After trying to use Claimyr as someone suggested above, I got through to ESD in about 45 minutes instead of the days I was spending redialing. The agent explained they can set up payment plans for as little as $25 a month if needed! But definitely appeal first if you think there's an error.

Just wanted to add my experience to help - I got my overpayment notice exactly 10 months after my last payment for $3,200. Like others mentioned, I immediately panicked thinking I had to pay it right away. The key thing that saved me was calling the appeals line directly instead of the main ESD number (the appeals line is usually less busy). When I spoke to the appeals officer, they walked me through exactly what documentation I needed and explained that the overpayment was triggered by a quarterly wage match from my employer. I gathered all my weekly certification screenshots showing I reported my part-time wages correctly, and the overpayment was completely reversed after my hearing. The whole appeal process took about 3 months but was worth it. Don't let them intimidate you - if you reported everything correctly, you have a good chance of winning your appeal!

Great update! One additional tip: When you apply for PFML, be prepared with documentation from your healthcare provider. They'll need certification of your pregnancy/birth. Also, take screenshots of all your submissions and keep track of claim numbers for both systems. Documentation has saved me multiple times when there were mix-ups between systems. Good luck with your delivery and congrats on the baby!

Congratulations on your upcoming arrival! I'm a new member here but went through a similar situation with my second child last year. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier is to start gathering all your employment documentation NOW while you still have energy - pay stubs, your separation notice, any correspondence with your former employer, etc. Both ESD and PFML will want detailed employment history, and it's so much easier to organize this stuff before you're sleep-deprived with a newborn! Also, if you haven't already, consider setting up direct deposit for both systems to avoid any mail delays. Sounds like you're getting great advice here and making good progress with ESD. Wishing you a smooth delivery and hassle-free benefits process!

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.

One more important thing: if you work a partial week before your full-time start date, make sure you accurately report those hours and earnings on your final weekly claim. If you earned over your weekly benefit amount in a particular week, you won't receive benefits for that week, but you still need to report it correctly. For example, if your weekly benefit is $500 and you earned $600 in your first week at the new job, report the earnings and ESD will automatically show that week as "excess earnings" with $0 benefit payment. This prevents any overpayment issues later.

Congratulations on landing the billing specialist position at Cascade Health Systems! You're doing everything right by reporting your employment on your weekly claim with the start date. Just to add one more piece of advice - once you stop filing weekly claims, I'd recommend keeping a record of when you stopped filing and why (new employment) in case you ever need to reference it later. Some people keep a simple note in their files with the date they stopped claiming and their new employer info. It's probably overkill, but with government systems you can never be too careful about documentation. Best of luck with the new job!

Bottom line for the OP: no unemployment taxes if you're truly self-employed with no employees. But as soon as you hire anyone, even part-time, you need to register and start paying. It's actually one of the more straightforward business requirements once you understand it.

Just want to add that if you're planning to incorporate your business (LLC, Corp, etc.), you'll still follow the same rules - no unemployment taxes until you have employees. But once you do incorporate and start paying yourself a salary, you might need to treat yourself as an employee for unemployment purposes depending on your ownership structure. Something to keep in mind as your business grows!