Just remember to stay on top of your weekly claims once you start receiving benefits. The system is pretty automated but you have to do your part by filing consistently.

I went through a similar position elimination situation a few years ago and want to echo what others have said - you're definitely eligible for unemployment benefits. The 60-day notice actually works in your favor because it gives you time to prepare all your documentation and plan your next steps. One thing I'd add is to take screenshots or print copies of your company's official elimination announcement if they sent one out via email or posted it anywhere. Having that official documentation can be helpful if there are any questions during the claims process. Also, don't feel bad about filing for unemployment - you've been paying into this system for 6 years and this is exactly what it's designed for. Best of luck with both the claim process and your job search!

Based on everything you've shared, here's what I recommend: 1. For simplicity, stick with your UI claim for reduced hours 2. When filing your weekly claim, report the 4 days you missed as "not able and available" (you won't get UI for those days) 3. Don't submit the PFML paperwork if it's just for those 4 days - the waiting period means you likely wouldn't receive benefits anyway 4. If you have more medical absences planned in the future, then PFML might be worth considering Just remember to always be truthful on your UI claims about days you weren't able to work due to medical issues. It's better to not receive benefits for a few days than to risk an overpayment determination later.

Just wanted to add another perspective - I work in HR and deal with these situations regularly. Your employer giving you PFML paperwork doesn't necessarily mean they're trying to manipulate their UI tax rates, but it's worth understanding that they're required to inform employees about PFML eligibility when they take unpaid medical leave. However, given your situation (already on partial UI for reduced hours + only 4 days of medical absence), you're making the smart choice by sticking with UI and marking those days as not able/available. The administrative burden of managing both programs simultaneously isn't worth it for such a short absence. One tip: keep documentation of your medical absence (doctor's note, etc.) just in case ESD ever asks about those days you marked as not able/available. It shows you were being honest about your availability for work. Good luck with everything, and I hope you're feeling better!

I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. Got a callback from an ESD agent in about 20 minutes. Definitely worth it to find out there was an actual issue holding things up rather than just waiting endlessly!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! Applied for PFML 10 days ago to care for my newborn and I'm getting anxious about the wait time. Reading through all these responses is really helpful - sounds like employer verification delays are super common. I'm going to check with my HR department tomorrow to make sure they've completed their part. Thanks for sharing your experience and the update that you got it resolved!

worth mentioning that if you have questions about your specific wage reporting situation, claimyr can help you get through to washington esd to ask directly. sometimes you need to talk to an actual person to get answers about complex pay situations

Thanks for starting this thread! I'm in a similar situation - just moved to Washington for work and trying to understand all the payroll deductions. Based on what everyone's shared, it sounds like the main things to remember are: 1) Most wages count toward unemployment tax up to $70,200 for 2025, 2) The employee rate is about 0.43%, and 3) Each employer calculates separately if you have multiple jobs. I'm going to start keeping better track of my pay stubs to make sure everything looks right. Really appreciate all the detailed responses from everyone - this community is super helpful for navigating Washington's employment system!

When I had my standby issue I couldn't get through to ESD on the phone for nearly a week... every morning I'd call right when they opened and still couldn't get through. If you're having trouble, try that Claimyr service I mentioned - it saved me so much frustration and time. What I learned is that it's super important to deal with these issues fast before they turn into bigger problems with your claim!

Thank you everyone for all the helpful advice! I was able to get through to ESD this morning (after many attempts) and explained the situation. They were actually understanding about the confusion. I have to retroactively submit job search activities for the past weeks, but they're giving me time to do it. And I've started the proper standby request process now. Lesson learned - always verify everything in the ESD system and don't just take your employer's word for it!