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I'm currently going through this same situation and this thread has been incredibly valuable! My PFML application has been pending for about 10 days now and I was starting to panic about whether I needed to file weekly claims like with regular unemployment. After reading everyone's experiences, I feel so much more informed about the process. I've already checked my spam folder (found nothing yet but will keep monitoring), and I'm planning to call 833-717-2273 first thing Monday morning at 8am sharp. It's really reassuring to know that the backpay will cover the entire period once approved, and that these delays seem unfortunately common but not necessarily a sign that something is wrong. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and tips - it's so helpful to have this community support when dealing with confusing government processes during an already stressful time with a new baby!
@Noah Irving You re'so smart to start calling early in the process rather than waiting weeks like some of us did! Ten days isn t'too bad yet, but getting ahead of any potential issues is definitely the way to go. I wish I had found a thread like this when I was going through my PFML application - it would have saved me so much stress and confusion. The 8am calling strategy seems to be the golden tip that everyone swears by. One thing I d'add is to have your Social Security number and application confirmation number ready when you call, as they ll'need those right away to look up your case. It s'such a relief to know that this community exists to help each other navigate these complicated systems, especially when you re'sleep-deprived and trying to figure everything out with a newborn! Hope your call goes smoothly on Monday!
Just wanted to add my experience from going through PFML approval last month! I was also super confused about the weekly claims thing at first - it's so different from regular unemployment. My application took exactly 16 days to get approved, and like others mentioned, I didn't need to file any weekly claims during the waiting period. The most important thing I learned was to keep checking both your email AND the PFML portal daily, because sometimes status updates appear in the portal before you get an email notification. Also, if you do end up calling 833-717-2273, try to have all your documents ready to reference - they might ask about specific dates or employer information on the spot. The wait is definitely nerve-wracking when you're dealing with a new baby and need that income, but try not to stress too much if it's only been 2 weeks. That seems pretty normal based on what I'm seeing here. Once you do get approved, the backpay process was actually really smooth for me - got direct deposit within about 5 business days of approval.
This thread should be pinned or something. Missing weekly claims is probably one of the most common worries for people on unemployment. Nice to have all the info in one place!
This is such helpful information! I've been on unemployment for about 2 months now and I live in constant fear of missing a weekly filing. Reading through everyone's experiences here really puts my mind at ease knowing that Washington ESD is actually reasonable about missed filings. I'm definitely going to set up multiple phone reminders like some of you suggested, and it's good to know I have up to 4 weeks as a backup if something goes wrong. Thanks for sharing all your real experiences - way more helpful than trying to decipher the vague info on the ESD website!
Welcome to the community! I totally get that anxiety about missing filings - I think we all feel that way at first. This thread has been super reassuring for me too. One thing I learned from reading everyone's experiences is that setting up a routine really helps. I used to stress about it every week, but now I just file mine every Tuesday morning with my coffee and it's become second nature. The 4-week grace period is definitely a huge relief to know about as a safety net. Hope your unemployment journey goes smoothly!
Setting multiple reminders is definitely the way to go! I use both my phone and my calendar app to make sure I never miss it. Also, I learned from this thread that you can file anytime during the week (Sunday 6am to Saturday midnight), not just on Sunday like I originally thought. That flexibility makes it so much less stressful. The community here is really great for getting real-world advice that you just can't find on the official websites.
Bottom line: if you were laid off through no fault of your own, filed your claim correctly, and continue filing weekly claims, you should be approved eventually. The timeline varies, but the outcome is usually positive for straightforward layoffs. Try to be patient (easier said than done, I know).
I'm also going through this process right now - filed my claim about 12 days ago after being laid off from my nonprofit job due to funding cuts. This entire thread has been incredibly reassuring! I was getting really stressed seeing all the conflicting information online about processing times, but hearing from people who've actually been through this makes such a difference. The advice about filing weekly claims even before approval is something I definitely wouldn't have figured out on my own. It's also really helpful to know that "under review" is just part of the normal verification process. The waiting is definitely anxiety-inducing, especially when bills are due, but reading everyone's experiences gives me hope that it will work out. Thanks for making this such a supportive community!
I'm also in this waiting period - just filed my claim 8 days ago after being laid off from my logistics job when the company restructured. This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I was really starting to panic after reading some horror stories online, but seeing so many real experiences from people who've successfully gotten through this process has been incredibly reassuring. The tip about filing weekly claims before approval is something I never would have known - I actually called ESD to ask about it after reading it here and they confirmed it's essential. It's also really comforting to understand that "under review" is just standard procedure, not a red flag. The uncertainty is definitely the hardest part, but this community has made me feel so much less alone in the process. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories and advice!
I'm currently going through this exact same situation - filed my claim about 10 days ago after being laid off from my accounting firm due to budget cuts, and my status also just says "under review." Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so incredibly helpful and reassuring! I was starting to get really anxious seeing all the different timelines online, but hearing real stories from people who've actually been through this process makes such a difference. The advice about continuing to file weekly claims even before approval is something I had no idea about - thank you for that tip! It's also really comforting to know that "under review" is just part of the normal verification process rather than indicating a problem. The waiting is definitely stressful, especially with bills coming up, but this community has given me so much more confidence that things will work out. I'll definitely keep filing my weekly claims and checking for any messages from ESD. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences - it's so much more valuable than the generic information on government websites!
I'm in a really similar situation too! Filed my claim about 6 days ago after being laid off from my graphic design job when the agency lost a major client. This thread has been such a lifesaver - I was already starting to stress about how long it might take, especially after seeing some people mention waiting 2+ months. But reading everyone's real experiences has been so much more helpful than trying to navigate the confusing ESD website. The weekly claims tip is huge - I definitely would have missed that without this discussion. It's also really reassuring to know that "under review" is just standard verification, not a red flag. The waiting game is tough when you're worried about making ends meet, but hearing all these success stories gives me hope that it will work out. Thanks for sharing your story and helping build such a supportive community here!
I'm going through this exact same process right now! Filed my claim about a week ago after being laid off from my retail management position due to store closure. This entire discussion has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. I was starting to get really anxious about the "under review" status, but reading everyone's experiences has helped me understand it's just part of the normal verification process. The tip about filing weekly claims even before approval is something I never would have known otherwise - I almost waited thinking I needed approval first! It's really comforting to see so many people with straightforward layoffs getting approved within that 2-4 week timeframe. The uncertainty is definitely stressful, especially with bills coming up, but this community has given me so much more confidence in the process. Thanks for sharing your experience and helping create such a supportive space for all of us going through this!
This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation but with vacation pay instead of holiday pay. My employer paid me for 3 days of vacation time during a week where I also worked 2 days. Based on what everyone is saying here, I should report all 5 days as hours worked on my weekly claim, right? It sounds like any time you're paid by your employer - whether you physically worked or got holiday/vacation/sick pay - it all needs to be reported as hours and earnings. Thanks for sharing your experiences, especially the audit story - definitely don't want to go through that!
Yes, exactly! You should report all 5 days as hours worked on your weekly claim. Vacation pay is treated the same way as holiday pay - it's considered earnings and hours that must be reported to ESD. The key thing to remember is that any time your employer pays you (whether you physically worked or not), it counts as both hours and earnings for unemployment purposes. So your 2 actual work days + 3 vacation days = 5 total hours/days to report. The audit story from @Anastasia really drives home why it's so important to report everything correctly from the start!
I just went through this exact same situation a few weeks ago and can confirm what everyone else is saying - definitely report ALL paid hours including holiday pay! I made the mistake of only reporting my physically worked hours the first time and got a letter from ESD asking for clarification. Luckily I caught it early and was able to correct it before any overpayment issues, but it was stressful. The way I think about it now is: if my employer paid me for it, ESD needs to know about it. Simple as that. Also want to echo what others said about the phone lines - I eventually got through after trying for days and the representative confirmed that holiday pay, vacation pay, sick pay, etc. all count as both hours and earnings. Good luck with your claim!
Thanks for sharing your experience! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the same thing recently. That's a great way to think about it - "if my employer paid me for it, ESD needs to know about it." I'm definitely going to remember that rule going forward. I'm glad you were able to catch and correct the mistake before it became a bigger issue. The stress of potentially having to deal with overpayments is enough motivation for me to be extra careful about reporting everything correctly from the start!
Zainab Omar
Congratulations on the new job! I went through this exact same situation about a year ago and was just as worried about doing something wrong. Everyone here has given you excellent advice - you really do just stop filing your weekly claims once you start working full-time. No complicated paperwork or cancellation forms needed. Just make sure to file your final weekly claim for this current week (since you haven't started working yet), then simply don't file anymore starting Monday when you begin your new job. Your claim automatically stays open for the full benefit year as a safety net, which is actually really nice to have. I'd definitely recommend keeping screenshots of your final claim confirmation and your job start documentation - having that paper trail saved me from some confusion later when I had questions about my benefit history. The key is just being completely honest about your work status and not filing any claims while you're working full-time. Washington ESD's system is designed to handle this transition smoothly. You're being smart to handle this properly upfront rather than risk any issues down the road. Best of luck with your new position!
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Leo McDonald
Congratulations on the new job! I just went through this same situation a few months ago and was equally nervous about messing something up. Everyone here has given you spot-on advice - it really is as simple as just stopping your weekly claim filings once you start working full-time. No special cancellation process needed! Just make sure to file your final weekly claim for this current week (since you haven't started working yet), then don't file anymore once you begin Monday. Your claim will remain open for the full benefit year automatically, which is actually a nice safety net. I'd definitely echo the advice about keeping screenshots of your final claim and your job offer documentation - having that paper trail gives great peace of mind. The most important thing is just being honest about your work status and not filing claims while employed full-time. You're being really smart to handle this properly from the start. Good luck with the new position!
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