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This thread is super helpful! I was also confused about some unemployment terminology. Glad to know I'm not the only one who gets mixed up by all the different terms people use.
Right? There's so much unofficial slang mixed in with the official terms that it gets confusing fast.
I'm new to unemployment benefits and this whole thread has been really educational! I was also hearing confusing terminology at my local WorkSource office. It sounds like the key takeaway is that Washington ESD doesn't officially use "sub pay" - it's probably just informal language people use. I'm glad to see there are resources like that Claimyr service for when you need to actually speak with someone, since I've heard the phone lines are nearly impossible to get through on. Thanks everyone for clarifying all the official benefit types vs. the slang terms!
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Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through the PFML process last fall - everything you're experiencing is unfortunately totally normal! The system is definitely not user-friendly. A few things that might help while you wait for approval: 1. Keep checking your email AND the messages section in your paidleave.wa.gov account. Sometimes they send updates through one but not the other. 2. If you haven't already, make sure all your documentation is complete. Missing or unclear medical certification is the #1 reason for delays from what I've seen. 3. The waiting is the worst part, but once you're approved everything moves much faster. I got my first payment (including backpay) within 5 business days of approval. 4. Start preparing now for weekly claims - keep a simple log of any work/income during your leave period, even if it's zero. Makes filing much easier later. Hang in there! The system is broken but it does eventually work. Your early morning call success gives me hope that maybe they're finally getting better at answering phones.
This is incredibly helpful advice, thank you! I'm definitely going to start keeping a work/income log right away - I hadn't even thought about that but it makes total sense. Quick question about the documentation - my doctor submitted the medical certification when I first applied, but I'm wondering if there's a way for me to check if ESD actually received it properly? I'm paranoid something got lost in their system and that's why it's taking so long. Did you have any way to verify your paperwork was complete during the waiting period? Also really encouraging to hear about the 5-day payment turnaround after approval. That takes some of the stress off knowing it won't be another long wait once I finally get the green light!
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Just submitted my PFML application last week and the waiting is killing me. Reading through all these responses is actually really reassuring though - at least I know I'm not alone in finding this system completely confusing. Quick question for everyone who's been through this - did any of you have issues with your employer's HR department not knowing how PFML works? Mine keeps asking me questions I can't answer because I'm still waiting for approval, and they seem just as lost as I am about how this all coordinates with their own policies. Also @Jessica Nguyen - thanks for sharing your success story about getting through at 8am! I'm definitely going to try that strategy tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed I get as lucky as you did!
Yes! My HR department was completely clueless about PFML too. They kept asking me for documentation and timelines that I didn't have yet because everything was still pending. I ended up having to explain the state program to them, which was awkward since I barely understood it myself at that point! What helped was printing out some of the FAQ pages from the paidleave.wa.gov website and sharing those with HR. At least then we were all looking at the same (confusing) information. Some employers have their own policies that run parallel to PFML, so it can get really messy trying to coordinate everything. Good luck with the 8am call strategy! I'm thinking of trying that myself if I need to contact them again. The key seems to be calling right when they open before the phone lines get completely overwhelmed.
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I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation! My employer announced they're moving to Oregon and I can't relocate due to caring for my elderly mother who has health issues here in Washington. Reading through everyone's responses has been incredibly helpful - especially knowing that Washington ESD considers this involuntary separation rather than voluntary quit. I've been worried they might see it as me choosing not to take the job offer, but it sounds like having legitimate family obligations that prevent relocation is well-recognized as good cause. I'm going to start gathering all the documentation people mentioned - the relocation announcement emails, timeline, and a written explanation of my caregiving responsibilities. It's such a relief to hear from others who've been through this successfully. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!
Caring for an elderly parent with health issues is definitely considered a valid reason for not being able to relocate! Washington ESD recognizes family caregiving responsibilities as legitimate circumstances that would make relocation unreasonable. Your situation sounds very similar to what others have shared here - you're not voluntarily quitting, you're unable to continue employment due to circumstances beyond your control. Make sure to document your mother's health needs and your role as her caregiver when you file your claim. It might also help to have something from her doctor or healthcare provider that confirms she requires ongoing care in the area. You're doing the right thing by gathering all that documentation ahead of time!
I just went through this exact situation last year when my company relocated from Washington to Texas. I couldn't move because of my partner's medical treatment here and family commitments. Washington ESD was actually very understanding about it - they classified it as involuntary separation due to employer relocation, not a voluntary quit. The key is being thorough in your initial application and clearly explaining why relocation isn't feasible for you. I included documentation about the company's announcement, the timeline they gave us, and a brief explanation of my personal circumstances that made moving impossible. The whole process took about 2-3 weeks and I was approved without any complications. One tip - when you file, make sure to emphasize that this is due to the employer's business decision to relocate, not your personal preference about the new location. That distinction really matters for how they classify your separation. Good luck with everything - it sounds like you have a very solid case!
This is so helpful to hear from someone who just went through the exact same thing! The distinction you mentioned about emphasizing it's the employer's business decision versus personal preference is really important - I hadn't thought about framing it that way but it makes total sense. It's reassuring to know Washington ESD was understanding about medical treatment and family commitments as valid reasons for not being able to relocate. I'm feeling much more confident about my case now after reading everyone's experiences. Thanks for sharing the timeline too - knowing it took 2-3 weeks helps me plan financially for the transition period.
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I went through this exact same situation last year! Having multiple jobs actually worked in my favor because it gave me higher qualifying wages. Just make sure you have all your employment dates, wages, and employer contact info ready before you start the application. The online system will walk you through entering each job separately, but it's all part of one single claim. Don't stress too much about it - Washington ESD deals with this all the time and their system is designed to handle multiple employers.
That's so reassuring to hear! I was really worried about messing something up, but it sounds like the system is pretty user-friendly for this situation. Did you have any trouble with the wage verification process when you had multiple employers?
No issues at all with wage verification! Washington ESD automatically contacts your employers to verify the information you provide. It took about 2 weeks for them to get responses from both of my employers, and then my claim was approved. The key is just being accurate with the dates and wages when you first file - if there are small discrepancies, they'll work it out during verification, but big errors could delay things.
I just wanted to add one more helpful tip from my experience - when you're filling out the employment history section, Washington ESD asks for your "gross wages" from each job. Make sure you're reporting your total earnings before taxes and deductions, not your take-home pay. I initially put in my net pay by mistake and had to call to correct it later. Also, if either of your jobs paid you in tips or commissions, make sure to include those in your total wages too. The system will use all of this information to calculate your highest earning quarter, which determines your weekly benefit amount.
Oliver Weber
Update: I just checked my bank account and my payment from yesterday's claim is already pending! Looks like it'll post tomorrow morning. Thanks everyone for the help figuring out the timing.
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Zoe Kyriakidou
•Perfect. Now you know what to expect for future weeks.
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Jamal Brown
•Glad it worked out! Always good when the system works like it's supposed to.
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Maggie Martinez
I've been collecting unemployment for about 4 months now and can confirm the timing pattern everyone mentioned. File your weekly claim by Sunday evening and you'll typically see the deposit hit your account Wednesday morning. I use Bank of America and it's been consistent every week - payment shows up around 6-7am on Wednesday. The key is filing early in the week and making sure your claim status shows "paid" in your account. If it shows anything else like "under review" or "pending," that's when you might have delays. Also worth noting that if you're doing job search activities online, make sure you're logging them properly in the system because that can hold up payments too.
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Amara Adeyemi
•That's really helpful to know about the job search logging! I'm still figuring out all the requirements. Do you know if volunteering counts as a job search activity or does it have to be actual job applications?
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