Can I get ESD unemployment for missed work days due to illness with no PTO?

Unfortunately, ESD unemployment doesn't cover temporary sick leave situations. Unemployment benefits are meant for when you're completely separated from your employer or have significant hour reductions over multiple weeks. For short-term illness without PTO, you might want to look into Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML) instead, though there are qualifying requirements for that too.

when i got sick in 2024 i tried this and esd said no way. gotta be actually laid off or fired not just out sick for a bit

To clarify what others have said: Unemployment insurance (UI) through ESD requires that you are: 1) Unemployed or working reduced hours through no fault of your own, 2) Able and available for work, and 3) Actively seeking work each week you claim. Being temporarily ill doesn't qualify because you weren't actually available for work during that period. Washington's Paid Family & Medical Leave program might have helped, but it typically requires certification before taking leave and has a waiting period. For future reference, if your hours get cut significantly (but you're still employed), you might qualify for partial unemployment. But again, this doesn't apply to temporary illness situations where you remain fully employed.

The whole ESD system is a JOKE!!!! I lost work due to a back injury last year and tried to get benefits. They kept rejecting my claim saying I wasn't "available for work" because of my injury. But I LITERALLY couldn't work because I was hurt!! How does that make any sense?? They just find any excuse to deny claims and save money. Now I'm back to getting screwed by the system again with a new issue. Been trying to call for THREE WEEKS with no answer.

my cousin works at ESD and i asked about this once. he said unemployment and sick time are totally different things. u need to look into PFML maybe but theres a waiting period i think

To add to my earlier comment, there's a common misconception that unemployment can work like gap coverage for any income interruption. The key requirements for UI eligibility are: 1. You must be separated from your employer OR have a significant, ongoing reduction in hours 2. The separation/reduction can't be your fault (quitting without good cause doesn't qualify) 3. You must be able and available to accept suitable work immediately 4. You must be actively seeking work each week Since you were still employed and just temporarily unable to work due to illness, criteria #1 and #3 weren't met. For future reference, Washington state has several income protection programs with different purposes: - Unemployment Insurance: For job loss/reduction not your fault - Workers' Compensation: For work-related injuries/illnesses - Paid Family & Medical Leave: For extended health issues or family care - Short-term disability insurance: Private insurance for temporary health issues (not state-run) Now that you're back at work, none of these would apply retroactively for your situation, unfortunately.

I wonder if your employer offers any emergency assistance programs? Some companies have hardship funds for employees in situations like this. Might be worth asking HR if there's anything like that available. Doesn't solve the systemic problem but could help with your immediate financial situation.