Try to stay positive! Most claims do get approved, it's just a matter of timing. The Washington ESD system has gotten better over the years even if it still feels slow when you're waiting.

I'm in a similar situation - filed my claim about a week ago after being laid off due to company restructuring. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really helpful! It sounds like 2-3 weeks is pretty standard for straightforward layoff cases. I've been making sure to file my weekly claims even though I'm not approved yet, and I'm keeping detailed records of my job search activities. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking when you're worried about bills, but it's reassuring to see that most people do get approved eventually. Thanks for asking this question - the responses have given me a much better idea of what to expect!

Thanks everyone for the helpful information! I feel much better knowing I don't have any tax obligations from my FMLA period. Definitely learned a valuable lesson about Washington's PFML program though - I'll be sure to apply for that if I ever need medical leave again. Really wish my HR department had mentioned this as an option!

This is such a common confusion! I went through the same thing when I took leave for my father's care last year. The key thing to remember is that FMLA and PFML are two separate programs that can work together: - FMLA = Federal job protection (unpaid) - PFML = Washington state income replacement (paid) Since you didn't receive any income during your leave, there's nothing to tax. But I'd recommend bookmarking the ESD PFML page for future reference - it's really generous coverage (up to 90% of your wages) and you pay into it through small payroll deductions anyway, so you might as well use it if you ever need leave again. Also, don't feel bad about not knowing - a lot of employers don't proactively inform employees about PFML benefits. It's relatively new (started in 2020) so many HR departments are still learning about it themselves.

MAKE SURE you understand whether your severance is considered a lump sum or periodic payments! This affects how Washington ESD calculates the deduction. My company paid 8 weeks severance in one check but it should have been spread over 8 weeks for UI purposes.

Thanks everyone for all the detailed responses! This is exactly what I needed to hear. I'm going to file my claim tomorrow morning and make sure to report my severance income on every weekly claim. It's such a relief to know I won't lose those weeks of eligibility by filing now, even if my benefits are reduced initially. Really appreciate this community - way more helpful than trying to navigate the Washington ESD website alone!

I feel your pain - the PFML phone system is absolutely brutal right now. I went through this exact same thing two months ago when I needed to update my application after my doctor changed some paperwork. What finally worked for me was a combination of strategies people mentioned here: I called at exactly 8am on a Wednesday, had all my documents ready, and when I finally got through after 35 minutes, I immediately told the agent I'd been disconnected multiple times before. She was actually really helpful and spent extra time making sure we covered everything so I wouldn't have to call back. The key is persistence and having backup plans - try the early morning calls, maybe give that Claimyr service a shot if you're desperate, and definitely reach out to your HR department to see if they have any special contacts. Don't give up, you'll get through eventually!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Been trying to reach PFML for over a week about my maternity leave application. The worst part is when you finally hear a human voice and then get that immediate click - it's so demoralizing. I've tried calling at different times of day but haven't had luck yet. Reading through these comments gives me some hope though. I'm definitely going to try the 8am Wednesday strategy and maybe look into that Claimyr service. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through these hoops just to access benefits we've paid into, but I guess that's the reality right now. Thanks for posting this - at least I know I'm not alone in this nightmare!

Just went through the Washington ESD employer registration process myself last week! A few additional tips from my experience: 1) Make sure you have your federal EIN ready before starting - they'll ask for it early in the process. 2) The online portal will ask you to estimate your annual payroll, so have a rough number in mind. 3) They'll send you a welcome packet with your account info within about 5-7 business days. The whole process took me maybe 30 minutes once I had all my documents ready. Way easier than I expected after reading horror stories online!

I just completed my Washington ESD employer registration online yesterday and wanted to share some insights! The process was surprisingly smooth once I found the right starting point. A few things that helped me: 1) I used the BizLicenseWA.gov portal as mentioned earlier in this thread - it really does streamline everything. 2) Having my business structure details ready (LLC, corporation, etc.) sped things up significantly. 3) They asked for my NAICS code, so I looked that up beforehand. 4) The system automatically calculated my initial UI tax rate based on my industry classification. Total time was about 45 minutes including a brief phone verification call they made to confirm my business address. Much less painful than I anticipated! For anyone still hesitating, just dive in - the online system walks you through each step pretty clearly.