Can I apply for ESD unemployment a week before Paid Family Leave ends?
I'm currently on Paid Family Leave taking care of my elderly mom after her surgery, but my benefits are ending in about a week. My employer cut my position while I was out (they had less than 50 employees so I guess they could do that). Can I start my unemployment application process now even though I'm still technically on PFL for another week? I've heard the ESD system takes time to process claims and I'm worried about having a gap in income. Has anyone done this transition before? Do I need to wait until my PFL officially ends before I can even apply for UI?
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Alana Willis
u have to wait till ur actually unemployed to file. the system wont let u claim for a week ur getting paid for by pfl anyways
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Justin Trejo
•Thanks for responding. I'm not trying to double-dip or anything! Just want to get the application started so there's no delay. So there's no way to start the application process early? Not even to set up my account or anything?
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Tyler Murphy
You can actually create your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account and eServices profile ahead of time, which will save you some steps. But you cannot submit an actual UI claim until your PFL benefits officially end and you're available for work. When you do apply, make sure to accurately report your last day of PFL coverage so ESD knows exactly when you became eligible. Also, gather all your employment documentation now - separation notice, paystubs, etc. This will make the process smoother once you're able to apply.
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Justin Trejo
•That's super helpful, thank you! I already have a SAW account from my PFL claim, so I guess I'm partly prepared. I'll start organizing my employment documents now.
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Sara Unger
I went through something similar last year. You need to wait until your PFL benefits end, BUT make sure you apply for UI on the VERY FIRST DAY after PFL ends. Don't wait even one extra day because they won't backdate your claim and you'll lose potential benefits. Also, be prepared to explain during your application why you're not working anymore (job elimination). Good luck!
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Justin Trejo
•That's really good to know about applying immediately! I'll mark my calendar for the day after my PFL ends. Did you have any issues with the transition? How long did it take for your UI to start after applying?
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Sara Unger
•It took about 3 weeks for my first payment, but I had no issues with adjudication. Make sure you do your weekly claims even while waiting for approval! That was my mistake - I missed filing one week thinking I should wait for approval first, and I lost that week's benefits completely.
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Butch Sledgehammer
When I tried transitioning from PFL to unemployment in 2025, the ESD system was a NIGHTMARE!!! I waited until my PFL ended like everyone said, but then my claim got stuck in adjudication for TWO MONTHS because the system couldn't figure out if I was eligible or not. Something about overlapping benefit systems. If I could do it again, I would have called ESD directly the day my PFL ended to make sure everything was being processed correctly. Don't just trust the online system!!!
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Freya Ross
•Trying to call ESD directly is basically impossible these days. I tried calling for a week straight about my standby status and never got through. Always a recorded message saying high call volume and then it hangs up on you! So frustrating!
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Leslie Parker
•If you need to speak with an ESD agent quickly, try Claimyr. I was in adjudication for weeks and couldn't get through on the phone either. A friend recommended claimyr.com and they got me connected to an ESD agent in about 15 minutes. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Totally worth it when you're dealing with time-sensitive claim issues like transitioning from PFL to UI.
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Tyler Murphy
One important thing to mention: you'll need to meet the job search requirements as soon as your UI claim starts. That means documenting at least 3 job search activities each week. Start planning those now so you're ready. With your PFL ending, ESD will expect you to be immediately available for work to qualify for benefits.
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Justin Trejo
•That's a good point about the job search requirements. I'll need to get on that right away. Do caring for a family member on PFL and then having your job eliminated count as a good cause for leaving employment? Or will they consider me as having voluntarily quit?
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Tyler Murphy
•Since your employer eliminated your position while you were on leave, that would be considered an involuntary separation (layoff), not a voluntary quit. Be very clear about this in your application. If they ask for additional information during adjudication, provide documentation showing your position was eliminated. This should qualify you for benefits without issues related to job separation cause.
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Alana Willis
also make sure ur work search is legit, they r cracking down on fake job searchs in 2025
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Justin Trejo
•Oh definitely! I'm actively looking to get back to work anyway. Just trying to avoid a gap in income if possible.
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Sergio Neal
Here's the official answer from ESD policy: You can't receive PFL and UI benefits for the same week, but you can apply for UI before your PFL ends if your last day of work has already occurred. Your UI claim effective date will be the Sunday of the week after your PFL benefits end. Make sure you answer "no" to "Were you physically able and available for work each day?" on your weekly UI claim for any days you were still on PFL. This prevents overlapping benefits while still getting your claim started early.
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Justin Trejo
•Thank you for this specific information! This is exactly what I was hoping for - a way to get the application started before the gap happens. I'll make sure to answer those weekly claim questions correctly to avoid any benefit overlap issues.
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Sergio Neal
•You're welcome! Just be prepared that your first UI payment likely won't arrive immediately after your PFL ends. There's usually a processing period of 2-3 weeks for new claims, sometimes longer if there's any need for adjudication. Budget accordingly if possible.
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