Just want to add that if you're working multiple part-time jobs like I am, you need to report the gross wages from ALL of them for that week. I made the mistake of only reporting my main job at first and got flagged for an audit. Washington ESD wants to see the complete picture of your earnings, so don't leave anything out - even if it's just a few hours at a second job.

Just to emphasize what others have said - always err on the side of reporting MORE rather than less. I learned this the hard way when I didn't report some small cash tips from my restaurant job thinking they wouldn't matter. Washington ESD ended up finding out during a routine audit and I had to pay back benefits plus interest. It's really not worth the risk. Even if you think something might not count as "wages," report it anyway and let them sort it out. Better safe than sorry when it comes to unemployment benefits!

Thanks everyone for all the detailed information! This gives me a much better understanding of how the benefit calculation works. I feel more confident about filing my claim now that I know what to expect for my weekly benefit amount.

Just wanted to add something that might help with your planning - when you do file, make sure you have all your employer information ready including exact dates of employment and reason for separation. Washington ESD will contact your employers to verify wages and job separation details, and any delays in that process can hold up your benefit payments even after your monetary determination is approved. I learned this when my former employer took weeks to respond to ESD's inquiry, which delayed my first payment.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share what happened with my sister's claim last month. She was in almost the exact same situation - received a lump sum severance payment on her last day after 15 years with the company, then was confused about reporting it on her weekly claims. She initially tried calling ESD directly but couldn't get through (typical!). After reading advice similar to what's been shared here, she decided to report the full severance amount and explained in the comments that it was a lump sum payment received on her termination date. ESD allocated her $8,400 severance over 4 weeks based on her previous weekly wage of $2,100. She couldn't receive benefits during those 4 weeks, but once that period ended, her regular unemployment benefits started without any complications. The whole process was actually smoother than she expected once she reported everything honestly. The key takeaway from her experience: ESD's computer systems are pretty sophisticated at cross-referencing employer reports and tax records, so trying to hide or misrepresent severance payments almost always backfires. Being upfront from the start saved her a lot of potential headaches down the road. Hope your husband's claim goes smoothly! This community has given you solid advice - definitely report that severance payment.

I went through something very similar with my unemployment claim earlier this year. My employer gave me a severance package when they eliminated my position, and I was also confused about how to report it on the weekly claims. Here's what I learned: ESD considers severance as "payment in lieu of notice" - essentially wages for time you would have worked if you hadn't been laid off. So even though your husband received it all at once, ESD will spread that amount across however many weeks it would have covered based on his regular salary. The specific wording of their question can be confusing, but you should answer "yes" and report the severance. In the comments section, be very clear: "Received lump sum severance payment of $X on [date of last day of work]. This was not payment specifically for this week but total severance package." When I did this, ESD calculated that my $4,800 severance covered 3 weeks at my previous wage rate. I couldn't collect benefits for those 3 weeks, but after that period ended, my regular unemployment payments started right on schedule. Don't stress too much about the exact wording - just be honest and thorough in your reporting. ESD deals with this situation all the time and their system will handle the calculations once you provide the correct information.

Feel free to update this thread once you get some official answers from the agencies. It would be helpful for others in similar situations.

I'm a benefits counselor and wanted to add some clarity to this discussion. The interaction between SSI and unemployment is indeed complex, but it's not impossible. The key is understanding that SSI allows for "attempts to work" under certain programs. If your medical condition has improved enough that a doctor cleared you for part-time work, you should first contact Social Security to discuss work incentive programs like the Ticket to Work program. These programs provide protections while you test your ability to work. Additionally, Washington state has a specific provision allowing people with disabilities to receive unemployment benefits if they can demonstrate they're able and available for work within their limitations. The critical step is getting everything properly documented and coordinated between agencies before applying for anything. Don't let the complexity discourage you - there are legitimate pathways, but they require careful navigation.

I'd recommend checking your online claim status daily. Sometimes they resolve adjudication without even contacting you, especially if they get all the information they need from your employer or their own records. The status will change from "Pending" to either "Paid" or "Processing" once adjudication completes successfully. Also, you mentioned contacting your legislative representative - that's actually one of the most effective ways to get movement on a stuck claim. The fact that ESD responded to you the same day is a very good sign. Your claim has likely been flagged for priority handling now.

I'm going through something similar right now - my claim has been pending for 6 weeks and just got moved to adjudication last week after I contacted my state senator's office. The waiting is absolutely brutal, especially when you're watching your bank account drain. One thing that's helped me stay somewhat sane is setting up account alerts so I know immediately if any payments come through, rather than constantly checking the portal. I also started keeping a detailed log of every call I make to ESD with dates, times, and what they told me - it's helped when speaking with different agents. Hang in there - from what I'm reading here, it sounds like contacting your rep was the right move and should hopefully speed things up. I know it doesn't help with the immediate financial stress, but at least there's movement happening now. Keep us posted on how it goes!