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For anyone still on the fence about withholding - remember that unemployment benefits end, but tax bills don't go away. Better to have the money set aside from the start.
Final thought - if you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to set up withholding or ask questions about it, that Claimyr service mentioned earlier really does work. Used it myself when I couldn't get through the regular phone lines.
Several people have mentioned Claimyr now. Seems like it might be worth trying if I run into problems.
Bottom line: expect payments Tuesday/Wednesday if you file by Sunday, but don't panic if it's a day or two late occasionally. The system isn't perfect but it's generally reliable.
Bottom line for OP - with 8 months of steady work at $22/hour, you should definitely qualify for unemployment benefits if you get laid off. Don't stress too much about the eligibility requirements.
This has been a really informative thread. I'm bookmarking it in case I ever need this information myself. The Washington ESD system seems complicated but at least the requirements are clear once you understand them.
Bottom line - you can definitely get unemployment with severance pay in Washington. The severance might affect the timing of when benefits start, but it won't disqualify you completely. Just be upfront about it when you file.
One last tip - when you do your weekly claims, you'll need to report any severance payments in the week you actually receive them, not when you earned them. So if you get a lump sum in week 3 after filing, report it on that week's claim.
Misterclamation Skyblue
For what it's worth, I tried that Claimyr service mentioned earlier when I had questions about my claim status and it was really helpful. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to get straight answers about these complex programs.
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TillyCombatwarrior
•Good to hear another positive review. I might try it myself if I run into more issues.
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Misterclamation Skyblue
•The demo video really shows how it works if you're curious about it before trying.
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Peyton Clarke
Bottom line: extended benefits aren't available right now in Washington but could be triggered if unemployment rises. Keep filing weekly claims after regular benefits end to maintain eligibility. Washington ESD handles everything automatically if you qualify.
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TillyCombatwarrior
•Perfect summary! This is exactly what I needed to know.
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Anna Xian
•Yep, that covers all the key points we discussed.
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