r/UnemploymentWA • u/PasswordPopcorn • Nov 18 '25

RESOLVED What withholdings apply to severance?

I know generally all income is taxed, but when I did some Googling it looked like WA FMLA premiums should not apply to severance payments?

I'm looking for a reliable source, like a .gov website, but the best I can find is this info from Paychex: Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave | Paychex

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u/SoThenIThought_ Admin for WEBA.Law, WA Unemployment Benefits Nov 19 '25

FMLA premiums should not apply to severance payments

r/brandnewsentence

My man. They don't.

Can you explain? Please

1

u/PasswordPopcorn Nov 19 '25

all my past employers have deducted WA paid family leave insurance premiums and WA paid medical leave insurance premiums from my severance payments.  from what I've read, they shouldn't be doing this, but I can't find a law that says otherwise.

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u/SoThenIThought_ Admin for WEBA.Law, WA Unemployment Benefits Nov 19 '25

Okay so the word deduction you are referring to a paycheck deduction and not earnings deductions as per unemployment. Okay so this isn't really an unemployment question it's a wage question. ~`Okay let me go find it. I'll go find it. I'll find you the law~~

Update. Nope. The second sentence of their article says it takes effect in 2026. I just think they really didn't read the article they showed us

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u/SoThenIThought_ Admin for WEBA.Law, WA Unemployment Benefits Nov 19 '25

Hey man just heads up the link that you have here shows a change that is implemented in 2026

Bro did you not read this? It's literally the second sentence. Did you just like chat GPT this into life because you were wondering that? It's better just ask straight up than to do that cuz that looks kind of silly you know

Employers and employees can expect changes starting Jan. 1, 2026