Just want to add one more important detail - when you're gathering your employment information, make sure to include ALL employers from the past 18 months, even if you only worked there briefly or it was temporary work. Washington ESD uses something called your "base year" to calculate benefits, and leaving out any employment could reduce your benefit amount. Also, if you worked for multiple employers at the same time, list them all separately with their respective dates and wages. I made the mistake of combining part-time jobs on my first application and it caused delays.

Hey Miguel! I just went through this process a few months ago when I got laid off from my warehouse job. The stress is totally understandable - I was panicking about rent too. Here's what worked for me: Start by going to esd.wa.gov and create your SecureAccess Washington account first. Have your Social Security card, driver's license, and bank info ready. For employment history, write down every job from the last 18 months with exact dates and wages - even short temp jobs count toward your benefits! The application took me about 45 minutes, and I got my monetary determination in about 10 days. Don't worry if you don't have every pay stub - they can verify most wages through their system. The key is to apply ASAP since benefits start from when you file, not when you lost your job. You've got this!

Just wanted to add my experience from going through PFML approval last month! I was also super confused about the weekly claims thing at first - it's so different from regular unemployment. My application took exactly 16 days to get approved, and like others mentioned, I didn't need to file any weekly claims during the waiting period. The most important thing I learned was to keep checking both your email AND the PFML portal daily, because sometimes status updates appear in the portal before you get an email notification. Also, if you do end up calling 833-717-2273, try to have all your documents ready to reference - they might ask about specific dates or employer information on the spot. The wait is definitely nerve-wracking when you're dealing with a new baby and need that income, but try not to stress too much if it's only been 2 weeks. That seems pretty normal based on what I'm seeing here. Once you do get approved, the backpay process was actually really smooth for me - got direct deposit within about 5 business days of approval.

I went through PFML approval back in December and wanted to share a few additional tips that might help! First, if you're getting anxious about the wait time, try to remember that 2 weeks is still pretty early in the process - I've seen approvals anywhere from 8 days to over a month. Second, when you do call 833-717-2273, if you get disconnected or can't get through, don't give up! I had to call 4 different days before getting through, but it was worth it because they were able to tell me exactly what was holding up my application (needed a clearer photo of my driver's license). Third, make sure you're not confusing PFML payments with short-term disability if your employer offers that - they're completely separate and you might be eligible for both. Finally, once you do get approved, keep all your documentation because you'll need some of it if you decide to extend your leave later. The whole process is definitely more complicated than it should be, but you're on the right track by asking questions here rather than just waiting and wondering!

Just to follow up on my earlier comment - make sure you're specifically asking to speak with the Office of Special Investigations (OSI) when you call ESD about fraud issues. Regular agents often don't have the authority to address these cases properly. And for clarity - there are two separate issues you need to resolve: 1. Getting the fraudulent 2020 claim properly documented and removed 2. Having your current claim properly processed once the fraud block is removed These often require speaking with different departments, which is why it's so frustrating. The fraud documentation has to be fully processed before your current claim can move forward.

I'm dealing with something very similar right now! Filed in February and every week shows disqualified with no explanation. When I finally got through to someone last week, they said there's a "hold" on my account but couldn't tell me why or how to fix it. Reading through all these responses is actually really helpful - I had no idea about the Office of Special Investigations or that specific form number (ESD 8028). I'm definitely going to try calling and asking for OSI specifically. One thing I wanted to add - has anyone tried reaching out to their local WorkSource office for help navigating this? I'm wondering if they might have better connections or know shortcuts for getting through the bureaucracy. @Sadie - please keep us updated on how the form submission goes! Sounds like you're getting some solid advice here and I'm hoping your case gets resolved soon. This whole situation is so stressful when you're already dealing with job loss.

Hang in there everyone. This unemployment phase won't last forever even though it feels endless when you're in it.

I completely relate to this struggle. Been dealing with Washington ESD for about 3 months now and the psychological toll is exactly what you described - that constant anxiety about whether you filled something out wrong or if they'll flag your claim for some mysterious reason. The worst part is feeling like you have to justify your existence every week just to get benefits you paid into for years. The system really does feel designed to make you jump through endless hoops rather than actually help people get back on their feet. Stay strong - we're all navigating this nightmare together.

UPDATE: The money just hit my Chase account this morning at 2:47 AM! Looks like it takes about 1 business day after showing as 'paid' in the ESD system. Thanks everyone for your help and sharing your experiences!

Awesome to hear it worked out! For anyone else reading this thread, Sofia's experience is pretty typical - first payment usually takes 1-2 business days after showing "paid" status. Chase tends to post ESD deposits in the early morning hours (usually between 2-4 AM) on business days. Good to know for future reference!