I'm currently going through this exact same frustrating situation! Been trying to reach PFML for almost two weeks about my bonding leave claim and it's absolutely maddening. The worst part is when you wait over an hour only to have someone pick up and immediately hang up - it happened to me three times last week and I honestly wanted to throw my phone across the room. Reading through all these strategies is giving me real hope though! I'm definitely going to try the 8AM sharp approach on Wednesday or Thursday with all my paperwork organized and that opening line about previous disconnections ready to go. It's completely ridiculous that we have to become phone system experts just to access benefits we've literally paid into through our paychecks, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing what actually works. The persistence stories from people who finally got through are keeping me motivated. Thank you for posting this - knowing we're all dealing with the same broken system makes me feel less alone in this nightmare!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm also dealing with the PFML phone nightmare - been trying for 8 days to get through about my medical leave claim and experiencing those same infuriating immediate hang-ups. Just this morning I waited 52 minutes only to hear "Hello, Paid Family Medical-" and then silence, call ended. I actually started laughing because crying wasn't helping anymore! Reading through everyone's strategies here is giving me actual hope though. I'm definitely going to try the 8AM Wednesday approach with everything prepared - application number, questions written down, and that smart opening line about mentioning the previous disconnections right away. It's completely insane that we need to become phone system ninjas just to access our own benefits, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing real solutions that actually work. The success stories are keeping me motivated to keep trying. Thank you all for creating this resource - at least we know we're not alone in this broken system!

Thanks for starting this thread! I'm in a similar situation - just moved to Washington for work and trying to understand all the payroll deductions. Based on what everyone's shared, it sounds like the main things to remember are: 1) Most wages count toward unemployment tax up to $70,200 for 2025, 2) The employee rate is about 0.43%, and 3) Each employer calculates separately if you have multiple jobs. I'm going to start keeping better track of my pay stubs to make sure everything looks right. Really appreciate all the detailed responses from everyone - this community is super helpful for navigating Washington's employment system!

This thread has been incredibly informative! As someone who's also relatively new to Washington's unemployment system, I really appreciate how everyone broke down the wage base limits and what types of income count. One question I have - if you get a mid-year raise that pushes you over the $70,200 limit, does the unemployment tax just stop being deducted once you hit that threshold? Or do employers sometimes mess this up and keep deducting it? I want to make sure I'm watching for that on my pay stubs since I'm expecting a promotion later this year that might put me close to that limit.

Good luck with the backdating request. The fact that you filed as soon as you understood the process should work in your favor. Shows you weren't trying to delay or game the system.

I work as a case worker with unemployment claims and see backdating requests regularly. Your situation with confusion about when to file is actually quite common and typically qualifies as good cause. The key is being able to clearly explain that you genuinely misunderstood the filing requirements rather than just procrastinating. When you call, be specific about what you thought the process was versus what it actually is. Washington ESD tends to be reasonable about these cases, especially for first-time filers who acted promptly once they understood the correct procedure. Document everything from your conversation and follow up in writing if they request additional information.

UPDATE: OP, any luck reaching Washington ESD about your backdating request? I'm curious how it worked out.

I went through something similar last year when I got furloughed. The key thing that helped me get backdating approved was having documentation from my HR department showing they advised employees to wait before filing because they expected to bring people back within 2-3 weeks. Washington ESD considered that "good cause" for the delay. Make sure to gather any emails, texts, or written communication from your employer about the potential callback - that's going to be your strongest evidence. Also, be persistent with calling. I had to try for about a week straight before I finally got through to someone who could help with the backdating request.

Bottom line: when you file for unemployment benefits in Washington, you get both the weekly payments AND access to reemployment assistance services. There's no separate application needed. The terminology is just different ways of referring to the same comprehensive program.

I went through this exact same confusion when I first filed! The Washington ESD really should make this clearer on their website. What helped me understand it was thinking of "reemployment assistance" as the umbrella term for the whole program - it includes both the monetary benefits (what most people call "unemployment") and all the job search support services. When you file your initial UI claim, you're automatically enrolled in everything. No separate applications needed. Just make sure you're keeping up with your weekly job search requirements since that's a big part of the reemployment assistance component.