just being dramatic.

employers definitely pay for it through payroll taxes but dont worry about it affecting them personally

I had a similar question when I was trying to reach Washington ESD about my claim status. Spent hours on hold trying to get through to someone who could explain the funding process. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually connect with ESD agents. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made it way easier to get my questions answered directly.

Employers in Washington pay unemployment insurance taxes based on their experience rating. Higher turnover and more claims can increase their tax rate over time, but they're not paying your benefits directly. The Washington ESD manages the trust fund that pays all benefits.

Employers pay unemployment taxes to fund the system. Washington ESD collects these taxes from all employers based on their payroll and claim history. The state then pays out benefits from this fund.

It's funded through employer payroll taxes, not directly from your former employer's pocket. Washington ESD collects unemployment insurance taxes from all employers based on their payroll. Your individual claim doesn't come directly from your old boss, but it can affect their future tax rates.

Your employer pays unemployment taxes to Washington ESD throughout the year based on their payroll. These taxes fund the unemployment insurance program. When you file a claim, it doesn't come directly out of your employer's bank account - it comes from the unemployment insurance fund that all employers pay into. Your employer's tax rate might go up in future years if they have a lot of claims, but that's how the system is designed to work.

I had the same worry when I got laid off last year! Turns out employers in Washington pay SUTA tax (State Unemployment Tax Act) on every payroll. The money goes into a big fund that pays everyone's claims. Your individual claim doesn't directly hit your old employer's bank account or anything like that.

There are actually two parts to unemployment funding in Washington. Employers pay the SUTA tax to the state, and there's also a federal unemployment tax (FUTA) that helps fund the system. The money goes into a trust fund that Washington ESD uses to pay benefits.

Your employer is probably being difficult because their unemployment tax rate can go up if they have a lot of claims. Companies with higher turnover pay more into the system. But that doesn't mean they can stop you from filing - you earned those benefits.

Had trouble getting through to Washington ESD to verify my claim details but found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real person. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Super helpful when you need to talk to someone about your benefits funding or any other questions!

The whole system is designed so individual employers can't control whether you get benefits or not. Washington ESD makes the final determination based on state law, not what your boss wants. Your employer's taxes go into a big pool that pays everyone's benefits.

wait so if my company pays unemployment taxes that means they're basically paying for my benefits right? seems weird that they would pay me to not work

It's actually a really smart system when you think about it. Employers have an incentive to avoid unnecessary layoffs because it keeps their tax rates lower. But they can't just refuse to pay if they do have legitimate layoffs. The state acts as the middleman to keep things fair.

wait so employers dont pay anything when you file unemployment?? that doesnt sound right

Washington ESD collects unemployment insurance taxes from employers based on their payroll and claims history. Higher claims = higher tax rates for that employer over time. But you earned those benefits through your work, so don't feel guilty about collecting.

The system is funded entirely by employer contributions - employees don't pay into unemployment insurance in Washington state. Employers pay both state UI taxes and federal FUTA taxes. The state fund pays your weekly benefits while federal funds help with administration costs.

I had so much trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask questions like this. Spent hours on hold trying to understand how my claim would affect my old job. Finally found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

I had a similar situation with my old manager trying to make me feel guilty about filing. If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask questions about this, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you actually reach a real person at unemployment offices. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

ya employers pay into the unemployment insurance fund through payroll taxes but its not like they write you a check directly lol

employers pay quarterly taxes to washington esd based on their experience rating. if they lay people off frequently their rates go up, if they have stable employment their rates are lower. your claim gets charged back to their account which affects future rates

Oh that makes sense! So it's like insurance that they're already paying for. I was worried I'd be taking money directly from them.

exactly, and you paid into it too through your work. you earned those benefits

I work in HR and can confirm that employers pay unemployment taxes every quarter. The rate depends on the company's history of layoffs and claims. New businesses pay a standard rate until they build up experience.

just to clarify the funding structure - Washington employers pay unemployment insurance taxes quarterly based on their total wages paid and their experience rating. Higher turnover companies pay more, stable companies pay less. The fund is managed by Washington ESD and thats what pays your weekly benefits

Your employer is being ridiculous! Unemployment insurance is exactly that - INSURANCE. They pay premiums just like any other insurance and claims get paid from the pool. You filing doesn't take money directly from their pocket.

Been through this whole process twice now. Your employer pays quarterly taxes to Washington ESD based on their total wages paid and their 'experience rating' which goes up if they have more unemployment claims. The money goes into the state unemployment trust fund, and that's what pays your weekly benefits.

The funding comes from employer taxes, but trying to get through to Washington ESD to understand the details can be impossible. I spent weeks calling about my claim status. Finally used Claimyr.com to get connected - they have this system that actually gets you through to an agent. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

the whole system is designed so workers don't have to worry about the cost when they legitimately need unemployment. You paid into this through your work just like any other insurance

Honestly trying to get through to Washington ESD to ask questions like this used to be impossible. I spent weeks trying to call them about my benefit calculations. Finally found this service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to a real person at claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS MESSED UP!!! Why should employers have to pay when the government is shutting down businesses left and right?

Your boss shouldn't have made that comment honestly. Yeah technically claims affect their experience rating over time but unemployment insurance is just a cost of doing business. They knew this when they hired people.

Your employer's UI tax rate is determined by their 'experience rating' - basically how many former employees have filed successful claims. New employers pay a standard rate until they build up enough history. High-turnover companies pay higher rates.

this whole unemployment system is such a scam anyway. employers pay pennies compared to what they'd pay if they had to directly fund their former employees

For context, Washington's unemployment trust fund had over $4 billion before the pandemic. It's a massive pooled fund from all employer contributions. Your claim is a tiny drop in that bucket and you have every right to access benefits you're entitled to.

i think in washington the employers pay like 0.2% to 5.4% of wages depending on their history with layoffs and stuff. so yeah more claims = higher rates eventually but not immediately

I always wondered about this too when I filed a few years back. Felt guilty until I realized my employer had been paying unemployment taxes on my wages the whole time I worked there. It's literally money set aside for exactly this situation.

just remember that unemployment benefits exist because lawmakers decided workers needed protection between jobs. The funding mechanism through employer taxes is intentional policy, not some accident

Don't stress about your former employer. Focus on your job search and getting back on your feet. That's what unemployment insurance is for - to give you breathing room to find good employment rather than taking the first desperate offer.

I've been dealing with Washington ESD for months trying to get through to someone about my claim status. If you need to actually talk to an agent, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through the phone lines - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Saved me hours of busy signals and disconnects.

the whole system is basically insurance that employers are required to carry. just like workers comp or other business insurance. they pay premiums (taxes) and when claims happen the insurance (unemployment fund) pays out

i thought the employer had to approve your unemployment claim?? my boss told me he could deny it

Don't feel bad about filing! Unemployment insurance is there for exactly this situation. Your employer has been paying these taxes specifically so that employees like you can get benefits when you lose your job through no fault of your own. It's part of the cost of doing business.

This is so true. I felt guilty when I first filed too but then realized I'd been working and contributing to the system for years.

To be more specific about Washington's system - employers pay different rates based on their industry and claims experience. New employers start at a standard rate, then it adjusts based on how many former employees file for UI benefits.

The funding mechanism is pretty straightforward once you understand it. Washington ESD collects UI taxes from employers quarterly based on total wages paid and their experience rating. This money goes into the trust fund, which pays all unemployment benefits in the state.

If you need to call Washington ESD about anything related to your claim, definitely try that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. Saved me hours of redialing and actually got me answers about how my benefits were calculated.

Washington state has a State Unemployment Insurance (SUI) tax that employers pay. The rate varies by employer based on their experience rating - companies with more layoffs pay higher rates. There's also a small employee portion in some states but not Washington.

The whole system is designed so that employees who lose their jobs through no fault of their own can get temporary income support. Employers pay into the system as a cost of doing business, kind of like workers compensation insurance.

I remember when I first filed for unemployment I was so worried about 'costing' my employer money. But really, they're paying these taxes regardless. It's not like they get a bill when you file your claim.

I remember when I first filed, I was worried my old job would get a bill for my benefits and they'd be angry at me. Turns out they already paid their taxes regardless of whether I filed or not. The decision to grant benefits is entirely up to Washington ESD based on eligibility rules.

dont let your boss guilt trip you about this! you worked there and contributed to the system through your labor. unemployment benefits are YOUR right when you lose your job through no fault of your own

Here's something interesting - employers actually get a statement showing how their unemployment tax rate is calculated. It includes things like their total payroll, number of claims filed by former employees, and benefit charges against their account. Higher claims = higher future tax rates.

Your employer pays unemployment insurance taxes every quarter based on their total payroll and their experience rating. The experience rating is basically their track record - companies that lay off workers frequently pay higher rates than stable employers. When you file a claim, it gets charged to their account and can impact their future rates.

THIS IS WHY EMPLOYERS FIGHT UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS! They don't want their rates to go up so they'll contest everything even when they know you qualify. My last company tried to say I quit when they clearly fired me.

I work in HR and deal with this all the time. Washington ESD sends us quarterly statements showing our tax rate and any claims charged to our account. We pay based on our payroll size and experience rating. New businesses start at a standard rate until they build up their own experience rating.

my friend works in HR and says employers can't directly stop you from getting benefits but they can provide info that might affect your claim

Yeah, I've been working for 8 years straight so I guess I have earned this safety net.

My understanding is that both employers and employees technically contribute but in different ways. Employers pay the unemployment tax directly, but employee wages are set with the understanding that employers need to cover these costs.

ive been on unemployment for 8 weeks and never knew this. thought my old boss was cutting checks every week lol

I manage payroll for a small business and we budget for unemployment tax as a regular expense. It's usually around 2-6% of wages depending on our experience rating. We don't stress about individual claims because it's just part of our labor costs.

I've been paying into this system for 15 years through my various employers and never collected until now. It's basically insurance that employers are required to carry for their employees.

Just to be clear - in Washington state, the unemployment insurance system is entirely employer-funded. Some states have employee contributions too, but Washington doesn't. Your employer has been paying quarterly taxes to fund the system.

there's also federal unemployment taxes (FUTA) that employers pay on top of the state taxes but that's mostly for administrative costs

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks about my claim status and can't reach anyone. The phone lines are always busy or I get disconnected after waiting forever. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there?

It's worth noting that nonprofit organizations and government entities can choose to be 'reimbursing employers' instead of paying regular UI taxes. These employers do pay dollar-for-dollar for their former employees' benefits.

The funding mechanism is actually pretty transparent if you know where to look. Washington ESD publishes annual reports showing total collections, total benefits paid out, and the trust fund balance. It's all employer-funded through payroll taxes - no tax money from individual workers goes toward UI benefits.

The Washington ESD website has detailed info about how the trust fund works if you want to read more. Basically employers pay in continuously and the fund pays out benefits as needed. Very straightforward system.

The employer portion of unemployment tax in Washington is currently around 0.2% to 6.2% of wages depending on the company's claim history. No employee contribution required here unlike some other states.

wait so if I quit my job can my employer still get charged for my unemployment?? I thought you couldn't get benefits if you quit

The whole point of unemployment insurance is to spread the risk across all employers. No single employer bears the full cost of economic downturns or business changes. Your boss needs to understand basic business economics.

The system actually works pretty well when you think about it. Employers who rarely lay people off pay lower rates, while companies with high turnover pay more. It incentivizes stable employment while still providing a safety net.

bottom line - file your weekly claims, do your job search, and don't worry about the funding side. Thats Washington ESD's job to manage, not yours

My company's HR person explained that they budget for unemployment taxes as part of their labor costs. It's just built into doing business, like workers comp insurance.

Your employer is probably just being difficult because they don't want their unemployment tax rate to go up. But they can't prevent you from filing or collecting benefits you're entitled to. Don't let them intimidate you.

I discovered this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. They handle all the calling and waiting for you - check out claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. It was a lifesaver when I needed to resolve my adjudication issue.

also just so you know, your boss cant retaliate against you for filing unemployment. thats illegal. if he tries to give you bad references or anything like that you should report it

If you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about the specifics of how this affects your former employer, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really does help cut through the phone queue. I was skeptical at first but it actually worked.

I had to deal with a contested claim last year and learned way more about this than I wanted to. Even when your employer contests, they're not the ones deciding whether you get benefits. Washington ESD does their own investigation and makes the call based on state unemployment law. The employer's opinion matters but it's not the final word.

Good luck with your job search! The fact that you're concerned about your former employer shows you're a considerate person, but don't let that stop you from getting the support you need during unemployment.

I had to deal with Washington ESD questioning my separation from my last job. Took forever to get through to someone who could explain what info my employer had provided. Claimyr actually helped me get connected to resolve that issue.

The funding comes from State Unemployment Tax Act (SUTA) taxes that employers pay. It's separate from federal unemployment taxes (FUTA). Each state manages their own program with their own tax rates and benefit amounts.

wait so in washington state we dont pay anything into unemployment ourselves? i thought it came out of our paychecks

been unemployed 3 times in my career and each time my former employers seemed pissed about it. now I understand why - even though they're not writing personal checks, it affects their bottom line through higher tax rates if they have too many claims

One important thing to understand - even though employers fund the system, Washington ESD makes all benefit determinations independently. Employers can provide information but they don't decide if you get benefits.

The way I understand it, Washington ESD maintains the trust fund that pays benefits, and employers contribute to that fund through payroll taxes. The federal government also provides some funding during high unemployment periods.

Interesting, I'll check that out. I'm desperate at this point.

Fun fact: unemployment insurance was created during the Great Depression as part of the Social Security Act. The basic funding structure hasn't changed much since then - still employer-funded with federal oversight.

For anyone still confused about getting answers from Washington ESD directly, I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Really helped when I needed to speak with an actual person about my claim funding questions. Much better than sitting on hold for hours.

Bottom line: Washington employers pay unemployment taxes quarterly to the state, rates are based on their claims history over several years, and the Washington ESD pays benefits from the collected funds. Your individual claim is just one drop in a huge bucket.

your boss sounds like a piece of work tbh. glad you got out of there even if it wasnt by choice

Bottom line - Washington unemployment benefits are paid from a trust fund that's funded entirely by employer payroll taxes. Your individual employer doesn't write a check for your specific benefits, but their tax contributions (along with all other employers) fund the system. The state manages everything and makes benefit decisions independently.

One more thing - if your employer contests your claim saying you were fired for misconduct or quit voluntarily, that's a separate issue from who pays. Don't let them intimidate you out of appealing if they challenge your eligibility.

One more thing - when you do find your next job, you'll be contributing to the system that helped you get through this rough patch. It's really a pretty elegant system when you think about it.

Filed unemployment three times over my career and never once regretted it. Each time it gave me the financial cushion to find a better job rather than settling for the first offer out of desperation.

I've been calling Washington ESD for weeks trying to get my claim straightened out. Finally used Claimyr to get through and talk to an actual person. Check out their site at claimyr.com - they handle all the calling and waiting so you don't have to deal with busy signals all day.

The tax rate calculation is pretty complex - it's based on the employer's total payroll, their industry classification, and their experience rating over the past few years. Companies in high-turnover industries generally pay higher base rates.

i got laid off last year and my employer tried to say I was fired for cause to avoid the unemployment charge. washington esd investigated and determined it was really a layoff. employers can't just lie to avoid paying their fair share

EMPLOYERS ACT LIKE UNEMPLOYMENT IS COMING OUT OF THEIR PERSONAL BANK ACCOUNT!! It's literally business insurance that they're required to carry. They pay premiums whether they use it or not, just like any other insurance.

fun fact: employees don't pay into unemployment insurance in washington state. it's 100% employer-funded through payroll taxes. some states have employee contributions but washington puts the full burden on employers

The whole experience rating system is actually pretty fair. Good employers with stable workforces pay lower rates, while companies that frequently lay people off pay higher rates. It creates the right incentives.

been through this whole song and dance multiple times. your benefits come from a fund that all wa employers pay into. your specific employer's future rates might go up if they have lots of claims, but your weekly check isn't coming directly from their pocket

One more tip - if you have trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone, there's a service called Claimyr that can help you get through to an agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Really useful when you need to actually talk to someone about your claim.

I had a similar situation where my employer was acting like I was stealing from them by filing for unemployment. Turns out they were just worried about their tax rate going up. I filed anyway and got approved no problem.

If you need help getting through to Washington ESD to check on your claim status, there's a service called Claimyr that I used. They helped me get through when I couldn't reach anyone on the phone. Check out their website claimyr.com.

Bottom line - you earned those unemployment benefits through your work history. Your employer already paid the taxes to fund the system. Don't let them make you feel guilty about using a benefit you're entitled to.

For what it's worth, I used Claimyr recently when I needed to talk to someone at Washington ESD about my adjudication issue. Saved me hours of trying to call. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ if you want to see how it works.

The unemployment insurance system in Washington is pretty straightforward - employers pay quarterly taxes based on their payroll and experience rating, that money goes into a state trust fund, and Washington ESD pays benefits from that fund to eligible claimants.