Just remember that unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can have taxes withheld from your weekly payments or pay quarterly, but don't forget about it come tax time.

I went through this same process about 6 months ago when my company downsized. The online application at eservices.esd.wa.gov really is the best way to go - just make sure you have all your employment info handy before you start. One thing I wish someone had told me is to take screenshots of every page as you fill it out, because if the system glitches (which it does sometimes), you don't want to lose all your work and have to start over. Also, don't stress too much about getting every detail perfect - you can always provide additional information later if needed. The most important thing is just getting that initial claim filed as soon as possible. Good luck!

To summarize for you and anyone else who might be searching for this info in the future: 1. FMLA = Unpaid job protection (federal), no weekly claims needed 2. PFML = Paid Family & Medical Leave (WA state), apply once at paidleave.wa.gov or call 833-717-2273 3. UI = Regular unemployment (job loss), weekly claims at 800-318-6022 For your situation (surgery recovery), PFML is almost certainly what you need. The benefit can be up to 90% of your weekly wage depending on your income. Hope your recovery goes smoothly!

Just wanted to add that if you're worried about timing, you can actually apply for PFML up to 30 days before your leave starts OR up to 60 days after it begins. So even if you've already started your medical leave, you're not too late to apply! I made the mistake of waiting too long thinking I had missed the window, but the 60-day rule saved me. Also, make sure to keep all your medical documentation organized - you'll need it for the application and sometimes they ask for additional info later. The whole process was way less scary than I thought it would be once I actually started it.

I'm dealing with the exact same frustrating situation! My claim has been stuck in "pending adjudication" for almost a month now and I've called that 800-318-6022 number probably 150+ times with zero success. I've tried every strategy mentioned here - calling right at 8am, the redial method, different menu combinations, even tried the Olympia office number - but nothing works. I either get busy signals or spend hours on hold just to get disconnected. It's incredibly stressful when you're behind on bills and can't get any answers about why your claim is stuck. Based on all the positive feedback about Claimyr in this thread, I think I'm going to have to bite the bullet and try it this week. It's absolutely insane that we need a third-party service just to reach our own state unemployment office, but when the alternative is wasting entire days getting nowhere, it seems worth trying. The whole Washington ESD phone system desperately needs an overhaul - they clearly don't have the capacity to handle the volume of people who need help. Thanks for starting this thread - it's both frustrating and reassuring to see how many of us are dealing with this broken system!

I'm going through the exact same frustrating experience! My weekly claim has been flagged for "additional review" for over 10 days now and I can't get through to anyone at Washington ESD no matter what I try. I've called that 800-318-6022 number at least 50+ times using every strategy mentioned here - calling right at 8am, hitting redial constantly, trying different menu options - but I keep getting busy signals or sitting on hold for hours just to get disconnected. It's incredibly stressful when you're counting on these benefits to cover rent and groceries. After reading all the success stories about Claimyr in this thread, I think I'm going to have to try that service tomorrow. It's ridiculous that we need to pay a third-party company just to contact our own state unemployment office, but when the alternative is wasting entire days getting nowhere, it seems worth it. The whole ESD phone system is completely broken and causing real hardship for people who desperately need help. Thanks for posting this - it's both frustrating and reassuring to know so many others are dealing with this same nightmare!

I'm going through something very similar right now. Filed my appeal in September after being wrongly denied for "job abandonment" when I was actually terminated. My hearing was in early October and went well - I had documentation showing I was let go, not that I quit. But it's been over 8 weeks now and still no decision. The financial stress is really getting to me. Seeing everyone mention claimyr.com is encouraging though - I think I'll try that tomorrow to see if I can get any updates. Thanks for sharing your experience, it helps to know I'm not the only one dealing with these ridiculous delays.

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation. Filed my appeal in late September after being denied for "voluntary quit" when I was actually laid off due to company downsizing. Had my hearing in November and it went really well - provided all my layoff paperwork and the judge seemed convinced. My former employer also didn't participate in the hearing. It's been about 7 weeks now and I'm still waiting for the decision. The uncertainty is killing me financially and emotionally. I've been continuing to file my weekly claims but getting $0 each week. Reading through all these responses is both reassuring and frustrating - reassuring to know the timeline I'm experiencing is unfortunately normal, but frustrating that the system is so backed up. I think I'm going to try that claimyr service everyone's mentioning to see if I can at least get a status update. Thanks for posting this - it really helps to know others are going through the same ordeal.

Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both helpful and nerve-wracking as someone who just started this process! I'm currently on day 3 of adjudication for a separation issue where my employer is claiming I resigned when I was actually terminated as part of budget cuts. The financial anxiety is already starting to hit, and seeing timelines ranging from 2-6+ weeks is honestly terrifying. I'm taking notes on all the advice shared here - definitely planning to try Claimyr based on the overwhelmingly positive experiences people have had getting through to actual ESD agents. The tip about organizing documentation chronologically with summary sheets is brilliant, and I'm going to set up that spreadsheet tracking system that @Carmen Ortiz mentioned. It's infuriating how many employers seem to contest legitimate layoffs just to protect their UI tax rates while leaving us in financial limbo. But this community has shown me I'm not alone in dealing with this broken system. The support and practical advice from everyone who's been through this is invaluable - from emergency assistance resources to the importance of continuing weekly claims during adjudication. Thank you all for sharing your stories and creating this space where we can help each other navigate such a stressful and opaque process. I'll keep you posted on how my case progresses!

I'm currently on day 16 of adjudication and this thread has been such a lifeline during this stressful time! My case involves a separation dispute where my employer claimed I was fired for performance issues when I was actually laid off due to company restructuring. Like so many others here, I've been dealing with the financial stress of waiting while bills pile up. I finally used Claimyr yesterday after seeing all the recommendations here and it was absolutely worth it. Got connected to an ESD agent in about 20 minutes who was able to tell me that my case is actively being reviewed by an adjudicator and that all my documentation looks good. She couldn't give me an exact timeline but said contested separation cases typically take 3-4 weeks, so I'm hopefully getting close to a resolution. For anyone new to this process, the advice in this thread is gold - keep filing weekly claims religiously, document everything, and don't hesitate to use services like Claimyr to get real information instead of just obsessively checking the website. I also applied for emergency assistance through my county's social services department which has helped bridge the gap while waiting. The uncertainty is brutal but reading everyone's experiences here shows that people with solid documentation do eventually get approved. Hang in there everyone - we'll get through this together! I'll update when I hear anything definitive about my case.