I'm sorry to hear you're dealing with this frustrating situation, Jason. The transition between UI and PFMLA can be confusing, and it sounds like you may have received conflicting information. From what I understand, when you apply for PFMLA while on unemployment, you typically do need to stop filing UI claims once your PFMLA claim is approved and benefits begin. However, the timing can be tricky - you want to avoid gaps in benefits but also avoid potential overpayments. The "able and available" adjudication likely triggered because the system flagged a potential conflict between claiming you're available for work (required for UI) while also having a medical/family leave situation that might make you unavailable (for PFMLA). Even though you answered that you were available all days, the system may have detected the PFMLA application. Unfortunately, adjudications can take several weeks to resolve - sometimes 6-8 weeks or more depending on their current backlog. I'd recommend: 1. Keep detailed records of all communications with ESD 2. Continue to respond to any additional questionnaires promptly 3. Consider calling back to speak with a supervisor if you feel you received incorrect guidance Has anyone else here successfully navigated the UI to PFMLA transition? Any tips for Jason on expediting the adjudication process?

Hope your appeal goes well! The fact that you have email documentation should really help your case. Keep us updated on how it turns out.

I went through a similar situation last year with a disqualifying separation due to schedule changes. The key thing that helped me win my appeal was having documentation that showed my employer agreed to my availability restrictions when I was hired, then later violated that agreement. Since you have those emails showing you discussed your class schedule during the hiring process, you're in a much better position than I was initially. Make sure to organize all your evidence chronologically - the original schedule discussion, any written agreements, and then documentation of when they started scheduling you during class times. The hearing officer will want to see a clear timeline of how your working conditions changed. Also, be prepared to explain why you tried to work with your employer before quitting (if you did) and what alternatives you explored. Good luck with your appeal!

one last tip - keep good records of everything. wages paid, hours worked, tax payments made, correspondence with washington esd. makes everything easier come audit time

Just wanted to add that Washington ESD also has a really helpful online chat feature during business hours if you can't get through by phone. I used it when I first registered my bakery and the agent walked me through the whole process step by step. It's usually faster than calling and you get a transcript of the conversation afterwards which is nice for keeping records. The chat is available on their employer services page - look for the little chat bubble icon.

Quick follow-up since there's some confusion in this thread. You have three options: 1. File your weekly claim, report your earnings honestly, and complete your job searches (safest option) 2. Don't file a claim for that week at all (okay if it's just 1-2 weeks) 3. File your claim, report earnings, but report no job searches (risky - could disqualify you and trigger adjudication) Option 1 is the safest, even though it requires a bit more work. Option 2 is fine for a short period. I would never recommend Option 3.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been through this whole process multiple times. The safest route is definitely to keep filing and doing your job searches even when you know you won't get benefits that week. I learned this the hard way when I skipped filing for what I thought was just going to be two weeks of higher earnings from freelance work. Ended up being three weeks, and when I tried to file again, my claim had been automatically closed. Had to go through the whole reopening process which took forever and created a gap in my benefits when my freelance work dried up again. The 30 minutes it takes to do the minimum job search activities is so much better than dealing with ESD bureaucracy later!

Also wanted to mention that Claimyr has been a lifesaver for me when dealing with Washington ESD. If you do end up getting W-2 work and need to file for unemployment later, they can help you navigate the system and actually get through to agents when you have questions. Much better than trying to call on your own.

I'm sorry you're going through this tough situation. As others have mentioned, Washington state doesn't currently have unemployment benefits for 1099 contractors - those ended with the pandemic programs in 2021. However, don't give up hope! Here are some immediate steps you can take: 1) Apply for Basic Food (SNAP) benefits through DSHS - you can do this online, 2) Look into emergency rental assistance programs in your county, 3) Contact 211 (dial 2-1-1) for information about local assistance programs, 4) Consider taking on some part-time W-2 work while rebuilding your client base to establish future unemployment eligibility. The freelance life is tough without a safety net, but there are resources available to help bridge the gap. Hang in there!