Can I get Washington ESD unemployment if I'm pregnant and can't work?

Unfortunately, being unable to work due to pregnancy complications typically disqualifies you from regular unemployment benefits in Washington. The main requirement for UI is that you must be able and available for work. However, you should look into Washington State's Paid Family and Medical Leave program instead - that's specifically designed for situations like yours.

I went through something similar last year and Washington ESD denied my regular unemployment claim because I couldn't meet the work search requirements while on bed rest. The caseworker explained that you have to be physically able to accept work if offered.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD to get clear answers about your eligibility, I'd recommend trying Claimyr (claimyr.com). They helped me get through to an actual agent when I had questions about my unique situation. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Sometimes you need to talk to a real person to understand all your options.

Wait, are you sure you have to quit completely? Some people can get unemployment if they have to reduce hours due to medical reasons but can still work part-time. Might be worth exploring if your doctor says you can do any light work from home or something.

this is exactly why the system is broken... pregnant women need support not bureaucratic runaround!! you paid into unemployment insurance and should be able to use it when you NEED it most

Update: I called Washington ESD this morning (finally got through!) and the agent confirmed what everyone said - I don't qualify for regular unemployment because I'm not able and available for work. But she walked me through the Paid Family Leave application process and it sounds like I should qualify for that instead. Thanks everyone for pointing me in the right direction!

Just wanted to add that if you have any issues with your Paid Family Leave application, you can appeal if it gets denied. The process is similar to unemployment appeals through Washington ESD.

Can I ask how long you worked before getting pregnant? There might be minimum work requirements for Paid Family Leave too.

pregnancy discrimination is real and this is just another example... companies should have to provide better support

For anyone else reading this thread who needs to talk to Washington ESD about complicated eligibility questions, I can't recommend Claimyr enough. It saved me so much time and frustration when I was trying to figure out my own benefits situation.

Make sure you keep all your medical documentation organized when you apply for Paid Family Leave. They'll want detailed records from your doctor about why you can't work.

i had a friend who got unemployment while pregnant but that was like 5 years ago maybe the rules changed?

Another thing to remember is that Paid Family Leave can be used for bonding time after the baby is born too, so it's really a better fit for your situation than unemployment would be anyway.

Does anyone know if you can get partial benefits if you can only work part time during pregnancy?

The Washington ESD website has a good FAQ section about able and available requirements if anyone wants to read more about why pregnancy complications usually disqualify you from regular UI.

Just be prepared for the Paid Family Leave application to take a while to process. Mine took about 3 weeks but that was during a busy period.

One more tip - if you worked for multiple employers recently, make sure you report all of them on your Paid Family Leave application. The benefit amount is calculated based on all your covered wages.

Wishing you the best with your pregnancy and application! It's stressful enough being pregnant without worrying about money.

Final thought - if you run into any snags with the Paid Family Leave application process and need to speak with someone at Washington ESD, definitely consider using Claimyr to get through. Sometimes these programs have their own quirks and talking to an actual person makes all the difference.

This has been a really informative thread. I learned a lot about the difference between unemployment and Paid Family Leave that I didn't know before.