Can I get ESD unemployment right after my Paid Family Medical Leave ends?

Yes, you absolutely can apply for unemployment after PFMLA ends - I did this last year. Since your employer eliminated your position while you were on leave, you should qualify for UI benefits. There's no waiting period between the two programs. Just make sure to apply for unemployment as soon as your PFMLA ends. Be prepared to explain in your application that you were on approved medical leave and your position was eliminated during that time.

I tried to do this and ESD denied my claim!!! they said I wasnt available for work bc i was recovering from surgery. make sure ur doctor clearrs you for work BEFORE u apply or they will deny u!!

wait... i thought pfmla was only for new parents? is that the same as disability leave?

I've been in your exact situation last September. The key issue you'll face is proving you're able and available for work, which is required for UI benefits. Since your job was eliminated while on leave, you should qualify for UI under the job separation reason of "laid off due to lack of work." The most important thing to know is that ESD phone lines are completely overloaded, and I spent 3 weeks trying to get through when I had questions about my application. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent after days of trying. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Without getting through to an agent, my claim might have stayed pending forever.

Be careful about the requirements. For UI, you MUST be: 1. Able to work (medically cleared) 2. Available for work (no constraints preventing you from accepting a job) 3. Actively seeking work (minimum 3 job search activities per week) If you have work restrictions from your doctor, make sure to list those in your application. ESD might require additional information, but DON'T wait to apply - submit your initial application as soon as PFMLA ends, then provide any additional documentation they request.

My sister had to deal with this exact situation in january and it was a NIGHTMARE!!! ESD kept confusing her pfmla with some other state program and saying she didnt qualify. she had to file an appeal and everything. took almost 2 months to get fixed. the ESD and pfmla systems dont talk to each other at all!!!!

make sure u report the pfmla income in ur application. my friend didnt mention it and later got hit with an overpayment notice for $2700!

Just to share my experience: I went from PFMLA to unemployment in 2025 with no problems. Applied on a Sunday, got approved by Wednesday, first payment hit my account Friday. BUT my situation was super straightforward - job eliminated while on leave, doctor fully cleared me to work, no restrictions. If your situation has any complications, you might need to talk to an actual person at ESD. Good luck!

I went through this transition last year and it was smoother than I expected. The key thing is to apply for unemployment immediately when your PFMLA ends - don't wait. Make sure you have documentation showing your job was eliminated (like an email or letter from HR) and your medical clearance. I'd also recommend keeping records of your job search activities from day one, even if your claim is still processing. ESD will want to see that you're actively looking for work. One tip: when you fill out the application, be very clear about the timeline - when your PFMLA started, when it ended, and when your job was eliminated. This helps ESD understand your situation better.

I'm in a similar situation right now - my PFMLA ends in two weeks and I just found out my company is restructuring and my department is being eliminated. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really helpful but also kind of scary! It sounds like the key things are: 1) Apply immediately when PFMLA ends, 2) Have medical clearance documentation ready, 3) Get something in writing about the job elimination, and 4) Be prepared that you might need to actually talk to someone at ESD if there are any complications. Has anyone had success getting through to ESD recently, or are the phone lines still completely jammed? I'm trying to prepare for the worst case scenario where my claim gets flagged and I need human intervention.

I'm going through this exact situation right now! My PFMLA ends in 5 days and my employer just informed me that my position was eliminated due to "business restructuring" while I was on leave. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful - it sounds like the consensus is that I can transition directly from PFMLA to unemployment without a waiting period, which is a huge relief. I'm already gathering my documentation (medical clearance letter and the elimination notice from HR) and plan to submit my UI application the day after my PFMLA benefits end. One question for those who have been through this - should I mention in my application that I was on PFMLA, or just focus on the fact that my job was eliminated? I want to be transparent but also don't want to create any unnecessary complications if the systems don't communicate well with each other.

I went through this exact transition about 6 months ago and wanted to share what worked for me. You absolutely CAN go directly from PFMLA to unemployment - there's no waiting period required. The most important thing is to have your medical clearance documentation ready before you apply. I made the mistake of applying before getting my doctor's official "return to work" letter and my claim got flagged for review, which delayed everything by about 3 weeks. When you fill out the application, be very specific about your job separation reason - select "laid off due to lack of work" or similar, and in the comments section clearly explain that your position was eliminated while you were on approved medical leave. I also attached a copy of the notification from my employer about the position elimination. One more tip: start documenting your job search activities immediately, even while your claim is still being processed. ESD requires 3 job search contacts per week, and they can ask for documentation going back to your claim start date. I used a simple spreadsheet to track company names, positions applied for, dates, and contact methods. The whole process took about 10 days from application to first payment for me. Good luck - you've got this!