Really hoping this works out for everyone here. The gig economy has been tough lately and we all need some kind of safety net while we figure out our next moves.

I'm in the same boat with my delivery driving work. Been doing DoorDash and Instacart for over a year but income has dropped significantly in recent months. I had no idea gig workers could potentially qualify for unemployment benefits in Washington! This is really helpful information. I'm definitely going to look into applying, especially since I've been struggling to make ends meet. Does anyone know if working for multiple gig platforms (like both DoorDash and Instacart) affects the application process at all? I'm wondering if I need to report income from all platforms or if there are any complications with having multiple 1099s from different companies.

I went through this exact situation last year! One thing that really helped speed up the adjudication process was calling ESD right when they opened at 8am - the wait times are usually shorter first thing in the morning. Also, if your husband's position was eliminated due to lack of work/funding, make sure he emphasizes that it was a "no fault" separation when he reopens the claim. The good news is that once adjudication clears, they usually backpay for all the weeks you were waiting, so don't stress too much about the timing with rent. Just make sure he keeps filing his weekly claims even during the adjudication period - that's super important! Wishing you both the best of luck with this process.

Just want to add something that helped me when I reopened my claim - make sure your husband saves screenshots of every step when he reopens online, especially the confirmation page. I had an issue where the system glitched during my reopening process and I couldn't prove I had actually submitted it correctly. Having those screenshots saved me from having to start over. Also, if the website seems slow or keeps timing out, try using a different browser or clearing your cache first. The ESD website can be really finicky, especially during busy periods. Hope everything goes smoothly for you guys!

update: finally got through to someone at esd today!!! they said theres a delay with PFML 1099Gs this year affecting tons of people. they're still sending them out in batches. the rep said we should all have them by feb 25 latest. just fyi for anyone else waiting!!

I'm going through the exact same thing! I received PFML benefits for 4 weeks last summer and still haven't gotten my 1099G form. I tried logging into the paidleave.wa.gov portal like others mentioned but it's showing nothing in my tax documents section. It's so frustrating because I want to file my taxes but don't want to mess anything up with the IRS. Has anyone had luck calling the PFML customer service line directly instead of regular ESD? I'm wondering if they have a separate number that might have shorter wait times.

I just went through this process in February and wanted to add my experience! My first PFML payment took 11 business days from filing my weekly claim to receiving the direct deposit. What really helped me was calling my bank to confirm they had my account set up to receive ACH transfers from Washington State - apparently some banks have extra security measures that can delay government payments by a day or two. Also, I noticed that PFML payments often come through on Wednesdays or Thursdays, so don't panic if you don't see it on Monday/Tuesday. The "Payment Processing" status you mentioned is exactly what mine showed for about 4 days before switching to "Payment Sent." Once it switches to "Payment Sent," you should see the money within 1-2 business days max. One last tip: make sure to keep filing your weekly claims even while waiting for the first payment! I almost forgot to file my second weekly claim because I was so focused on waiting for the first payment, and that would have delayed everything even more. Good luck!

I'm currently waiting for my first PFML payment too and this thread has been incredibly informative! I submitted my weekly claim on Tuesday and it's showing "Claim Submitted" status. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like I should expect to wait about 7-14 business days for that first payment. One thing I wanted to mention that might help others - I called the PFML customer service line early this morning (around 7:30 AM) and actually got through after only 15 minutes on hold! The representative confirmed that first payments do take longer because they have to verify everything is set up correctly in their system. She also mentioned that if you have any banking changes or issues with direct deposit, it's better to resolve them now rather than after a payment fails. For anyone still waiting like us, she said the best times to call are right when they open (7 AM) or during lunch hours (12-1 PM) when call volume tends to be lower. Hope this helps someone avoid the frustration others mentioned about not being able to get through!

Honestly this thread is making me feel better about my own unemployment experience. It's nice to know other people have gone through the same confusion and stress.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same situation last year. I was laid off from my warehouse job and made the mistake of waiting almost a month to apply because I kept thinking they might call me back. Lost out on about $1,200 in benefits that I never got back. Washington ESD is pretty strict about the timeline - you can file up to a year after your separation date, but you only get paid for the weeks you actually file claims for. So even though you have a year to start your initial claim, every week you wait is money lost forever. My advice is to file today if you haven't already, and don't look back. Even if your employer does call you back to work, you can always stop filing weekly claims at that point. But at least you'll have the safety net in place!