I'm currently going through this exact situation and wanted to share what I've learned so far. After reading through all these responses, I called ESD yesterday and spoke with a really knowledgeable rep who explained a few things that might help: 1. There's actually a provision for "partial unemployment" if you can work limited hours due to medical restrictions. The key is having your doctor specify what you CAN do rather than just what you can't do. Even if it's just 10-15 hours per week of sedentary work, that might qualify you for partial benefits. 2. The rep mentioned something called "good cause" exceptions where they can waive the typical work search requirements if you have a definite return-to-work date with your current employer. This doesn't solve the "able and available" issue, but it's one less hurdle if you can get past that first one. 3. She also told me that if your employer laid you off instead of holding your position (which some do when PFML runs out), you'd definitely qualify for full unemployment. Obviously this isn't ideal since you'd lose your job, but it's worth knowing your options. I'm planning to have a honest conversation with my doctor about drafting a more specific work capacity assessment. Maybe we can find a middle ground that keeps the door open for some kind of benefits while I finish recovering. Will update if I learn anything else useful!

I'm going through this exact situation right now and it's been such a stressful process! My PFML ended two weeks ago and I'm still waiting to hear back on my unemployment application. One thing that's helped me while navigating this is documenting EVERYTHING - every phone call, every form submitted, every medical note. I created a simple spreadsheet with dates, who I spoke with, and what they told me. This has been invaluable when different reps give me conflicting information. Also, I wanted to mention that some community health centers offer financial counseling services for free. Mine helped me create a bare-bones budget for the gap period and connected me with a local nonprofit that helps with utility bills. It's not income replacement, but every little bit helps when you're trying to stretch whatever savings you have. The system really does seem designed to make you give up rather than get help. But reading everyone's experiences here gives me hope that there might be a path forward. Keep advocating for yourself - you deserve support during your recovery!

I've been in a similar situation and can share what I learned. In Washington state, there's no strict hourly limit, but you need to stay "able and available" for full-time work. I kept my part-time hours around 25-30 per week to be safe. The earnings formula is key - you can make up to your weekly benefit amount minus $5 before they start reducing benefits dollar for dollar. So if your weekly benefit is $300, you can earn up to $295 without any reduction. Beyond that, every dollar you earn reduces your benefit by a dollar. Always report everything accurately on your weekly claims - even small amounts matter. Washington ESD does cross-check with employer wage reports, so honesty is crucial. Good luck with the part-time work!

One thing I'd add that I haven't seen mentioned is that when you work those part-time hours, make sure your schedule still allows you to attend job interviews or accept full-time work if offered. Washington ESD can ask you to prove you're available for work, and if your part-time schedule conflicts with that availability, it could be a problem. I learned this when I had to turn down a job interview because it conflicted with my part-time shifts - thankfully it didn't affect my claim, but it was a wake-up call. Keep your part-time work flexible enough that you can still actively job search and be available for opportunities.

Update: I've seen several cases in the past month where weekly claims show as 'disqualified' during adjudication, then automatically change to 'paid' once the main claim is approved. This seems to be a new system display issue with ESD's updated claim processing system. However, I still recommend trying to reach an agent after 5 weeks, as that exceeds their normal processing timeframe. If everything else in your claim looks good (identity verified, no issues showing, employer not contesting), then most likely your claim just needs a manual review to finalize approval.

That's fantastic news! So glad you were able to get through and get some clarity. It's really frustrating that ESD uses such confusing terminology - "disqualified" sounds so final when it's really just a processing status. Thanks for updating the thread - this will definitely help other people who find themselves in the same situation. Fingers crossed your decision comes through quickly and all those weekly claims flip to paid!

Really appreciate all the detailed info in this thread! As someone who just started the unemployment process, I was totally confused about the timing. The tip about checking eServices for "paid" status on Tuesday evening before the money hits your account is brilliant - that's going to save me so much anxiety. Setting up bank alerts too. It's amazing how much clearer everything becomes when people who've been through it actually explain the real-world timeline instead of just the official guidelines. Thanks everyone!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who's been through this process - the eServices status check is absolutely essential! I learned about it the hard way after spending my first month constantly worrying about payment timing. Now I have a routine: file my weekly claim on Sunday, check eServices Tuesday evening around 7 PM to see the "paid" status, then I know for sure my deposit will be there Wednesday morning. It's such a relief to have that confirmation before going to bed Tuesday night. Also, if you're with a smaller bank or credit union, your deposit might show up Tuesday evening instead of Wednesday morning - mine started appearing around 10 PM on Tuesdays once my bank adjusted their processing schedule. The key is just knowing that once you see "paid" in eServices, the money is definitely coming within the next few hours!

One more thing to keep in mind - if you do go with standby, make sure you still file your weekly claims on time even though you're not job searching. I've seen people think standby means they don't have to do anything at all, but you still need to certify weekly to receive your benefits. The only difference is you won't have to report job search activities during those first 8 weeks (or 12 if your employer gets the extension). Missing weekly certifications will stop your payments regardless of standby status.

Just wanted to add from personal experience - I was in almost the exact same situation last winter with a seasonal retail job. Went with standby and it was definitely the right choice. The key things that made it work smoothly for me: 1. My manager filled out the standby paperwork correctly with accurate dates 2. They responded immediately when ESD contacted them to verify 3. I kept filing my weekly claims religiously even though no job searches were required When my 8 weeks were up and they still weren't ready to bring me back, the transition to regular unemployment with job search requirements was seamless - literally just started reporting 3 job searches per week on my next weekly claim. No interruption in benefits at all. The peace of mind of not having to stress about job searches while knowing I had a job waiting was worth it, especially during the holidays when finding temp work would have been tough anyway. Go with standby if your employer is on board!