I'm also new to the PFML process and this thread has been incredibly informative! I just wanted to add my recent experience for anyone else who might be in a similar situation. My claim was approved last Friday and I received my first deposit on the ReliaCard this past Tuesday - so it was 2 business days, which matches what a lot of people are reporting here. One thing I learned that might help others is that you can actually sign up for email notifications through your Paid Leave account to get alerts when your weekly claim status changes. It saved me from constantly logging in to check if my status had updated from "pending" to "approved." You can find this option under account settings if anyone is interested. Also wanted to echo what others have said about keeping up with your weekly filings - it's easy to think you're all set once you see "approved" but you definitely need to keep filing every week to continue receiving benefits. The system will remind you, but it's good to stay on top of it. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and tips - it really helps reduce the anxiety when you're dealing with this for the first time and just want to know when you can expect some financial relief!

This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm actually going through my first PFML claim right now and was feeling so lost about the whole process. My claim just switched to "approved" status yesterday and I was panicking about when I'd actually see any money. Reading everyone's experiences here gives me so much hope - it sounds like I should expect to see a deposit within the next few days if the 2-4 business day pattern holds true. I chose the ReliaCard option too and was starting to wonder if I made the right choice, but based on what people are sharing here it seems like it actually might be faster than direct deposit in some cases. The tips about checking the balance online before the card arrives and setting up text alerts are game changers - I had no idea those options existed! I'm definitely going to look into those email notifications in my account settings that Malik mentioned, and I'll remember to call ReliaCard customer service if I don't see the physical card within a week or so. Thank you to everyone who's taken the time to share their timelines and practical advice. This is exactly what I needed to hear to calm my nerves about budgeting during this leave. It's so much better getting real experiences from people who've actually been through this recently!

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago - terminated after 55 days at a nonprofit during probation with just "not the right fit for the role" as the explanation. No warnings, no performance reviews, nothing documented. I was so worried about the probation period affecting my eligibility, but I got approved after about 3.5 weeks of adjudication. The thing that really helped was that I kept detailed notes of my interactions with supervisors and saved all emails - when the adjudicator called, I could clearly show there had been no feedback or disciplinary actions. They asked very specific questions about whether I had violated any policies or received any warnings, and when I could definitively say no to all of it, they approved my claim. Your situation sounds very similar - the key is that "it's not working out" is not misconduct, it's just a poor job match. Make sure when you apply to be very clear that there were no performance warnings, no policy violations, and no misconduct of any kind. Also start your job search activities right away because you'll need those 3 per week once you're approved. Don't let the probation period discourage you - Washington state law is pretty clear that it's about misconduct, not tenure. Good luck!

I just want to echo what everyone else has said and add my own experience from last fall. I was terminated after 73 days during probation from a marketing coordinator position - they said I "wasn't adapting to the company culture" but never gave me any specific feedback or documented issues. I was approved for benefits after about 6 weeks of adjudication. What really helped my case was being able to clearly articulate during the phone interview that I had received no formal performance reviews, no verbal warnings, and no written disciplinary actions. The adjudicator seemed particularly interested in whether there were any specific incidents or policy violations they could point to - when I confirmed there weren't any, that seemed to be the deciding factor. Your situation sounds very similar with the vague "it's not working out" reasoning and lack of documented performance issues. I'd definitely recommend applying ASAP and being prepared for that adjudication phone call with all your paperwork handy. Also, I know everyone's mentioned this, but seriously start your job search activities right away - I made the mistake of waiting and almost lost a week of benefits because I didn't have my required job contacts logged. Washington state really does protect workers in situations like this where there's no clear misconduct, just a poor job fit. You've got a strong case based on what you've described!

Final advice - once you're registered, sign up for electronic filing and payment. It's faster, more secure, and you get confirmation receipts immediately. Plus you can access your account history online anytime.

Just went through this process myself about 6 months ago! One thing that really helped me was creating a checklist before I started. Make sure you have your business structure documents ready (LLC articles, partnership agreement, etc.) because they ask about ownership structure during registration. Also, if you're planning to have employees in multiple locations within Washington, you'll need to register each location separately. The whole process took me about 3 weeks from start to finish, but most of that was waiting for my EIN from the IRS first. Once I had all my documents together, the actual ESD registration was pretty straightforward through the online portal.

I'm really sorry this happened to you - getting laid off from a new job after just 3 weeks is such a gut punch, especially when you've already made financial commitments based on having that income. The good news is that everyone here is right about being able to reopen your existing claim since you're still within your benefit year. I went through something similar about 8 months ago when I got laid off from a marketing job after only 6 weeks due to budget cuts. A few things that helped me when I reopened my claim: 1. Make sure you have your exact start and end dates from the new job ready - ESD will ask for these specifically 2. If you received any severance or accrued vacation pay (even though you mentioned no severance), report it accurately as it can affect your benefits timing 3. Keep that email from your manager about the contract loss - it's perfect documentation for why the separation happened One thing I wish someone had told me: even though you can reopen online, if you run into any hiccups or your claim seems stuck, don't hesitate to call. Yes, the wait times are brutal, but sometimes a 5-minute conversation with an agent can resolve what might take weeks through the automated system. Also, start your job search activities right away if you haven't already. The 3 weekly job contacts requirement kicks in immediately when you reopen, and it's better to be ahead of the game. You've got this! This is just a temporary setback, and your experience will help you land something even better.

I'm so sorry this happened to you - getting laid off after only 3 weeks must feel devastating, especially when you'd finally gotten back on your feet and signed that lease. Everyone's advice about reopening your claim is solid. I just wanted to add something that helped me when I was in a similar situation: consider reaching out to your local WorkSource office as well. They often have emergency resources and can sometimes expedite certain processes or connect you with additional support services while you're waiting for benefits to restart. Also, since you mentioned being in tech support, this might actually be a good time to leverage that recent 3-week experience. Even though it was short, you can still list it on applications and explain the situation honestly - most employers understand that layoffs happen, especially at smaller companies. The fact that you were brought on initially shows your skills are in demand. Don't let this setback make you doubt yourself. You landed one job, which means you'll land another. And having that email documentation about the contract loss will definitely help if ESD has any questions about the separation. Hang in there - this community has your back!

I filed my unemployment claim with Washington ESD about 10 days ago and just wanted to share my experience so far. Like others have mentioned, the one-week waiting period is real - I didn't get paid for my first week of unemployment. However, I did receive my first payment yesterday for week two, so the timeline was pretty much exactly what Alexander described earlier. The payment showed up in my bank account about 2 business days after I filed my weekly claim. One thing I learned is to check your payment method settings early - I almost had a delay because my old debit card was still on file. Also, make sure you're logging job search activities from day one in WorkSourceWA. The system actually tracks when you start logging activities, so don't wait like I initially did. For anyone still waiting, hang in there - the process does work, it just takes patience!

I just wanted to add my experience from when I filed a few months back - the whole process took about 3 weeks from start to finish, but that included a brief hold-up when Washington ESD needed additional verification from my employer. The key thing that helped me was setting up text alerts in my account so I got notified immediately when there were any status changes or when I needed to take action. Also, I'd recommend calling the employer phone line (not the claimant line) if you think your former employer might be slow to respond - sometimes they just need a gentle reminder to submit their paperwork. The waiting is definitely stressful when you're counting on that income, but once everything gets sorted out, the payments are very consistent. Don't forget that even if there are delays, you'll get backpay for any weeks you were eligible once your claim is approved. Keep filing those weekly claims no matter what - that's the most important thing!