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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Just did my ID.me verification yesterday and seeing all these responses gives me so much hope. It's crazy how the waiting and uncertainty mess with your head when you're already stressed about money. @Melissa Lin thanks for asking this question - I was too anxious to post but really needed to hear these timelines. Going to make sure I keep filing my weekly claims like everyone mentioned. Fingers crossed we all get our payments soon!
@Keisha Taylor You re'so welcome! I was definitely anxious about posting too but this community has been amazing. The waiting really does mess with your head - I was checking my account like every hour. Since you just verified yesterday, you re'probably looking at early next week based on everyone s'experiences here. Just remember to keep filing those weekly claims no matter what! We re'all in this together and it WILL work out. Keep us posted on how it goes!
@Keisha Taylor I totally get that anxiety! I was in your exact shoes a few months ago after losing my job. The ID.me process itself was pretty straightforward but then waiting for Washington ESD to process it felt like forever. Based on what everyone s'sharing here, you should definitely see movement by early next week. The hardest part is just trusting the process when you re'stressed about bills. One thing that helped me was setting specific times to check my account like (once in the morning and once at night instead) of obsessively refreshing. Hang in there - the relief when that status finally changes is incredible!
I went through this exact process about 8 weeks ago and it was nerve-wracking! After completing ID.me verification, mine took 4 business days to process. What really helped my peace of mind was knowing that Washington ESD has actually improved their system a lot - they now send email notifications when your verification status changes, so you don't have to constantly check the portal. Also, make sure you have your banking info updated in the system because once it switches to "paid" status, the money usually hits your account within 24 hours with direct deposit. The back pay for all those weeks you've been waiting really adds up, so there's a nice lump sum coming your way! Just stay patient and keep filing those weekly claims.
The email notifications are a game changer! I wish I had known about those when I was going through this process. I was literally refreshing the portal every few hours like a maniac. It's amazing how much Washington ESD has improved their system - a few years ago people were waiting weeks or even months. The 4-day timeline seems pretty reliable now, which gives everyone a realistic expectation to work with. @Jade Santiago did you get any intermediate email updates, or just the final approval notification?
@Felix Grigori I got a couple of emails actually! First one when they received my ID.me verification within (a few hours ,)then another when it moved from under "review to" approved "status." The final email came when my claim status changed to paid. "Having" those updates really helped manage expectations instead of just wondering what was happening behind the scenes. Washington ESD definitely stepped up their communication game - makes the whole process way less stressful when you know things are actually moving forward.
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last year my neighbor couldn't find his 1099 and ESD told him that if you don't request paper copies they only keep them online for like 3 years or something so if you need older ones you have to specifically request them... just fyi for anyone reading who might need older forms
That's correct. ESD typically keeps 1099-G forms available online for 3 years. If you need forms from prior years, you'll need to submit a specific request to ESD. You can do this by calling their tax department directly or submitting a request through your eServices account messaging center. Make sure to specify which tax year you need.
Just wanted to add - if anyone is still having trouble finding their 1099-G in eServices, try clearing your browser cache and cookies first. I had issues last month where certain sections of my account wouldn't load properly, and that fixed it. Also, make sure you're using a supported browser (Chrome, Firefox, or Edge work best). The mobile app doesn't always show all the tax documents, so I'd recommend using a computer if possible.
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This is such a complex and frustrating situation, and I really feel for you having to navigate this with a newborn! I went through something similar last year and learned the hard way that there are actually THREE different sets of requirements you might be dealing with: federal FMLA (1,250 hours + 12 months employment), Washington state's own family leave job protection (which I believe has slightly different criteria), and the PFL benefits eligibility (820 hours in qualifying period). What really helped me was requesting a meeting with HR rather than just email - it's harder for them to brush you off in person, and you can ask questions in real time about their calculations. When I did this, I discovered they had miscounted several pay periods where I had worked split shifts, and they hadn't properly included some holiday hours I'd worked. Also, if you do find out you don't qualify for job protection, don't panic yet. Some employers will still work with you on returning to a similar position, especially if you've been a good employee. And like others mentioned, if you suspect any discrimination or if they're treating you differently than other employees in similar situations, document everything and consider contacting the EEOC or a labor attorney for a consultation. Many will give you a free initial consultation to tell you if you have a case. You're not powerless here - keep fighting for what you deserve!
This is really helpful advice about requesting an in-person meeting with HR! I hadn't thought about how split shifts and holiday hours might get miscounted - that could definitely make a difference in my situation since I picked up a lot of extra holiday coverage shifts last year. The point about there being three different sets of requirements is eye-opening too. I'm going to schedule that HR meeting this week and come prepared with my own hour calculations. It's reassuring to know that even if I don't technically qualify for job protection, some employers will still work with you. Thanks for the encouragement - I really needed to hear that I'm not powerless in this situation!
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stressful situation! As someone who works in employment law, I want to add that you should also check if your employer is subject to Washington's Pregnancy Discrimination Act, which provides additional protections beyond FMLA. Even if you don't meet the federal hour requirements, Washington state law may still protect your position. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also verify whether your employer correctly calculated your "qualifying period" for the 1,250 hours. Some employers mistakenly use the wrong 12-month period - it should be the 12 months immediately before your leave started, not a calendar year or fiscal year. If you discover your employer made calculation errors and you actually do qualify, they could be in serious legal trouble for denying your return. Document every conversation about this in writing and keep copies of all your timesheets. Many employment attorneys will take these cases on contingency if there's clear employer wrongdoing. Don't let them make you feel like you don't have options - Washington has some of the strongest worker protections in the country!
Thank you so much for this legal perspective! The point about verifying the correct "qualifying period" is really important - I need to make sure my employer used the right 12-month window and not just a calendar year. I hadn't heard about Washington's Pregnancy Discrimination Act providing additional protections either, so I'll definitely look into that. It's encouraging to know that if they made calculation errors, there could be serious consequences for them. I'm feeling much more confident about documenting everything and potentially consulting with an employment attorney if needed. The reminder that Washington has strong worker protections gives me hope that there might be options I haven't considered yet!
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I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago in Washington. The key thing to remember is that severance timing matters more than the amount. When I got my $6,000 severance as a lump sum, I filed my UI claim immediately after my last day of work. Washington ESD determined that since my employer didn't allocate the severance to specific weeks, it didn't delay my benefits. I started receiving payments within 3 weeks of filing. My advice: file your claim right away and let ESD make the determination rather than trying to guess. Also, keep every piece of severance documentation - they may ask for it during the review process.
Victoria Stark
Thank you all for the helpful information! After reading everyone's responses, I think I'm going to: 1. Limit my business development to 5-10 hours per week to minimize the impact on my benefits 2. Report ALL hours spent on the business honestly on my weekly claims 3. Continue doing my 3+ job search activities each week 4. Try to reach an ESD agent directly to confirm this approach I might use that Claimyr service someone mentioned to get a definitive answer from ESD. Better to get it right from the start than deal with overpayments later. I'll update this thread once I talk to someone official.
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Benjamin Kim
•That sounds like a solid plan. One more tip: keep a detailed log of all your business activities with dates, times, and descriptions. If ESD ever questions you about it, having documentation will be incredibly helpful. Best of luck with both your job search and your new business venture!
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Demi Lagos
•Smart approach! I'm in a similar situation - laid off from my marketing job 3 months ago and thinking about freelance consulting. Your plan to limit hours and document everything makes sense. Definitely let us know what the ESD agent says about the hourly reporting requirements. The conflicting advice in this thread shows how confusing their rules really are. Good luck with both the job hunt and the web design business!
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Noah Irving
I went through this exact situation last year when I started my freelance graphic design business while on unemployment. Here's what I learned from experience and speaking with an ESD agent: You MUST report all hours worked on your business, even without income. ESD defines "work" as any activity intended to generate income, including business planning, website building, client outreach, etc. The benefit reduction formula is roughly: (Hours worked ÷ 40) × Weekly Benefit Amount. So if you work 8 hours and your WBA is $600, you'd lose about $120 that week. Key tips: - Keep detailed time logs of ALL business activities - Report hours honestly on weekly claims - Continue job search requirements (3+ activities weekly) - Stay "able and available" for full-time work I'd recommend starting very part-time (5-8 hours max per week) to minimize benefit impact while you test the waters. Once you have steady income, you can transition off unemployment properly. The good news is starting a business while on unemployment is totally legal - just be transparent about it from day one.
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Yuki Yamamoto
•This is incredibly helpful! Thank you for sharing your actual experience with ESD. The benefit reduction formula you provided is exactly what I was looking for - knowing that 8 hours would cost about $120 from a $600 WBA helps me plan better. I'm definitely going to follow your advice about starting with just 5-8 hours per week and keeping detailed time logs. Did you find that ESD agents were generally understanding about the business startup situation, or were they pretty strict about the rules? Also, when you say "transition off unemployment properly" - is there a specific process for that when your business income becomes sufficient?
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