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When this happened to me with my unemployment claim (different from PFMLA I know but same department), I ended up having to go to the WorkSource office in person to get help. Sometimes the in-person option is the only way to cut through all the phone system nonsense. Not sure if that helps with PFMLA specifically though.
UPDATE: I finally got through! For anyone dealing with this same issue in the future - I tried the email method through the secure portal AND called the main number this morning at 8:05am. Only had to wait about 30 minutes! Turns out they were trying to reach me because they needed clarification on the dates of my medical leave. The agent was able to see notes from the previous person who called me. All sorted now and my claim should be processed within 10 business days. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!
I had a similar issue and I found out it was because my identity verification had expired and needed to be redone, but there was no notification about it. When I finally got through to ESD using Claimyr, they fixed it in minutes. Definitely worth checking if there's something specific holding up your claim rather than just waiting.
is that claimyr thing expensive? i might need to use it too if my claim doesn't change by tomorrow
Just wanted to update - my claim that was stuck in processing finally went to paid status this morning around 4am! Looks like they're just running behind this week. Check your account, maybe yours went through too?
My brother works for another WA state agency and told me that ESD's phone systems are actually completely overwhelmed most days. It's not just a recording - they literally cannot handle the call volume with their current staffing. He said the best strategy is to try calling on the half-hour rather than on the hour (like 8:30, 9:30, etc) because most people call right when they open or at the top of each hour. Also, their systems do maintenance overnight and sometimes there are fewer agents in the first 30 minutes they're open because everyone's logging in and getting situated. I got through last month using this approach, calling at 8:45am on a Wednesday.
Don't panic yet! The ESD system sometimes slows down processing times when they're doing back-end updates or when they have higher claim volumes. I've had claims stay in 'processing-ivr' for up to 5 business days before suddenly switching to 'paid' without any action on my part. That said, I'd recommend checking your Notices/Letters section in eServices to see if they've sent you any requests for information that you might have missed. If there's nothing there and you hit day 5 with no movement, then it's definitely time to call.
Just want to update everyone - my claim that was stuck in 'processing-ivr' finally moved to 'paid' this morning. It took 6 days total. I never got through to ESD on the phone, but it resolved itself. So sometimes it really is just a delay in their system without any actual issues. Hope this helps calm some nerves!
Drake
Update: I called the tax form number and was told that because my payment was so recent, my 1099-G won't be generated until next month. The agent said I should file for an extension if I can't wait that long. So frustrating that it takes 4 months to get paid and then I have to wait even longer for the tax form! At least I know what's going on now. Thanks everyone for your help.
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Sebastian Scott
•thats exactly what happened to me!! extensions are easy to file tho, just use the irs form 4868
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Sarah Jones
•Glad you got an answer! One additional tip: When your 1099-G does arrive, double-check that the amount matches what you actually received. Since your payment came late, there's a higher chance of discrepancies. If there are any errors, you'll need to request a corrected 1099-G right away.
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Natalie Adams
my nieghbor works at h&r block and she says u can estimate ur ui income on taxes and then amend later when u get the real 1099g. might be easier than extension
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Emily Sanjay
•While that's technically possible, I'd caution against it unless you're 100% certain of the exact amount you received. Filing an amendment later is more complicated than filing an extension now. Extensions are very straightforward and give you until October to file without penalties.
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