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Bottom line - pregnancy alone cannot disqualify you from unemployment benefits in Washington. As long as you meet the regular eligibility requirements, you're good to go. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise!
I went through a very similar situation when I was pregnant with my daughter. Got laid off at 8 months pregnant and was terrified about filing for unemployment. Turns out all my worries were for nothing - Washington ESD processed my claim without any issues. The most important thing is being honest about your ability to work. Since you mentioned you're able to work and actively job searching, you should be totally fine. I actually found a remote position during my last month of pregnancy, so don't give up hope on the job search either! The key is just staying consistent with your weekly claims and job search activities.
Thanks for sharing your experience! It's really encouraging to hear from someone who went through the exact same thing. I'm curious - when you were doing your job search activities during those last few weeks of pregnancy, did you focus mainly on remote positions or were you still applying to in-person jobs too? I'm trying to figure out the best strategy for my situation.
Yes! Finally got it resolved. I used the Claimyr service to get through to ESD (after trying to call for hours on my own with no luck). Turns out there was a system flag on my account because my previous employer submitted some information that didn't match what I reported. The agent was able to clear the flag and let me file my weekly claim over the phone. The website works normally for me now. Hope you get yours fixed too!
I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! Been trying to file since yesterday and the option just isn't there. My dashboard looks completely normal otherwise - I can see my claim balance, payment history, everything except the weekly filing button. Really glad to hear you got yours resolved through Claimyr, I might have to try that route too since I can't get through on the phone lines. It's so stressful when the website glitches like this right when you need to file!
I went through something similar with Washington ESD - got denied twice and felt like giving up. But I learned that the initial reviewers often make quick decisions without looking at all the details. For your attendance case, document everything about your childcare situation - daycare closures, sick child days, babysitter cancellations, etc. For the harassment case, gather all your HR complaints, emails, and any witnesses. The appeals process is where you can actually present your full story to someone who will listen. It took me 3 months but I eventually got approved. Don't let them discourage you - single parents face legitimate challenges that should be considered.
This is really helpful advice! I'm documenting everything now - keeping records of daycare closures, my child's sick days, and all the times I communicated with my supervisor about childcare issues. It's encouraging to hear that someone else went through multiple denials and still got approved. Did you use a lawyer for your appeal or represent yourself? I'm trying to decide if I need professional help or if I can handle it on my own with all this documentation.
I represented myself for both appeals and it worked out fine. The key is being organized and sticking to the facts. For the hearing, I made a timeline of events, brought printed copies of all my documentation, and practiced explaining my situation clearly. The judge was actually pretty understanding once I could tell the whole story instead of just filling out forms. If your case is straightforward like attendance due to childcare emergencies, you probably don't need a lawyer. Just make sure you understand the legal standard - for attendance, they need to prove it was willful misconduct, not just violating policy for legitimate reasons.
I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - got denied for "voluntary quit without good cause" even though I left because of safety concerns at my warehouse job. It's so frustrating how Washington ESD seems to automatically side with employers. I'm planning to appeal but worried about the process. Has anyone had success appealing safety-related quits? I have photos of the unsafe conditions and emails to my supervisor about the hazards, but I'm not sure if that's enough documentation for Washington ESD to approve my claim.
Safety concerns are definitely considered good cause for quitting in Washington! The key is showing you tried to get the employer to fix the unsafe conditions first. Your photos and emails to supervisors are exactly the kind of documentation you need. Make sure you can prove: 1) The conditions were genuinely unsafe/hazardous, 2) You reported them to management, 3) The employer failed to address the safety issues, and 4) A reasonable person would have quit under those circumstances. I've seen people win appeals for safety-related quits when they have solid documentation like yours. The appeals examiner will look at whether you exhausted reasonable options before quitting.
UPDATE: For anyone following this thread, my deposit just hit my account! Filed Sunday, processed Sunday, pending Tuesday morning, available Tuesday evening. Exactly like everyone said it would be.
Great to see this worked out! As someone who's been on unemployment a few times over the years, I can confirm that Washington ESD's direct deposit timing is actually pretty reliable once you know what to expect. The 1-2 business day window after your claim shows "paid" is spot on. For future reference, if you ever need to change your direct deposit info, make sure to do it right after filing your weekly claim so it has time to update before the next payment cycle. Also keep in mind that if you're ever switching banks, it's better to wait until after you receive a payment before closing your old account, just to avoid any potential issues with pending transfers.
This is really helpful advice! I'm new to all this so knowing about the timing for changing bank info is good to know. I was actually thinking about switching to a different bank soon but I'll definitely wait until I'm more established with the unemployment payments first. Better safe than sorry!
That's really smart advice about waiting to switch banks! I made the mistake once of closing my old account too early and had to wait for a paper check when there was a delay in updating my direct deposit info. It added almost two weeks to getting my payment. The timing Mary mentioned is spot on - Washington ESD is pretty consistent with their processing schedule once you learn the pattern.
Maria Gonzalez
Just to follow up on my earlier comment - make sure you mention these specific things in your explanation: 1. It was explicitly a "work trial" or "evaluation period" 2. The excessive hours requirement (60+ vs standard 40) 3. The hostile work environment (screaming/verbal abuse) These factors clearly establish that this was unsuitable work under RCW 50.20.100, which protects your benefits eligibility. Also be sure to answer any ESD messages promptly as delayed responses can further delay your claim processing.
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Zoe Walker
•Thank you for the follow-up! I didn't know about that specific law. Just submitted my weekly claim with all those details included. Fingers crossed it goes through without issues!
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AaliyahAli
Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through something similar - I did a 5-day trial at a marketing firm that turned out to be a nightmare (unpaid overtime expectations, no clear job description, toxic management). I reported the earnings honestly and explained it was a trial period that didn't work out. My claim did go into pending for about 10 days while they reviewed it, but I got approved and received backpay for those pending weeks. The key is being completely honest and thorough in your explanation. Document everything about the working conditions now while it's fresh - the 60+ hour expectation and hostile environment you described would definitely qualify as unsuitable work conditions under Washington state law. Don't let the horror stories scare you too much - most legitimate work trial situations get resolved fairly quickly if you provide clear documentation. Good luck with your upcoming interviews!
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